NEWS
John Velazquez
Posted: Thursday, June 24, 2010 2:25 PM
JOHN VELAZQUEZ
Adam Coglianese/NYRA photo
Jockey, Jockeys’ Guild
John Velazquez has succeeded at winning races on the track while providing industry leadership off the track.
The two-time Eclipse Award winner as outstanding jockey has excelled on racing’s biggest days and delivered consistency in securing riding titles at some of the most prominent meetings in the U.S.
Velazquez secured his first classic win in 2007 when he guided Rags to Riches to victory in the Belmont Stakes (G1), the first Belmont win by a filly in 102 years. In 2004, Velazquez secured the Bill Shoemaker Award as top Breeders’ Cup jockey when he guided Speights¬town to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) and Ashado to a win in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff Presented by NexTel (G1).
Through 2009, Velazquez had finished as the leading rider at New York Racing Association tracks four times. He won riding titles at Saratoga Race Course in 1998, 2003, and ’04.
Through June 13, Velazquez had won 4,330 races and his mounts had earned $236,724,925.
Velazquez’s stardom on the track helped earn him a spotlight that he has used in his industry leadership position as chairman of the Jockeys’ Guild. Elected to the chairmanship in 2006, Velazquez has worked with national managers Dwight Manley and Terry Meyocks, who currently manages the Guild, to bring it out of bankruptcy and back to a leadership position.
Date of birth: November 24, 1971
Birthplace: Carolina, Puerto Rico
Residence: West Hempstead, New York
Titles: Jockey, chairman of Jockeys’ Guild
Education: Entered Puerto Rico’s jockey school in 1988
Family: Married, two children
Career: Two-time Eclipse Award-winning rider
What book are you currently reading? Mad Money, by Jim Cramer
Last movie you saw at the theater: Shrek: The Final Chapter
What’s on your iPod? Top 40, some Spanish music
Biggest professional achievement: Winning Eclipse Awards
Biggest personal achievement: Wife and kids
Outside interests: Stock market
Personal motto: “When it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be and when it’s not, it’s not.”
Why did you get involved in racing? “First of all, I liked horses; secondly, I needed a job.”
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READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Burguillo, Trujillo Alto, PR on June 26, 2010 at 07:41 AM
John Velazquez has been truly a role model for others to follow. I'm very happy and proud for him and his accomplishments. I love his motto, Murphy's law.
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