Welcome!

As co-chairmen for the Jockeys’ Guild, we are excited to announce the updated and improved Jockeys’ Guild Website and Member Hub. 


We truly appreciate the opportunity to serve as Co-Chairmen of the Guild. We, along with the other members of our Board, including, Julien Leparoux, James Flores, Joseph Bravo, Tyler Gaffalione, Alex Birzer, James Graham, Rodney Prescott, and Johnny Velazquez, are continually working to act as a unified voice for all of our members and providing benefits and support for the jockeys and their families.


With Johnny Velazquez stepping aside in January of 2026, after serving as the Chairman since 2007 and then Co-Chairman with Mike since 2018, we recognize it will not be an easy role to fill in light of everything he has done for the Guild and for our industry.  Johnny is still an active board member and remains committed to the Guild.  It's an honor for us to follow in his footsteps and a challenge that we humbly accept. 


The Jockeys’ Guild, established in 1940, is “your” organization. And we are only as strong as our membership.   As jockeys, whether you ride Thoroughbreds or Quarter Horses, it is essential we work together as one and continue to strive for the betterment for our fellow riders and the horse racing industry as a whole. 



Over the decades, Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse jockeys, such as Harry Richards, Eddie Arcaro, Sammy Renick, Johnny Longden, Walter Blum, Jerry Bailey, Gary Stevens, Pat Day, Laffit Pincay, Jr., Bill Shoemaker, Earlie Fires, John Velazquez, Jerry LaSala, Robby Albarado, Shane Sellers, Jon Court, G R Carter, Jerry Nicodemus, Jerry Burgess, Danny Cardoza, Jacky Martin, Bobby Adair, Kenny Hart, Eddie García, James Flores, and Ricky Ramirez have all been instrumental on the benefits that we have today.


Today, our board members and the Guild’s staff continue to work on improving safety conditions, obtaining and providing insurance coverage, receiving increases in mount fees, raising the minimum scale of weights, continuing to address concerns regarding the use of the riding crop and the fines and penalties being assessed, providing resources for mental health through Onrise, and through the most recent creation of the Jockeys’ Guild Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, dedicated to dedicated entirely to the educational advancement of active and retired Guild members, as well as permanently disabled jockeys. The Guild represents the jockeys throughout the country and serves as the “voice of the jockeys” on a national level with regulators, stewards, horsemen, and track management.


It is with great pride that we take on the task mentioned and we will do our best each and every day for this vital and important organization. It means a great deal to us and hope that each of you will take pride in your membership. 


Mike E. Smith
Co-Chairman


Javier Castellano
Co-Chairman