Jorge Velásquez
Jorge Velásquez (born December 28, 1946) is a Panamanian retired jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. During a career that extended from 1963 through 1997, he won 6,795 races from 40,852 starts and his mounts earned $125,544,379.[2][1] His career winning percentage was 16.63 percent.[2]
Velásquez became North America's leading jockey by victories with 438 wins in 1967 and led the continent in purse earnings in 1969 with $2,542,315.[2] He ranked among the top ten North American jockeys by earnings for twenty consecutive years from 1966 through 1985.[2]
Among his best-known mounts was Alydar, whom Velásquez rode to second-place finishes behind Affirmed in all three races of the 1978 Triple Crown. The margins were 1+1⁄2 lengths in the Kentucky Derby, a neck in the Preakness Stakes and a head in the Belmont Stakes.[3] Three years later, Velásquez won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes aboard Pleasant Colony, coming within one race of the Triple Crown himself.[2]
In 1985, Velásquez established a single-season record with 57 stakes victories, including two races at the Breeders' Cup: the Juvenile Fillies aboard Twilight Ridge and the Classic aboard Proud Truth.[2] He received the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1986 and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1990.[4][2]
Early life and career in Panama
Velásquez was born in Chepo, Panama, on December 28, 1946.[2] He grew up in modest circumstances and was working on a farm when he entered racing as a teenager.[5]
At fifteen, Velásquez obtained work as an exercise rider at the racetrack in Panama City. He received his first race mount in 1963 at age sixteen.[5] By eighteen, he had established himself as one of Panama's leading jockeys, at one point recording 177 victories during a six-month period.[5]
His success attracted the attention of prominent American owner and breeder Fred W. Hooper, who brought Velásquez to the United States in 1965.[2]
United States career
Rapid rise
Velásquez initially rode for Hooper at racetracks in New Jersey. Within approximately four months of his arrival, he had won 89 races and set a New Jersey record by riding six winners on a single program at Garden State Park.[5]
In 1966, Velásquez won 300 races and finished second nationally by victories. The following year he became the leading jockey in North America with 438 wins.[2][5]
Contemporary observers particularly noted his patience and balance. A 1967 Time profile described Velásquez as especially skilled at breaking horses cleanly from the starting gate and conserving their energy before asking for a late run, while relying comparatively little on the whip.[5]
In 1969, Velásquez led all North American jockeys by earnings with $2,542,315.[2] His consistency thereafter was remarkable: he ranked among the country's ten leading riders by earnings every year from 1966 through 1985 and was among the top ten by victories twelve times.[2]
Major mounts
Fort Marcy
Velásquez rode a number of leading turf horses during the first decade of his American career, including Hall of Famer Fort Marcy.
Fort Marcy was named champion turf horse three times and was also selected as Horse of the Year and champion older male by the Daily Racing Form in 1970.[6] Among Velásquez's victories aboard the gelding was the 1970 Man o' War Stakes.[6]
Velásquez's success on turf became a recurring feature of his career. He ultimately won five editions of the Man o' War Stakes and twice won the Washington, D.C. International.[2]
Chris Evert and Davona Dale
Velásquez also developed a notable record aboard elite fillies.
In 1974, he rode Chris Evert through a sweep of New York's Filly Triple Crown: the Acorn Stakes, Mother Goose Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks.[2][7] Chris Evert was subsequently voted champion three-year-old filly.
Five years later, Velásquez repeated the New York Filly Triple Crown sweep aboard Calumet Farm's Davona Dale.[2] Davona Dale's 1979 campaign also included victories in the Kentucky Oaks and Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, and she was voted champion three-year-old filly.[8]
Alydar and Affirmed
Velásquez became closely associated with Alydar, bred and owned by Calumet Farm and trained by John M. Veitch.
Alydar and Affirmed had already developed a rivalry as two-year-olds in 1977. During their three-year-old campaigns in 1978, Alydar won the Flamingo Stakes, Florida Derby and Blue Grass Stakes before meeting Affirmed in the Kentucky Derby.[3]
Alydar started as a slight favorite in the Derby but finished 1+1⁄2 lengths behind Affirmed. The margin narrowed to a neck in the 1978 Preakness Stakes.[3]
Their third meeting in the Triple Crown produced one of the closest Belmont Stakes finishes in history. Affirmed and jockey Steve Cauthen and Alydar and Velásquez raced almost continuously together through the final stages, with Affirmed prevailing by a head and completing the Triple Crown.[3]
Alydar therefore became the only horse to finish second in all three Triple Crown races to the same Triple Crown winner.
1978 Travers Stakes
Alydar and Affirmed met again in the 1978 Travers Stakes at Saratoga.
Affirmed initially crossed the finish line first, but the stewards disqualified him for interference with Alydar on the far turn. Velásquez later recalled that he had moved Alydar through an opening along the inside when Affirmed came over and forced him to check severely near the rail.[9]
Affirmed was placed second and Alydar was declared the winner. Velásquez later said that he would have preferred to defeat Affirmed without the disqualification and acknowledged that the result of an interference-free race could never be known.[9]
Alydar also won the Whitney Handicap against older horses that summer with Velásquez aboard.[3]
Pleasant Colony and the 1981 Triple Crown
Velásquez received another opportunity at the Triple Crown in 1981 aboard Pleasant Colony, trained by John P. Campo.
