Tag: John Velazquez

John Velazquez To Ride Tiz The Law In Pegasus World Cup

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez will replace Manny Franco aboard Belmont and Travers Stakes winner Tiz the Law in the colt's next planned start, the Jan. 23 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park. Sackatoga Stable announced the rider change via Twitter on Thursday afternoon.

Trainer Barclay Tagg was unhappy with Franco's ride in last weekend's Breeders' Cup Classic, in which Tiz the Law finished sixth.

“(Franco) said he was rank on him,” Tagg told the Breeders' Cup notes team on Sunday. “The winner was rank and he should have just followed him around. I had him ready to run, but I can't ride for them.”

Tiz the Law is currently at Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, and will begin preparations for the Pegasus after several weeks' rest.

“I'm grateful for what has been accomplished thus far with Tiz,” said Sackatoga's manager Jack Knowlton. “How can you not be? But we have another year of racing ahead of us and want to do what's best for him and our partners. Tiz's story still has another chapter.”

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First Breeders’ Cup Classic Victory Propels Velazquez To Jockey Of The Week Honors

For jockey John Velazquez, winning two Breeders' Cup races would be special but when one of them is the Grade I Breeders' Cup Classic, it makes the day exceptional.  The two Breeders' Cup victories, including the Grade I Filly and Mare Sprint, led to Jockey of the Week honors for November 2 through November 8.  The award, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, is for jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 950 active riders in the United States as well as retired and permanently disabled jockeys.

The victory aboard the Bob Baffert-trained Authentic was the first Classic win for the 48-year-old Velazquez, who was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2012.

“I've been chasing this race for quite a while,” said Velazquez. “For him to do it for me is incredible. What a feeling. The older I get the more emotional I get. It worked out perfect,” added Velazquez. “Bob said to take him to the lead so he doesn't wander so much and keep his mind on running. It worked out. He did everything I wanted him to do.”

Velazquez sent the reigning Kentucky Derby winner to the front and never looked back en route to a two-length win in the $6-million Grade 1 Classic, setting a track record 10 furlongs.

The Classic victory marked the 18th Breeders' Cup win for Velazquez, who kicked off Saturday's Breeders' Cup program by piloting Gamine to a track record score by 6 1/4 lengths in the Grade 1 Filly and Mare Sprint, covering the seven-furlong distance in 1:20.20, also for Baffert.

“We knew that other horse (Serengeti Empress) would come out running, but I didn't want to give it up too easy,” Velazquez said. “I put a little pressure on because I know that filly is really tough on the lead. I made sure I was close. When I asked my filly, she was there for me.”

Velazquez was also the leading money-earning jockey for the week with $3,756,499 in purses.

Velazquez out-polled fellow riders Kendrick Carmouche who posted the most wins for the week with nine, Irad Ortiz, Jr. who won three stakes races at Keeneland including two Breeders' Cup races, Joel Rosario who also won three stakes races at Keeneland with two Breeders' Cup events and Luis Saez who won two stakes races including one Breeders' Cup race.

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Jockeys’ Guild Begins Legal Action Pertaining to New Jersey Crop Use

In light of the New Jersey Racing Commission (NJRC)’s decision and applicable new regulation to eliminate the use of the riding crop but for safety purposes in Thoroughbred racing, the Jockeys’ Guild has retained the services of Rivkin Radler LLP in Hackensack, N.J., to take legal action. A notice of appeal of the Commission’s new regulation was filed on Nov. 5, 2020, in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division.

As the organization representing jockeys throughout the U.S., the safety of both equine and human athletes are paramount and of the upmost importance to the Jockeys’ Guild. According to the organization, the Jockeys’ Guild and its members are adamantly opposed to any animal abuse, and any person who does so should be fully punished for such occurrences. However, the jockeys must be afforded the discretion to use the riding crop in a responsible manner to safely control the horse and do what is in the best interest of the integrity of the sport.

A Steward will determine when a jockey has violated the new rule and the extent of the fine or sanction, which Jockeys’ Guild believes is unfair and subject to enhanced–not reduced–safety concerns. “We strongly believe the rule adopted by the New Jersey Racing Commission will have serious consequences and could result in even greater risks and dangers for both the horses and jockeys,” said Guild Co-Chairman, John Velazquez. “There are many instances when we need to be able to use the riding crop to prevent a dangerous situation from occurring that is not able to be seen or known by those who are not on the horse’s back. While purported to focus on the welfare of the horse, by not considering these instances, the new rule actually disregards the safety of the jockey and the horse.”

The Guild is extremely disappointed by the actions taken by the NJRC. The Guild believes its comments and concerns were not considered and that the NJRC insisted on rushing to adopt a rule that the Guild strongly believes is not only unsafe for the horse and jockey, but also a dangerous precedent and inconsistent with any other jurisdiction in the U.S.

“We believe the Commission failed to have any meaningful dialogue or recognize any input from us as the jockeys who are risking our lives,” said Guild board member and long-time New Jersey jockey Joe Bravo. “We feel that the Commission completely ignored our pleas for compromise, which is disrespectful and disheartening.”

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Jockeys’ Guild Takes Legal Action Against New Jersey Commission’s Whip Regulations

In light of the New Jersey Racing Commission's decision and applicable new regulation to eliminate the use of the riding crop but for safety purposes in Thoroughbred racing, the Jockeys' Guild has retained the services of Rivkin Radler LLP in Hackensack, New Jersey to take legal action. A notice of appeal of the Commission's new regulation was filed on November 5, 2020 in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division.

As the organization representing jockeys throughout the United States, the safety of both our equine and human athletes are paramount and of the upmost importance. The Jockeys' Guild and its members are adamantly opposed to any animal abuse, and any person who does so should be fully punished for such occurrences. However, the jockeys must be afforded the discretion to use the riding crop in a responsible manner to safely control the horse and do what is in the best interest of the integrity of the sport.

A Steward will determine when a jockey has violated the new rule and the extent of the fine or sanction, which Jockeys' Guild believes is unfair and subject to enhanced – not reduced — safety concerns.

“We strongly believe the rule adopted by the New Jersey Racing Commission will have serious consequences and could result in even greater risks and dangers for both the horses and jockeys,” said Guild Co-Chairman, John Velazquez. “There are many instances when we need to be able to use the riding crop to prevent a dangerous situation from occurring that is not able to be seen or known by those who are not on the horse's back. While purported to focus on the welfare of the horse, by not considering these instances, the new rule actually disregards the safety of the jockey and the horse.”

The Guild is extremely disappointed by the actions taken by the New Jersey Racing Commission. The Guild believes its comments and concerns were not considered and that the New Jersey Racing Commission insisted on rushing to adopt a rule that the Guild strongly believes is not only unsafe for the horse and jockey, but also a dangerous precedent and inconsistent with any other jurisdiction in the United States.

“We believe the Commission failed to have any meaningful dialogue or recognize any input from us as the jockeys who are risking our lives,” said Guild board member and long-time New Jersey jockey, Joe Bravo. “We feel that the Commission completely ignored our pleas for compromise, which is disrespectful and disheartening.”

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