About José A. Santos
Chilean thoroughbred jockey José Adeón Santos León was born on April 26, 1961, and his estimated net worth is $3 million. The sixth race on Saturday afternoon at Aqueduct Racetrack was won by 6-1 Melodeeman under the guidance of jockey Jose Santos, who also earned his 4,000th career victory in North America. “Believe me, I’d be content with another thousand. The trip has been long. Few of us make it to 4,000 or 5,000. There were many ups and downs, and it was very laborious job. To do this in New York is undoubtedly more unique.
Manhattan Moments:
Santos has consistently performed well in New York and at Aqueduct throughout his career, which has included triumphs atop Funny Cide in the 2003 Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Jockey Club Gold Cup. Santos rode five victories on two consecutive days at Aqueduct on February 10 and 11, 1988. On Lemon Drop Kid, he also won the 1999 Belmont and Travers Stakes.
Breeders Cup victories
Santos has won seven Breeders’ Cups, including the 2002 Classic with Volponi, the longest-shot horse on the betting board at a price of 43 to 1. He also won the juvenile fillies race with Meadow Star in 1990, the juvenile turf race with Chief Bearhart in 1997, the juvenile turf race with Manila in 1986, the juvenile juvenile race with Fly So Free in 1990, and the juvenile mile race with Steinlen in 1990. (1989).
His Early Years in Chile
When he was 14 years old, he rode in his first race at Chile’s Hipico Racecourse. Santos stated, “I frequently visited racetracks as a young lad because my father was a jockey. At the age of 8, I began helping out in the barns. Early in 1984, he started riding in Florida, and he rapidly rose to the top of the leaderboard. Then, in 1985, he relocated to New York, followed by a transfer to California in 1990, and a return to New York in July 1991.
Career achievements and honors:
Four national money championships in a row were won by Santos: in 1986 ($11,329,297), 1987 ($12,407,355), 1988 ($14,877,298), and 1989 ($13,847,003). In addition, in 1988, Santos received an Eclipse Award for finest jockey. At Saratoga, Belmont, Aqueduct, Gulfstream, Hialeah, and Calder, he has won individual meet championships. His other honors include the 2003 ESPY Award for Outstanding Jockey from ESPN and the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award from The Jockeys’ Guild in 1999.
He and His Family:
Santos was born in Concepcion, Chile, on April 26, 1961. His height is 5′ 2″ and weight is just 112 pounds. He is married and has two sons and five children. Three of his seven brothers, including his father Manuel, and his brother-in-law Heberto Castillo Jr., are jockeys.
Awarded writer Bill Heller wrote the biography of Jose Santos, titled Above It All: The Turbulent Life of Jose Santos, in 2011. José A. Santos’ net worth is projected to be $3 million as of 2023. The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in the United States has recognized Santos.
