Jockeys’ Guild | Support, Benefits & Services

It is an honor to serve as Co-Chairmen of the Jockeys' Guild. Alongside our fellow Board members and dedicated staff, we are committed to representing every Guild member and strengthening the programs, benefits, and resources that support jockeys and their families.

As we begin this new chapter, we also want to recognize the extraordinary leadership of Johnny Velazquez. After nearly two decades serving as Chairman and later Co-Chairman, Johnny leaves an incredible legacy of service to the Guild and our industry. While stepping aside from the Co-Chair role, he remains an active Board member, and we are honored to continue building upon the foundation he helped create.

Since 1940, the Jockeys' Guild has existed to serve one purpose: to be the unified voice of professional jockeys. Together, we continue working to improve safety, advocate for fair compensation, expand insurance and wellness benefits, provide mental health resources, and create new educational opportunities through the Jockeys' Guild Education Foundation.

Thank you for your continued support and for the pride you take in being a member of the Jockeys' Guild.

Manny Franco has had a summer to remember at Saratoga and it’s not quite over yet. On Saturday, Franco won the track’s signature race, the Travers Stakes (G1) as well as the West Point Stakes on Friday and to cap the weekend, he won the Yaddo Stakes on Sunday for a total of 12 races for the week vaulting Franco into second place in the standings.

The panel of racing experts voted Franco Jockey of the Week for August 24-August 30.

Franco’s spectacular week began on Wednesday at Saratoga with a win in Race 5 for trainer Jorge Abreu. He then posted the first of his multiple win days for the week on Thursday with Race 4 for Metkan Kantarmaci, Race 5 for Miguel Clement and Race 9 for Horacio De Paz.

Franco began Friday at Saratoga posting a win in Race 6 for two-time Eclipse Award trainer Brad Cox. Five-time Eclipse Award trainer Chad Brown then gave a leg up to Franco aboard Spirit of St. Louis in the West Point Stakes at a mile and one-sixteenth on the turf.

Breaking from the rail at odds of 4-1 in the field of eight New York-bred 3-year-olds and up, the 7-year-old Spirit of St. Louis raced on the rail into the far turn. Regular rider Franco wheeled Spirit of St. Louis four wide and took command inside the final sixteenth for a half length win in 1:40.03.

On Saturday, Franco posted a win in Race 5 for Miguel Clement before Brad Cox gave a leg up to Franco in the Travers Stakes (G1) aboard the lightly raced Leading Change.

Sent off at odds of 10-1 and breaking from post position two, Leading Change raced in third behind Preakness hero Napoleon Solo and Sea Strike. Napoleon Solo put away Sea Strike by the eighth pole while Leading Change made his move and collared the front runner in the final yards to post a half-length mild upset win in 2:02.98 for the classic distance of a mile and one-quarter.

“All I can say is, ‘wow,’ an emotional Franco said after the race. “I just want to say thanks to Brad Cox, the owners, my agent John Panagot. And the horse, he deserved this.”

On Sunday, Franco won four more races including the Yaddo Stakes for 3-year-old fillies and mares. Riding for trainer Kenny McPeek, Franco was aboard 5-year-old mare Midnight Concerto. In a three-way blanket finish, Midnight Concerto got her nose on the wire first to win in 1:41.06 for one mile.

Franco currently sits second in the standings with 62 wins, three behind Jose Ortiz. Ortiz is expected to ride only one more day at Saratoga as he will be at Kentucky Downs. Flavien Prat, currently in third, has 60 wins and will ride at Saratoga Wednesday-Saturday before travelling to Kentucky Downs.

Other nominees for Jockey of the Week included Javier Castellano who posted his 6,000th North American win, Jose Ortiz who won the H. Allen Jerkens (G1), Flavien Prat with five stakes wins including the Personal Ensign (G1) and the Ballerina (G1), and Ricardo Santana, Jr. with two graded stakes wins including the Forego (G1).

Statistics provided by: Equibase/ Photo: Angelo Lieto/NYRA

By uniting jockeys under one national organization, the Guild strengthens safety standards, protects livelihoods, and advocates for long-term industry reform. Its presence in the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing industry creates accountability, elevates professional standards, and helps secure a sustainable future for both riders and the sport itself.

With a forward-looking approach, the Guild continues to anticipate challenges, innovate protections, and ensure that every jockey—past, present, and future—has the support and advocacy they deserve.