When it comes to horse racing, it’s equally as important to consider the jockey as it is to take the horse’s history into account. This applies to any horse racing bet you are about to make.
There’s usually information available for you in the race programs that are available on the day, but if you’re looking to get your wagers in order prior to the event, we’re here to help.
We’ve collected and collated the necessary information that has allowed us to put together this list of the best jockeys to bet on so that you know when and where to put your money.
Before we delve any further, it’s important to note that in order to bet on the right jockey, you’ll need to have at least had a preliminary look at the odds being offered for a race. This will indicate the likelihood of your success as well as telling you what your return would be!
Jockey Rankings
Ortiz is one of the best jockeys in America and has won three consecutive Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Jockey.
Starts: 780
1sts: 206
2nds: 149
3rds: 103
Purses: $13,029,711
Having won the Kentucky Derby with Orb in 2013 when he was just 28 years old, Rosario finished near the top of the list for earnings in 2013 and has been up there ever since.
Starts: 514
1sts: 109
2nds: 68
3rds: 78
Purses: $13,005,152
Although he was disqualified in the 2019 Kentucky Derby which saw him miss out on first place, Saez has been one of the top jockeys this summer at Saratoga, arguably the finest, deepest pool of jockeys in the world.
Starts: 825
1sts: 139
2nds: 144
3rds: 119
Purses: $11,429,471
Although he rides in top races all over the country, Prat is largely based on the West Coast.
Starts: 485
1sts: 132
2nds: 107
3rds: 78
Purses: $10,878,529
If the name sounds familiar, that’s because this jockey is the younger sibling of the Ortiz Brothers and has been living up to the family name by performing well.
Starts: 716
1sts: 137
2nds: 115
3rds: 115
Purses: $10,581,277
Another rider who travels the country for top stakes races, Geroux is one of top riders in the midwest.
Starts: 458
1sts: 110
2nds: 74
3rds: 56
Purses: $10,162,423
Santana rides a lot in the south and southwest, but as a favorite of trainer Steve Asmussen, has been making a name for himself at other tracks.
Starts: 510
1sts: 105
2nds: 72
3rds: 78
Purses: $9,339,708
With three Kentucky Derby wins under his belt, Velazquez remains a Hall of Fame-caliber rider even at the age of 49.
Starts: 326
1sts: 59
2nds: 34
3rds: 50
Purses: $8,690,878
Another jockey to watch is Manuel Franco, who is best known for his momentous win in 2020 at the Belmont Stakes when he was riding Tiz the Law, but has been riding since 2013.
Starts: 715
1sts: 119
2nds: 117
3rds: 107
Purses: $7,744,643
Gaffalione, one of the younger top jockeys, was one of the best riders in Florida, but been recently getting mounts in Triple Crown races and New York stakes races.
Starts: 706
1sts: 132
2nds: 101
3rds: 96
Purses: $7,286,532
The first thing you should do when you are trying to decide which is the best jockey to bet on is to locate information like the statistics we have provided above, but this isn’t the be all and end all of horse racing. A track record stands for a lot, but it does not determine the winner.
Horse racing is actually one of the sports in which anything can happen - like in the UFC, the underdog (or, in this case, the underhorse) can always sneak an unexpected win, so you can’t place your bets by going off the jockey’s (or the horse’s) past record alone.
Yes, you want to look at their experience, skill level, and prior performance, but you should also try to determine whether they follow a particular racing strategy in order to increase their chances of winning, as well as keeping in mind the horse’s ability and performance.