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Kentucky Derby's Jockeys
The thoroughbreds are the stars, but success will depend on the relatively unknown jockeys.
- Garrett Gomez Gomez, who was born in Arizona, won his first race in New Mexico in 1988. The son of a jockey, Gomez dropped out of high school in his sophomore year to start riding. In 2006, he donated $10,000 to the Winners Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping racetrackers with substance and alcohol abuse.read more2010 Getty ImagesShare
- Corey Nakatani The California native has had 14 Derby mounts. He has never won, though. He's finished fourth twice, and sixth another time. Nakatani was a high school wrestling champion; that's where he first came across riding. Even though he'd never been on a horse, he wanted to ride. He learned to ride from Hall of Fame jockey and trainer Johnny Longden.read more2008 Getty ImagesShare
- Víctor Espinoza The Mexican drove a bus before kicking off his career. "It's a lot easier riding horses than driving in that traffic in Mexico City," he said. He attended jockey school for a year, and won his first race at Hippodromo de las Americas in 1992. He moved to the U.S. shortly thereafter. He won the Derby in 2002.read moreAP2011Share
- Rafael Bejarano He attended races in his native Perú, and "fell in love" with riding. He groomed horses to earn money for riding school, where he stayed for 18 months. He went to the U.S. in 2002 with the help of trainer Dante Zanelli Sr., and won his first race in the U.S. at River Downs later that year.read more© BENOIT PHOTOShare
- Patrick Valenzuela Valenzuela, a Colorado native, is the latest Valenzuela to ride. His father, A.C., and uncles Milo, Santiago and Mario, were all riders. His brother Fabian, too, has competed. Patrick Valenzuela won the 1989 Derby and Preakness Stakes with Sunday Silence, and just missed out on the Triple Crown when he lost the Belmont Stakes.read more2006 Getty ImagesShare
- Mike Smith Born in New Mexico, Smith began riding when he was 11 years old. He kicked off his licensed career in 1982, and won his first race that year -- at the age of 16 -- with Forever Man at Sante Fe in New Mexico. He has competed in three Derbys, but has never won.read more© BENOIT PHOTOShare
- Julien Leparoux Born into the sport, Leparoux is the son a former jockey who later became a trainer. He grew up in Chantilly, France, and began racing at age 18. He reportedly wanted to be a jockey since he was a child. His father, Robert, who taught him the sport, died in 2003.read moreAP2011Share
- Joel Rosario The native of the Dominican Republic won his first race in July 2000 at the Galapagos Hippodromo V Centenario there. He grew up on a farm in Santo Domingo, where he used horses for transportation. He attended jockey school for six months and by 14 years old he went professional.read more© BENOIT PHOTOShare
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Kentucky Derby's Jockeys
The thoroughbreds are the stars, but success will depend on the relatively unknown jockeys.
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- Kentucky Derby's Jockeys
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