John Velazquez Becomes 2nd Among All-Time Saratoga Race Course Jockeys

If you've ever been to the Saratoga Race Course, you've probably won some money by betting on jockey John Velazquez.  If not, shame on you.

There's a reason Velazquez keeps winning you money - it's because he keeps winning!  He's now in the number 2 spot among the all-time leading jockeys at Saratoga.

With his victory aboard Sweet Cat in the 11th race on Thursday, Velazquez moved past Hall of Famer Angel Cordero, Jr. for 2nd on the all-time jockey wins list. 

Velazquez, currently the leading jockey at the 2011 Saratoga meet, now has 650 victories at the Spa, surpassing Cordero, his agent and mentor, who retired with 649 wins.

They both trail retired Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey, who sits atop the leader board with 693 visits to the Saratoga winner’s circle.

“This means a lot,” said Velazquez, who has 49 winners so far this meet. “To be right next to Angel Cordero and follow in Jerry Bailey’s footsteps is a great accomplishment. There are no other words to describe it.”

Rounding out the top five in wins among jockeys at Saratoga are Hall of Famers Edgar Prado and Pat Day, with 423 and 399 victories, respectively.

Velazquez, 39, is the career leader in purses earned at Saratoga, with more than $39 million and counting. Bailey is second all-time in purses at the Spa with $38 million.