With over 25 years of sports writing and editing experience for The Guardian, Racing Post, Sky Sports Racing and 888Sport, David now produces expert horse racing content for Sports Talk Philly.
All posts by David MyersThis year’s Kentucky Derby will take place on Saturday, May 4, at Churchill Downs. Post-time will be at the famous track just before 19:00.
The historic race celebrates its 150th anniversary and has witnessed some magnificent performances over the years, not only by the horses but also by the men doing the steering—namely, the jockeys.
Therefore, let’s take a closer look at the talented pilots who could well be making headlines once more in Kentucky.
The Most Successful Kentucky Derby Jockeys
As the paddock judge at Churchill Downs shouts “Riders Up!” for jockeys to mount their horses ahead of the 150th Kentucky Derby on May 3, it will be important for bettors to know which pilots possess the right skills to emerge victorious where it matters – on the winning line.
Indeed, the pilots whose steering skills worked previously in knowing how to ride the track at Churchill Downs could well come up trumps again, hence the following list of jockeys currently riding who could be saddling a runner in the 2024 Kentucky Derby:
Kentucky Derby Jockey Records
Jockey Wins Kent Desormeaux 3 (1998, 2000, 2008) Calvin Borel 3 (2007, 2009, 2010) Victor Espinoza 3 (2002, 2014, 2015) John Velazquez 3 (2011, 2017, 2020) Mike Smith 2 (2005, 2018) Mario Gutierrez 2 (2012, 2016) Javier Castellano 1 (2023) Sonny Leon 1 (2022) Florent Geroux 1 (2021) Flavien Prat 1 (2019) Joel Rosario 1 (2013) For those placing bets, using reputable offshore sportsbooks can provide better odds and more betting options, enhancing the overall betting experience.
Kentucky Derby Jockeys 2024: Ones To Watch
John Velazquez
John Velazquez boasts an outstanding record in the Kentucky Derby, with three victories in the race since 2011.
Velazquez also has a good chance of winning this fourth, as he looks set to ride the current favorite horse, Fierceness. However, if he misses out on that ride, he has Resilience as a possible alternative.
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PLAY NOW Frankie Dettori
And what of that man Frankie Dettori, a bonafide horse racing legend and go-to guy for many in big races worldwide, including in America, where he currently resides?
Dettori has remained in hot form Stateside since retiring in the UK and recently made it known that he wants a ride in the 150th Kentucky Derby. He only rode in the race once back in 2000, finishing just eighth. He may have a score to settle.
Which Jockeys Are In Hot Form This Year?
Keeping on the right side of the jockeys running hot in 2024 remains sound advice, and the following table highlights those who have visited the winner’s enclosure most frequently this year.
# Jockey Starts Wins Earnings Win% 1 Flavien Prat 207 52 $6,871,248 25% 2 Irad Ortiz, Jr. 477 100 $6,627,996 21% 3 Tyler Gaffalione 442 66 $6,189,870 15% 4 Cristian A. Torres 345 68 $5,122,598 20% 5 Jose L. Ortiz 434 94 $4,991,975 22% 6 Juan J. Hernandez 225 49 $4,652,223 22% 7 Luis Saez 404 64 $4,321,571 16% 8 Paco Lopez 444 77 $3,977,174 17% 9 Keith J. Asmussen 285 47 $3,765,965 16% 10 Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 231 41 $3,556,782 18% Flavien Prat
With almost $4m earned in prize money during 2024 already, Flavien Prat sits proudly at the top of the list of leading jockeys following some big race wins, including in March’s Louisiana Derby, where he partnered Catching Freedom to victory. The fact that Prat also recorded his first Kentucky Derby win in 2019 bodes well.
Tyler Gaffalione
Tyler Gaffalione is currently third in the leading jockey table for 2024 and also receives the plum ride at Churchill Downs in Sierra Leone. This combination smacks of further success for Gaffalione, although he’ll need to improve his previous Kentucky Derby placings of 16th, 16th, 18th, 15th, 7th, and 14th.
Those with an eye for Kentucky Derby trends will remember that geographic words (‘California’ and ‘American’) featured in the names of both the 2014 and 2015 winners.
Florent Geroux
Although not in the current top 10 jockeys list for earnings in 2024, Florent Geroux is a jockey to watch at Churchill Downs. He came home in first place in the 2021 Kentucky Derby before finishing third here 12 months ago.
Clearly a man for the big occasion, Geroux could make the placings once more if partnering Just A Touch.
The Best Kentucky Derby Jockeys 2024
The majority of jockeys to have won the Kentucky Derby during the last 10 years will again be present at Churchill Downs on the first week of May when looking to cement their legacy in horse racing history even further.
One such name that will aim to make it Derby win No.4 is John Velazquez, who is set to partner Fierceness, under the guidance of experienced trainer Todd Pletcher. The money has arrived for this colt since he won the pair partnered up to land the Florida Derby, and a repeat of that has to put him bang there.
Elsewhere, Javier Castellano will be looking to make it back-to-back wins in the race after success here in 2023 and will be hoping the recent run of outsiders in this race continues as he could ride No More Time, who was a close runner-up in the Tampa Bay Derby last time and is going the right way.
As for the ‘hot jockey’ riding the most winners currently, then Flavien Prat has to enter the reckoning, having tasted big-race success on several occasions already in 2024, such as in the Louisiana Derby aboard Catching Freedom. Prat has also won the Kentucky Derby before, so knows what it takes and is well worth a flutter on the outright market.
Take advantage of a $25 risk-free bet on BetOnline:
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