He was fined £821 for this attack, but he wasn’t banned. However, it isn’t just US racing fans who aren’t too keen on Ortiz Jr because last year, after winning a heated race at Gulfstream Park in Florida, the Puerto Rican punched fellow jockey Paco Lopez three times. So you have to wonder how that is going to go down over here and if the other jockeys potentially change their methods to cope with Ortiz Jr.Īscot prepares to welcome Ortiz Jr this week The Puerto Rican is known as an aggressive rider who often bumps into other horses to gain an advantage and ultimately help him win.Īs a result of this, he is hated by most West Coast racing fans in the USA because they believe he doesn’t race fair, and though Ortiz Jr often returns to the East Coast with a win, he hasn’t gained a lot of supporters in that part of the world with his no-nonsense style. However, for all his racing excellence, there is a dark side to Irad Ortiz Jr. “He’s won all over in America and he’s just a phenomenal rider who rides with extreme patience.”

“He’s a great kid and rode Acapulco for me a few years back when she finished second in the Nunthorpe at York in 2015. “Frankie is my man and I love him, but Irad is swinging right now in the States – he’s the hottest rider in America. In his career, he has earned nearly £200million in prize money and won more than 3,000 races, so you can see why Ward wants him for Royal Ascot. We share the same corner in the jockey’s room in New York and when we get done racing, he usually stops by my house, just about every day.” Jose Ortiz once said: “We’ve always competed, trying to beat each other.ĭettori has been beaten to his selection of horses by Ortiz Jr So horse racing is in Irad Jr’s blood, and the two brothers are extremely competitive, which is potentially one of the reasons why he has been so successful. His dad Irad Sr was also involved in horse racing, but he failed to make the grade as a jockey despite competing in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Ohio. Irad was born in Puerto Rico and graduated from the Escuela Vocacional Hípica jockey school.

He was destined to be a jockey given that his grandad and uncle were both involved in horse racing, while his brother Jose is also a jockey. However, there aren’t too many more divisive figures in horseracing than the fiery Ortiz Jr. Wesley Ward has picked the 29-year-old over Frankie Dettori to ride Golden Pal and all of his other horses. Irad Ortiz Jr will be in the UK this week However, the 5ft 3 jockey from Puerto Rico has had quite a controversial career up until this point, but he is set to be in action at Royal Ascot this week.

Irad Ortiz Jr has made waves on the USA horse racing scene for years, and his success on the track has turned him into a multi-millionaire.

Irad ortiz jr injury update