Community Corner
Famed Jockey Javier Castellano Recognized at Belmont Festival
Mayor Mary Carter Flanagan, on behalf of the Board, celebrated the longtime resident's outstanding accomplishments in the Racing Circuit.
During the well-attended Belmont Festival on Seventh Street Friday, Mayor Mary Carter Flanagan presented long-time resident and famed jockey Javier Castellano with a citation on behalf of the Board of Trustees recognizing his outstanding accomplishments in the Racing Circuit.
Javier is originally from Maracaibo, Venezuela, and began riding in Venezuela in 1996 following the path of his father and his uncle, both jockeys, as well as his younger brother who became a professional rider. Javier moved from Venezuela to Florida in 1997 and in 2001 made Garden City his home.
Just a few of Javier’s achievements include the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey, North America’s Leading Rider in earnings from 2013-2016, North America’s Leading Rider in wins for 2013 and 2015 and from 2004-2019 he had many Breeders’ Cup Highlights as well as most recently, the Triple Crown Highlight in winning the Kentucky Derby.
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He has also thrived at a variety of tracks throughout his career winning 11 riding titles on the New York Racing Association Circuit (six at Belmont, three at Aqueduct and two at Saratoga), five at Gulfstream and two at Keeneland. His five titles at Gulfstream were consecutive and his 132 wins during the 2013-14 winner meet there set a record.
