Joel Rosario

Joel Rosario (born January 14th, 1985) is a Dominican jockey who takes part in American Thoroughbred horse racing.

Biography
Joel Rosario became one of California's top riders after arriving from the Dominican Republic in 2006. Growing up on a farm just outside of Santo Domingo, Rosario decided to be a jockey after attending several races when he was thirteen years old. He turned pro at age fourteen after six months in jockey school. He was the leading rider in the Dominican Republic four times before he came to California.

Coming to the USA in 2006, he rode in Northern California for most of 2007, until he moved to Southern California in the latter portion of the year. By early 2008, he was riding stakes horses for major trainers. Rosario moved into the upper echelon in 2009 when he finished fifth in earnings with an astonishing $13 million. He climed to third place in 2010. He won his third-consecutive Del Mar and Hollywood Park titles and his first Santa Anita crown in 2011.

Rosario started the 2013 season with a huge win in the $10 Million Dubai World Cup aboard Team Valor's Animal Kingdom. Shortly after, he picked up a mount for the 2013 Kentucky Derby with Shug McGaughy's trainee Orb, who left the starting gate on top of the points leaderboard with 150 points.

Major Wins

 * California Cup Matron (2008)
 * Clasico del Caribe (2008)
 * A Gleam Handicap (2009)
 * Ack Ack Handicap (2009)
 * Cinema Handicap (2009)
 * Del Mar Derby (2009, 2010)
 * Del Mar Mile Handicap (2009)
 * Honeymoon Handicap (2008, 2009)
 * La Jolla Handicap (2008, 2010)
 * Miesque Stakes (2009)
 * San Antonio Handicap (2009)
 * San Simeon Handicap (2009)
 * Santa Ana Handicap (2009)
 * Sunshine Millions Oaks (2009)
 * La Brea Stakes (2009, 2010)
 * Santa Ysabel Stakes (2010)
 * Santa Maria Handicap (2010)
 * Malibu Stakes (2010)
 * Las Virgenes Stakes (2011)
 * Strub Stakes (2011)
 * Dubai World Cup (2013)
 * Kentucky Derby (2013)
 * Breeders' Cup Sprint (2009)

Trivia

 * Rosario holds the record for most races won on asincle race card. Previously, the feat had been achieved by Hall of Fame jockeys Bill Shoemaker (1953, 1970), Laffit Pincay, Jr. (1968), and Kent Desormeaux (1992).
 * His 2013 wins are at 25%.
 * His overall wins are at 19%.
 * Rosario's 2013 earnings are $7.5 million.