As someone who graduated from the University of Kentucky, I can tell you that horse racing has some serious money in it. Not only is it an opportunity for spectators to get all dolled up and drink copious amounts of alcohol for an entire day, treating each day they attend the track like a college football tailgate, but they also throw down a lot of cash to try and win what they can. And while fans in attendance are rooting on the horse as they weave around the track, it’s the strategy of the jockey that can make all the difference in a race. Since not all jockeys are created equally, here are some of the biggest names in the sport, with the ones who have earned the most throughout their career. Of course, these are career earnings, not what each took home, but it gives you an idea on who to bet on if one of these guys is riding your favorite horse.
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20. Pat Valenzuela – $165.28 million
Although the highlight of Pat Valenzuela’s career came in 1989 when he won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been successful otherwise, earning over 4,000 career wins to date and putting himself in the conversation as a Hall of Famer. While most of his best days may be behind him, there’s no denying that Valenzuela has been one of the most solid jockeys in the past 30 years—and his more than $165 million earned is proof of that.
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19. Victor Espinoza – $169.40 million
Winning both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes twice, Victor Espinoza is one of the better big-race jockeys out there. With more than 3,100 career wins—and counting, the native Mexican has also won the ESPY Award for Best Jockey twice, including 2014, showing that he’s still respected and feared by his peers. And with over $169 million already earned, he has a chance to move up this list even more.
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18. Jose A. Santos – $187.24 million
A winner of each of the three American Triple Crown Races, Jose A. Santos had a riding career that proved to be quite successful. Add in the amount of Stakes victories, and it’s easy to see why Santos finished his career with a few individual awards, over $187 million and a spot in the Hall of Fame.
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17. Robby Albarado – $190.33 million
A Preakness winner in 2007, Robby Albarado has been racing ever since 1990 and has done some impressive things since. Even after sustaining some serious injuries throughout his career, Albarado has still managed to win various Stakes and Handicap races, which have helped him earn over $190 million in his 20-plus year riding career.
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16. Ramon A. Dominguez – $191.62 million
With a number of individual honors, Ramon A. Dominguez has shown to be a great jockey who was amongst the best during his heyday. Like a few others on this list, he made his mark on the Handicap and Stakes races, never winning one of the Triple Crown races, but seeing how he pulled in more than $191 million, he was clearly doing something right.
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15. Russell A. Baze – $192.62 million
Holding the record for the most racing wins in American horse racing history, Russell A. Baze began his career in 1974 and has continued to ride to this day, still finishing first in a variety of races. Known for both his Handicap and Stakes race victories, Baze might not have any of the more recognized races on his resume, but he’s still an all-time great and Hall of Famer.
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14. Eddie J. Delahoussaye – $195.88 million
A Hall of Fame jockey, Eddie J. Delahoussaye began his career in 1968 and in just 10 years became the winningest American jockey by posting 384 wins in that span. It helped that he won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont twice along with one win at the Preakness. With so many turns with the roses draped over his horses neck, it’s understandable to see how he earned nearly $196 million in his racing days.
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13. Garrett K. Gomez – $205.22 million
Garrett K. Gomez might only be No. 13 on this list, but from 2006-09, he was the U.S. champion by earning amongst jockeys, meaning he has won a lot of money in his career. Still, Gomez has yet to win any of the Triple Crown Races in the States, which is the one knock one could have on him. But with so many Stakes and Oaks titles on his belt, he has shown to be one of the better racers in the sport.
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12. Javier Castellano – $214.47 million
Not really breaking into the mainstream until 2004 when he won several big races, Javier Castellano has earned himself a few individual awards for his riding ever since, proving that he is a natural at riding. With a Preakness Stakes already on his resume and other Stakes races around the world, he has the talent to continue to add to his career numbers as he keeps racing.
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11. Corey S. Nakatani – $223.72 million
While jockey Corey S. Nakatani hasn’t won a U.S. Triple Crown Race in his career, yet, that doesn’t diminish any of the accomplishments that he does have on his resume. Many of those consist of different Stakes wins and, most importantly, the Breeders’ Cup Sprint five times—including three-straight from 1996-98. Nakatani is annually among the top-earning jockeys each year, so his addition on this list isn’t too surprising.
