Javier Castellano (born October 23, 1977) is a Venezuelan jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.
Castellano won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey four times in a row from 2013 to 2016. [2] In 2023 he won two legs of the American Triple Crown–the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes–aboard different horses. [3]
Castellano began his riding career in 1996 at Santa Rita and La Rinconada racecourses in Venezuela. In June 1997 he moved to the United States where he rode at race tracks in southern Florida until 2001, when he moved north to race on the New York State racing circuit.
He had his first major wins in 2004, on Frank Stronach's colt Ghostzapper and won several major races including the 2004 Breeders' Cup Classic, earning 2004 Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year and other honors. In 2006, Castellano rode Bernardini for Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Darley Racing, winning the Preakness Stakes, the Travers Stakes, and the Jockey Club Gold Cup. [4]
Castellano received the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016, each year having the highest purse winnings of any jockey in North America. [2] In 2013, he finished the year with purse earnings of over $26.2 million, surpassing the single-season record previously held by Ramon Dominguez in 2012. [5] He passed 4,000 North American wins in February 2015, [6] and by the end of the year had broken his own single-season winnings and earnings record. [7]
In 2023 Castellano won two legs of the Triple Crown on two separate horses, winning aboard Mage in the Kentucky Derby and Arcangelo in the Belmont Stakes. It was Castellano's first career victory in each race. [3]
Castellano was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2017. [8]
Racing runs in Castellano's family. His father, who died in 2000, his uncle, and a brother all have been jockeys. He considers his father to be the biggest influence on his career. [9]
He and his wife, Abby have three children. His father-in-law is Terry Meyocks, national director of the Jockeys' Guild. His younger brother Abel Castellano, Jr. (born 1983) is also a jockey and rode his first winner on September 22, 1999, at Santa Rita Race Course in Venezuela. [10] In 2000 he began riding in the United States at Gulfstream Park. [11]
| Chart (2000–present) | Rank by earnings |
|---|---|
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2000 | 31 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2001 | 28 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2002 | 15 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2003 | 15 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2004 | 6 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2005 | 6 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2006 | 11 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2007 | 9 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2008 | 10 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2009 | 16 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2010 | 6 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2011 | 3 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2012 | 2 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2013 | 1 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2014 | 1 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2015 | 1 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2016 | 1 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2017 | 2 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2018 | 3 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2019 | 3 |
| National Earnings List for Jockeys 2020 | 9 |
Arcangelo was ridden to victory Saturday by Javier Castellano. It was his first career win in the Belmont with his 15th mount. Five weeks ago, Castellano won his first Kentucky Derby in his 16th attempt, aboard Mage, who did not run in the Belmont after finishing third in the Preakness.
