John Velazquez sets earnings record

By: SPORTS NETWORK

John Velazquez sets earnings record

Ozone Park, NY (Sports Network) - Veteran jockey John Velazquez used a third- place finish Sunday at Aqueduct to set a new single-season earnings record for riders.

Velazquez now has $23,356,456 in earnings, topping the previous mark of $23,354,960 set by Jerry Bailey in 2003.

Named last year's outstanding jockey, Velazquez was aboard India in the $105,000 Valley Stream Stakes when he set the record.

The native of Puerto Rico has earned more than $165 million in his career with more than 3,400 wins. In addition to winning the Eclipse Award last year, Velazquez received the Bill Shoemaker Award as the outstanding jockey in the Breeders' Cup.

Meanwhile, trainer Todd Pletcher is within reach of the single-season earnings record for conditioners. Pletcher is $311,687 shy of the record held by Bobby Frankel.

Frankel set the mark of $19,143,289 in 2003. With little more than a month to go, Pletcher has $18,831,602. This year Pletcher has saddled 945 starters for 221 wins.