Occupation Jockey Career wins 3,000+ (ongoing) | Name Jose Velez, | |
José Antonio Vélez Jr. (born March 23, 1963 in Santurce, Puerto Rico) is a jockey who competes in American Thoroughbred horse races.
The son of jockey José Vélez, Sr., he began his riding career at Atlantic City Race Course in 1980 and won his first race later that year at the Meadowlands. He was the leading apprentice at Hialeah Park in 1982, leading rider at Gulfstream Park that year and top jockey at Calder Race Course in 1983 and 1985. Velez was inducted into the Calder Race Course Hall of Fame in 1997.
In 1998, Velez won the Meadowlands riding title. In 2000, he captured the Maryland Million Classic, the Monmouth Breeders' Cup Oaks, and the Meadowlands Cup. He rode Sei Me to a runnerup performance in the $6 million Dubai World Cup in 2002. That year he won 10 stakes races at Monmouth Park, including the Philip H. Iselin Breeders' Cup Handicap, a race he won again in 2005.
In 2003, Velez won the Grade 1 United Nations Handicap aboard Balto Star and the Grade 3 Salvator Mile Handicap atop Vinemeister.