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10. Alex O. Solis – $236.07 million
First gaining national prominence back in 1986 following his win at the Preakness Stakes atop Snow Chief, Alex O. Solis has had a solid career ever since, finishing second in the Kentucky Derby three out of four years—although he still has never won the race—and earning multiple Breeders’ Cup wins. Thanks to that success, Solis has earned more than $236 million since his career began.
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9. Laffit A. Pincay Jr. – $237.12 million
Although he has since been passed on the all-time wins list, Laffit A. Pincay Jr. finished his career with the most victories in flat racing—which is what all of these jockeys on the list compete in. Four of the wins came in the U.S. Triple Crown Races, which, no doubt, helped him earn the over $237 million that he did during his illustrious career.
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8. Gary L. Stevens – $237.15 million
A current commentator of the sport and Hall of Fame jockey, Gary L. Stevens has seemingly done it all in the sport. Earning himself three wins at each of the U.S. Triple Crown Races, Stevens has battled numerous injuries throughout his career, walking away from the sport on a few different occasions, yet returning each time and adding victories even still. His passion and love for the sport has paid-off, literally, with him earning over $237 million.
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7. Edgar S. Prado – $252.65 million
Breaking through in 1997 with his 536 wins—which put him as the fourth jockey to ever surpass the 500-win mark in a single year—Edgar S. Prado was the king of Maryland racetracks, making a living winning many of the races in that particular state. He also won one Kentucky Derby and two Belmont Stakes, but, surprisingly, was shutout of the Preakness even though it is held in Maryland—where a lot of his success has taken place.
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6. Kent Desormeaux – $253.92 million
Arguably the most recognizable name from casual fans of the sport—or, in other words, those who only watch the Triple Crown Races—Kent Desormeaux holds the record for the most races won in a single year with 598 victories all the way back in 1989. He’s probably best known for his three Kentucky Derby’s, two Preakness Stakes and single Belmont Stakes wins, though, as well as his famous ride of the horse Big Brown in 2008, which, many consider, to have been one of the great horses of the past few decades.
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5. Mike E. Smith – $261.35 million
One of the leading jockeys since the early-’90s, Mike E. Smith was inducted into the Horse Racing Hall of Fame back in 2003 largely due to his Breeders’ Cup victories—which he has won more than any other rider. With four total wins in the U.S. Triple Crown Races, as well, Smith has established himself as one of the best ever, leading to such a big number in earnings.
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4. Chris J. McCarron – $263.98 million
Beginning his riding career in 1974, Chris J. McCarron broke onto the scene with great performances early in his career, earning a number of jockey awards. Winning nine Breeders’ Cup races and riding six winner in the U.S. Triple Crown Races, McCarron did quite well for himself, earning nearly $264 million for owners and trainers of the horses he rode.
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3. Jerry Bailey – $296.11 million
A current analyst on NBC of the sport, Jerry Bailey is a Hall of Fame jockey who had his fair share of memorable moments during his career. His most famous wins were winning each of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes twice, which helped guide him towards the over $296 million that he earned throughout his 30-year career.
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2. Pat Day – $297.93 million
One of my personal favorite jockeys, Pat Day has been around for a long, long time, riding a variety of horses in his career on all different levels of the sport. Winning his lone Kentucky Derby in 1992, Day has added three Belmont Stakes titles and five Preakness’. The jockey also holds the records for the most starts at both Churchill Downs and Keeneland, which are the two largest tracks in the racing-crazed state of Kentucky.
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1. John Velazquez – $317.9 million
Inducted into the Horse Racing Hall of Fame back in 2012, jockey John Velazquez has proven to be quite the rider of a horse, earning the most money ever in the history of the sport at just under $318 million. With one Kentucky Derby win, two Belmont Stakes’ victories and a number of other major racing titles on his resume, it’s not hard to see why he’s earned so much.
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