Velásquez was serving a suspension when Pleasant Colony won the Wood Memorial Stakes under substitute jockey Jeffrey Fell. After watching the performance, Velásquez predicted that the colt would finish among the first three in the Kentucky Derby.[10]
Reunited with Pleasant Colony in the 1981 Kentucky Derby, Velásquez guided the colt to victory over Woodchopper.[11]
Two weeks later, Pleasant Colony won the 1981 Preakness Stakes by one length over Bold Ego, giving Velásquez victories in the first two legs of the Triple Crown.[12]
Pleasant Colony entered the Belmont Stakes with an opportunity to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed three years earlier. He finished third behind Summing, ending the bid.[13]
Only three years earlier, Velásquez had been the jockey attempting to stop a Triple Crown aboard Alydar; in 1981 he entered the Belmont as the rider attempting to complete one.
Six-win Belmont card
On July 9, 1981, Velásquez became the first jockey to win six races on a single program at Belmont Park.[14]
The feat stood as the Belmont Park record until Ramon Dominguez also won six races on a card in 2010.[15]
1985 season
One of the most productive seasons of Velásquez's career came in 1985.
He won 57 stakes races during the year, establishing a single-season record.[2] The record was later equaled by Craig Perret in 1990.[16]
At the second running of the Breeders' Cup, held at Aqueduct Racetrack, Velásquez won two races. He rode Twilight Ridge to victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and later won the $3 million Breeders' Cup Classic aboard Proud Truth.[2]
His other leading mounts during the period included Lady's Secret, whom he rode to victory in the 1985 Beldame Stakes.[2]
Career milestones and later years
Velásquez recorded his 5,000th career victory on October 5, 1983, aboard Banquet Scene.[17]
He reached 6,000 victories on August 3, 1989, aboard Maddie Bumpo at Arlington International Racecourse, becoming the fifth jockey in Thoroughbred racing history to reach the milestone.[18]
Velásquez received the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1986. The award is selected by fellow jockeys and recognizes professional and personal conduct.[4]
He was elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1990 while still an active jockey.[2]
Velásquez continued riding through the 1990s. He announced his retirement late in 1997 and made his final three starts at Calder Race Course on December 31.[19]
Fred Hooper, who had brought Velásquez to the United States more than three decades earlier, participated in the ceremony honoring him after his final ride.[19]
Velásquez finished his career with 6,795 victories from 40,852 starts, 6,178 seconds and 5,755 thirds, with earnings of $125,544,379.[1]
After riding
Following his retirement, Velásquez remained involved in Thoroughbred racing and later worked as a jockey agent.
In 2001, Hall of Fame jockey José Santos selected Velásquez to serve as his agent.[20]
Velásquez continued to participate in racing events and Hall of Fame programs after retirement.
Honors and legacy
Velásquez's career coincided with a period in which Panamanian jockeys became increasingly prominent in major American racing. Along with riders such as Manuel Ycaza, Braulio Baeza, Laffit Pincay Jr. and Jacinto Vásquez, he was part of a generation of Panama-trained jockeys who became leading riders in the United States.[2]
His major career achievements included 6,795 victories, the 1981 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, two Breeders' Cup victories, five Man o' War Stakes, five Mother Goose Stakes, five Beldame Stakes and three Jockey Club Gold Cups.[2]
Velásquez was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1990.[2]
References
- 1 2 3 "Jockey Profile: Jorge Velasquez". Equibase. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 "Jorge Velasquez". National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Alydar". National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- 1 2 "George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award". Jockeys' Guild. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Horse Racing: Transistors from Panama". Time. August 11, 1967. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- 1 2 "Fort Marcy". National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Chris Evert". National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Davona Dale". National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- 1 2 Pedulla, Tom (August 14, 2019). "In Their Own Words: Steve Cauthen, Laffit Pincay, Jr. and Jorge Velasquez". New York Racing Association. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Waralo much the best in Ashley T. Cole on Closing Weekend at Aqueduct Racetrack". New York Racing Association. June 27, 2026. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Past Winners". Churchill Downs. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Preakness Jockeys" (PDF). Pimlico Race Course. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Triple Crown History" (PDF). Churchill Downs. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Jorge Velasquez became the first jockey to win six..." United Press International. July 9, 1981. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Ramon A. Dominguez". National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Craig Perret". National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Jorge Velasquez became the fifth jockey in thoroughbred racing history to win 5,000 races". United Press International. October 5, 1983. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Racing through history". ESPN. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- 1 2 "Jockey Velasquez Hangs Up His Saddle". The Spokesman-Review. January 1, 1998. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Velasquez Becomes Santos' Agent". New York Post. February 8, 2001. Retrieved August 13, 2026.
External links
- Jorge Velasquez at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
- Jorge Velasquez at Equibase