Born:
1971-11-24 Carolina Puerto Rico, United States Minor Outlying Islands Currently Residing: West Hempstead New York USA Height: 5ft 6in His wife is Leona. Their daughter is Lerina and son Michael Patrick. His father-in-law is a trainer of Leo O Brien. Notes: John Velazquez entered Puerto Rican jockey school in June 1988. He started his career by setting six races win on September 3, 2001. In 2003, he clinched the New York Turf Writers Association s Fourstardave Award and received the Eddie Arcaro Award in 2002, 2003 and 2005. He became leading rider in New York for four consecutive years – 2001 to 2004. In the 2004 Breeders Cup, he won the Bill Shoemaker Award while in the spring 2005 meet; he became the leading rider at Keeneland. John received back-to-back Eclipse Awards in 2004 and ’05 and won his 3,000th career race on July 29, 2004 with Runingforpresident at Saratoga. In the 2007 Belmont Stakes, Velazquez earned his first win in a Triple Crown race riding Rags to Riches that made her the first filly to win the race since 1905. |
| Year | Races Run | Wins | Place | Show | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 129 | 18 | 16 | 23 | - |
| 2010 | 443 | 84 | 71 | 58 | - |
| 2009 | 482 | 95 | 62 | 55 | - |
| 2008 | 1177 | 215 | 166 | 157 | - |
| 2007 | 1131 | 199 | 161 | 150 | - |
| 2006 | 944 | 218 | 164 | 112 | - |
| 2005 | 1147 | 250 | 177 | 146 | - |
| 2004 | 1327 | 334 | 222 | 181 | - |
| Major Racing Wins:- Belmont Stakes (2007) Breeders' Cup Mile (1998) Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (2000, 2002) Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (2002) Breeders' Cup Distaff (2004) Breeders' Cup Sprint (2004) Jamaica Handicap (1994, 1998, 2002) Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Handicap (1995, 2004, 2005) Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (1995) Garden City Breeders' Cup Handicap (1995, 2005) Alabama Stakes (1996, 2003) Beldame Stakes (1996, 2005) Champagne Stakes (1996, 2004, 2006) Futurity Stakes (1996, 1998, 2006) Metropolitan Handicap (1996, 1999) Mother Goose Stakes (1996, 2001) Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (1998, 2006) Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (1999) Vagrancy Handicap (1999, 2001, 2004, 2005) Acorn Stakes (2000) Ashland Stakes (2001) Ladies Handicap (2001) Lawrence Realization Stakes (2001, 2002) Remsen Stakes (2001, 2005) Vosburgh Stakes (2001, 2006) Dwyer Stakes (2002, 2003) Frizette Stakes (2002, 2005) Matron Stakes (2002) Personal Ensign Handicap (2002, 2004) Suburban Handicap (2002) Whitney Handicap (2002, 2007, 2008) Saranac Handicap (2003) Kentucky Oaks (2004) Sabin Stakes (2004, 2005) Blue Grass Stakes (2005) Brooklyn Handicap (2005) Clark Handicap (2005) Travers Stakes (2005) Louisiana Derby (2007) Orchid Handicap (2005, 2006, 2008) Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap (2005) Fountain of Youth Stakes (2007) Beaugay Handicap (2008) Prioress Stakes (2008) Test Stakes (1996, 1999, 2008) La Brea Stakes (2008) Massachusetts Handicap (2000, 2008) Richter Scale Sprint Handicap (2007, 2008) Old Hat Stakes (2005, 2008, 2009) |
| American Classic Race wins:- Belmont Stakes (2007) |
| International race wins:- Woodbine Mile (2000, 2005) E. P. Taylor Stakes (2004, 2005) Dubai World Cup (2005) |
| Racing Awards:- United States Champion Jockey by earnings (2004, 2005) Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey (2004, 2005) George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award (2009) |
| Significant Horses:- Da Hoss, Storm Flag Flying, Lemon Drop Kid, Ashado, Kitten's Joy, Flower Alley, Lawyer Ron, Roses in May, Bluegrass Cat, Circular Quay, Scat Daddy, Rags to Riches, Commentator, Indian Blessing |