Oh man, you won’t believe what I’ve been up to lately. It’s all about this jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr. Let me tell you, this guy is a big deal in the horse racing world. So, I started by digging into his recent wins, and guess what? He just hit his 4,000th career win! Can you imagine? That’s a lot of races.
I found out he achieved this milestone on October 13 at Keeneland. He was quoted saying, “It’s been a great year.” And it really has been. Not only the 4,000 wins, but he also tied for the lead at Kentucky Downs and even won the meet at Keeneland for the first time. What an amazing feat!
- Dive into Irad’s background.
- Check out his family ties in racing.
- Discover he’s a five-time Eclipse Award winner.
- Find he’s leading in both wins and earnings.
Then, I delved a bit into his personal life. Turns out, he’s a family man, living on Long Island with his three daughters. It’s always nice to see the human side of these sports stars, right? And get this, he’s not the only jockey in the family. His grandfather and uncle were jockeys, and his younger brother, José, is also making waves in New York. They support each other, but on the track, it’s all business, as it should be.
I also looked up some recent news about him. He’s leading in both purse winnings and victories for 2023, which is seriously impressive. But it’s not all smooth sailing. He had a three-day suspension after a disqualification from a race at Saratoga, but he waived his right to appeal. Also, I read about a sad incident where a horse named Ever Summer had a terrible accident during a race he was in and had to be euthanized. These things happen in this sport, I guess, but it still leaves you with a heavy heart.
What I really learned
I ended up spending hours reading articles and watching interviews. I got so engrossed that my family started wondering if I was planning to become a jockey myself. To wrap it all up, I put together all this info, and it gave me a real appreciation for what these athletes go through. It’s a tough sport, full of highs and lows, and Irad Ortiz Jr. is definitely a name to watch. And that’s my deep dive into the world of Irad Ortiz Jr. I hope you enjoyed this little journey as much as I did!
