JC / Railbird

Jockeys Archive

Déjà Valenzuela?

Pat Valenzuela and the CHRB, July 2010:

The path to a conditional license in California was opened to Valenzuela, 47, under the terms of a stipulated agreement approved by board members that will require him to submit to hair follicle testing, according to the CHRB.

Pat Valenzuela and the CHRB, July 2004:

Jockey Patrick Valenzuela, who was suspended for the month of June for failing to submit to a drug test in January, was suspended again by the Hollywood Park board of stewards on Friday for failing to comply with a term of his conditional license that requires he submit to a hair follicle test.

“They never asked me to grow hair,” said the rider. “It’s not my fault.”

I wish Valenzuela well. He’s been riding in Louisiana for two years without trouble, and maybe, as Pat Day tells Jay Hovdey, “this time it will be different.” But I also hope that the CHRB is asking him to grow hair this time around.

Posted in Jockeys on July 22, 2010

High Praise for Sutherland

Chantal Sutherland, Queen of the Longshots: “She could become the best female jockey since Julie Krone” (LAT).

Posted in Jockeys on March 21, 2008

10,00 Wins for Ricardo

Jorge Ricardo becomes the first jockey to get 10,000 wins.

Posted in Jockeys on January 10, 2008

On the Verge

– Jockey Garrett Gomez, on the verge of setting a new record for most stakes wins in a year (DRF), had five mounts at Hollywood this afternoon and won two races, but neither was a stakes. In the War Chant Stakes, Gomez’s ride, the uninspiring favorite Karazi, finished sixth. The victory instead went to Jose Valdivia, aboard 3-1 Warning Zone. Gomez will get his next shot at tying the record, currently held by retired rider Jerry Bailey, on Saturday in the Audrey Skirbal-Kennis Stakes, where he’s named to ride Hucking Hot, a promising filly with a troubled past (ESPN).
– Five favorites and the Aqueduct pick six still paid $14,814. Love Cove at 11-1 in the second leg must have knocked out quite a few tickets vying for a piece of the two-day carryover pot this afternoon.
– There’s a great quote from George Bolton, part-owner of likely Horse of the Year Curlin, in the post-Breeders’ Cup issue of Blood-Horse: “Why would we retire him? So I can buy 10 more that can’t run?” The possibility that the Classic winner might return to the races as a 4-year-old grew stronger today with the news that Bolton and Jess Jackson have bought out partner Satish Sanan’s interest in the colt for an undisclosed sum. “Mr. Bolton and Mr. Jackson are looking at all possibilities for the future of the horse,” said lawyer Richard Getty (Herald-Leader). Bolton and Jackson now control 80% of Curlin. As for the other 20%, Michael at Curb My Enthusiasm has been following that saga.

Posted in Jockeys on November 7, 2007

Beginnings of a Legend

“He got hooked … There were a lot of little people making a fast buck” (Lowell Sun).

Posted in Jockeys on October 5, 2007

Ricardo vs. Baze

When jockey Russell Baze became the winningest rider of all time last December, Brazilian superstar rider Jorge Ricardo was only 27 victories behind. Four weeks later, he surpassed Baze, and the two riders have been in a “ding-dong battle” since to reach 10,000 wins first (Racing Post). Follow along at Pagina de Turf, which is updating the riders’ stats daily. [Thanks to Bill at Racing Figures for the links.]

Posted in Jockeys on August 13, 2007

Lakeman Benefit Scheduled

New York jockeys will take on top-ranked 5th grade basketball team Texas Titans in a benefit for rider Andrew Lakeman, paralyzed as a result of an accident at Belmont in May, next Thursday, 7 p.m., at the Saratoga Springs high school gym. All proceeds will go to Lakeman, now in rehabilitation. The event, organized by the Racetrack Chaplaincy, has already raised $5,000 apiece from such prominent owners as Lael Stables, Padua, Dogwood, and Darley. More details about this very worthy event can be found by clicking here.

Posted in Jockeys on August 3, 2007

Queen’s Plate First

Congratulations to Emma-Jayne Wilson, who became the first female jockey to win the Queen’s Plate Stakes when she rode longshot Mike Fox to victory at Woodbine on Sunday (DRF). “As far as I was concerned I was very much on the best horse and he proved that today,” said Wilson. “I’m just so happy that we can say that: ‘First female rider. Girl power, go for it.’ I’m just so glad it will be the last time it will be said” (CBC).
Speaking of female jockeys, there was an interesting article in the Seattle Times a few days ago about Emerald Downs and how well women riders are doing there this year.

Posted in Jockeys on June 25, 2007

Gomez to Ride for Pletcher

– Jockey Garrett Gomez will replace injured rider John Valazquez as trainer Todd Pletcher’s first call rider. “Garrett is coming in to kind of pick up the pieces,” said Pletcher. “Mike Luzzi and Chris [DeCarlo] will also be riding for us. We’re trying to keep things pulled together.” Gomez’s agent, Ron Anderson, said the jockey will fly to Kentucky on Monday and begin riding at Keeneland on Wednesday. Valazquez, injured in an accident at Keeneland last Friday, returns to New York on Monday to recover at home. “I’m feeling as best as can be expected considering what happened,” said Velazquez.
– Apprentice rider Martin Garcia, leading the jockey standings at Golden Gate with 101 winners to jockey Russell Baze’s 84, will ride at Hollywood Park after the Golden Gate meet ends. “I’ve got a lot of people who have promised me that they will give him a good shot at Hollywood Park,” said Roger Olguin, Garcia’s agent. “They know he can ride. He really likes it here, but I told him he had to try down there because that’s where the big money is.”

Posted in Jockeys on April 23, 2006

Velazquez Injured

Jockey John Velazquez suffered two broken ribs and a fractured shoulder on Thursday when his mount, Up An Octave, broke down just yards past the wire after winning the Forerunner Stakes over the turf course at Keeneland. The horse fell, throwing Velazquez to ground, and rolled over the rider. Velazquez was taken to the University of Kentucky hospital for evaluation and X-rays and remained there overnight. “He’s pretty sore everywhere, but he’s very lucky,” said Angel Cordero, a retired Hall of Fame jockey and Velazquez’s agent. “That is one of the ugliest spills I’ve ever seen.”
With his injuries, Velazquez could be out for three to five months, and trainer Todd Pletcher will need to name a replacement rider for WinStar Farm’s Bluegrass Cat, who is still a possible Kentucky Derby starter. “We’re looking around [for a replacement] right now,” said WinStar vice president Elliott Walden. “We’re considering Ramon Dominguez, but it’s still undecided.”
Up An Octave, a three-year-old colt trained by Pletcher, sustained a compound fracture of his left foreleg and had to be euthanized on the track.
“It’s the nature of the business for the jock, the owner and trainer,” said jockey Willie Martinez, who finished well behind Velazquez in the Forerunner. “Here we are: ‘How was your day?’ ‘I won a stakes race, and three jumps after the wire I broke my shoulder and the horse was put down.'”

Posted in Jockeys on April 21, 2006