The 141st Running of the Preakness Stakes. (Getty)
The horse jockeys in the Preakness Stakes will mount their steeds this afternoon, hoping to win on the dirt track at Pimlico race course in Baltimore, Maryland. Many fresh off an impressive (and messy) competition in the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby on May 6,
Horse jockeys tend to be small in stature, usually between 4’10” and 5’6″. They are also very fit, as they don’t want to add much additional weight to the horse they are riding. The average weight of a jockey is somewhere between 109 and 116 pounds.
Jockeys can make really good money, with the most successful making six figures — or more. They are paid a “mount fee” which ranges anywhere from $40 for smaller races to $500 or more for big races. A typical horse jockey may compete in several races per day, which adds up. Jockeys finishing in the top five of a given race will also usually earn a percentage (usually 10) of whatever the owner makes.
Here is what you need to know about jockeys in the Preakness Stakes:
1. John Velazquez Has Never Won the Preakness Stakes
Jockey John Velazquez celebrates atop Always Dreaming #5 after winning the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby. (Getty)
Despite being a hall of fame jockey and two-time United States Champion Jockey by earnings, John Velazquez has never won the Preakness Stakes. He has won the Kentucky Derby twice — in 2011 aboard Animal Kingdom and in 2017 atop Always Dreaming. He has also won the third Triple Crown Jewel, the Belmont Stakes twice — in 2007 riding Rags to Riches and again in 2012 aboard Union Rags.
But the Preakness continues to elude Velazquez, the all-time money-winning jockey. In 2011, he came in second place with Animal Kingdom, but got beat by Shackleford, a horse that had 12/1 odds.
In the 2017 race at Pimlico, Velazquez will ride the newest Triple Crown contender, Always Dreaming, a horse that he truly believes in.
“This is the best horse [trainer] Todd [Pletcher] and I have ever come to the Kentucky Derby with. Being behind me for 24 years together, a long time for him to still trust in me and give me the opportunity, it’s not very often it happens in this business,” Velasquez told the Associated Press after his May 6 Derby win.
2. Kent Desormeaux Won the Preakness in 2016 With Exaggerator
Jockey Kent Desormeaux & his brother Keith. (Getty)
The 2016 Preakness Stakes was a showdown between two top contenders, Nyquist and Exaggerator. After losing to Nyquist in the Derby, Exaggerator — ridden by famed jockey Kent Desormeaux — got his revenge, coming in first and spoiling Nyquist’s Triple Crown chances. He rode Exaggerator again in the 2016 Belmont Stakes, but the horse finished 11th.
Desormeaux and his brother, Keith, a horse trainer, have worked in tandem for years. Kent has ridden atop many horses trained by his brother — including Exaggerator.
“Desormeaux, in 2008, won his third Kentucky Derby aboard Big Brown in a time of 2:01 4/5. Big Brown won by just under five lengths. Desormeaux followed this victory with his ride on Big Brown to victory at the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, MD, in a time of 1:54 4/5,” reads his website. He also won the Preakness Stakes in 1998 aboard Real Quiet.
In the 2017 Derby, Kent Desormeaux rode maiden Sonneteer and finished 16th. He is not riding a horse in today’s Preakness Stakes.
3. Mike E. Smith, Jose L. Ortiz, & Javier Castellano Are Considered ‘Safe’ Jockeys to Bet on
Jockey Javier Castellano celebrates his win at the 2016 Kentucky Oaks. (Getty)
Betting on horses that have proven jockeys is one way to make a “safe” bet. Many people tend to look at how much money a jockey has made and/or how many wins he has had in a year (or over the course of his career). The jockeys at the top of those lists may have a better chance at winning a big race based on experience and their success in recent months.
Looking at the current leaders on the Equibase website, you will see that Mike E. Smith, Jose L. Ortiz, and Javier Castellano are the top three horse racing jockeys.
Mike E. Smith has earned $10,453,723 and has had 24 first place finishes in 2017. He will be riding Gunnevera in today’s Preakness Stakes.
Jose L. Ortiz has earned $8,121,541 and has had 85 first place finishes this year. He will mount Term of Art in today’s race.
Javier Castellano is in third place, having earned $7,430,056. He has had 84 first place finishes in 2017. He will ride Cloud Computing in today’s race.
4. A Few Jockeys Have Won Back-to-Back at Pimlico
Victor Espinoza at the 2016 Kentucky Derby. (Getty)
A few jockeys have won the Preakness Stakes consecutive years, dating back to the 1870s. The first-ever jockey to accomplish this feat was C. Holloway who won the race in 1877 aboard Cloverbrook and again the following year aboard Duke of Magenta. Holloway’s wins started somewhat of a trend. In 1879 and in 1880, Lloyd Hughes won consecutive Preakness races aboard Harold and Grenada, respectively. In 1881, the torch was passed to Tom Costello who won that year and the following year atop Saunterer and Vanguard.
In 1894 and 1895, Fred Taral won subsequent races, riding Assignee and then Belmar to victory. It wasn’t until 1918 and 1919 that the race saw another jockey take back-to-back wins. Johnny Loftus won with War Cloud and then with Sir Barton. In 1950 and 1951, Eddie Arcaro won with Hill Prince and Bold.
In the early 90s, famed jockey Pat Day won three Preakness Stakes in a row. In 1994, he won with Tabasco Cat. In 1995, he rode Timber Country to victory. And in 1996, he mounted Louis Quatorze to finish out his streak.
Since then, no other jockeys have won the Preakness Stakes two years in a row.
5. Eddie Arcaro Has Won the Most Preakness Titles
1948 Triple Crown winner CITATION (Eddie Arcaro). The 2nd ranked North American runner in ‘A Century of Champions’.
Jockey Eddie Arcaro has won six Preakness Stakes races at Pimlico. He won in 1941 with Whirlaway, in 1948 with Citation, in 1950 with Hill Prince, again in 1951 with Bold, in 1955 with Nashua, and in 1957 with Bold Ruler.
Coming in next is Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day, who won five Preakness Stakes titles. He has won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey four times and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991.
Jockeys that have won three times at the Preakness include George Barbee (1873, 1876, 1883), Bill Hartack (1956, 1964, 1969), Lloyd Hughes (1875, 1879, 1880), Gary Stevens (1997, 2001, 2013), Victor Espinoza (2002, 2014, 2015), and Kent Desormeaux (1998, 2008, 2016).
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Preakness Jockeys: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know