Abel Castellano Jr. (born June 6, 1983, in
Maracaibo,
Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
) is a
jockey in
Thoroughbred horse racing
Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in ...
who rode his first winner on September 22, 1999, at Santa Rita Race Course in his native Venezuela. The following year he began riding in the United States at
Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park, owned by The Stronach Group, is a Thoroughbred race track, casino and outdoor entertainment and shopping destination in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Thoroughbred horse racing occurs year-round, defined by three distinct race meets ...
in 2000.
Delaware Park
Racing runs in Castellano's family. His father, who died in 2000, his uncle and a brother all have been jockeys. He considers his father to be biggest influence on his career as his brother Javier Castellano
Javier Castellano (born October 23, 1977, in Maracaibo, Zulia State, Venezuela) is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.
Castellano began his riding career in 1996 at Santa Rita and La Rinconada racecourses in Venezuela. In June 1997 ...
recipient of four Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey in the row (2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016).
References
1983 births
Living people
Sportspeople from Maracaibo
Venezuelan expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Venezuelan jockeys
American jockeys
{{Venezuela-sport-bio-stub