John R. Velazquez, the famous jockey’s glowing and prosperous career at Saratoga
John R. Velazquez was born on 24th November, 1971 in Carolina, Puerto Rico. He is a jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. His initial riding lessons were in his native Puerto Rico. He won his first race abroad Rodas at El Comandante Racetrack in
Canóvanas, Puerto Rico on 3rd January, 2011.
Following the guidance of agent and former jockey, he moved to the New York State from where he earned 24 riding titles at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course.
It has been reported that in the 2007 Belmont Stakes, he earned his first win in a Triple Crown race and on that occasion he rode Rags to Riches through the finishing line and made her the first filly to win the race since 1905.
John Velazquez has ridden more than 4,000 winners to date in his career. In 2004 and 2005 he was the
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Champion_Jockey_by_earningsUnited States Champion Jockey by earnings and was voted the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey. On 3rd September, 2001 he set a Saratoga record with six wins in one card.
On 19th august, 2011 easily rolled through the first four races at Saratoga Race Course, making a list of quartet wins that afternoon at the upstate New York track.
At the age of 39, he is at ease with sitting atop the 2011 Saratoga jockey standings with 41 wins at the meet through 19 august while his closest rival, Javier Castellano has till yet ridden 32 winners.
He is the third in line as far as the career victories are concerned, his own being 642, Cordero being second in line with 649 victories and at the top being 693 victories by Jerry Bailey.
However Velazquez stood to be the career leader in purses earned at Saratoga, with more than $39 million and it is still getting higher,
The point where John even leaves behind his agent, Cordero is by being the only jockey to win six races in one day, which he earlier did in 2001 and he even has won the most races in one meet with 61 last year.
His 3000th winning ride is trained by Todd Pletcher who has never let down John when it came to he supply of classy mounts over the last few years.
Velazquez said of the feat, "It's a great feeling. I'm 32, and I'll be 33 in November. Never in my dreams would I have thought that I would have won 3,000, being 32 as young as I am.”
Besides the four Breeders’ Cup races in 2002, he has also won the Filly and Mare Turf abroad Straine and the Juvenile Filliies abroad Storm Flag Flying at Arlington. His agent feels indebted to him because he was able to chase and win his dreams through
John and not only the dreams but of course way more.
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