Watch: After Surviving an Ugly Spat, $226,578,396 Worth Jockey Aims to Return to the Track

Jose Ortiz is aiming to return to the tracks. He was sidelined after getting injured last Friday at the Saratoga race course, while aboard the two-year-old filly Same Old Fears. Jose Ortiz didn’t participate in any of the events after the accident.

The more than 220 million worth of jockey has arrived at Spa Backstretch from Oklahoma but said he still needs a few days to recover. As of the 23rd of July card, Ortiz is in a tie for second position with Luis Saez with eight wins at the Saratoga race course and intends to catch up with his brother who is at first with nineteen wins.

Jose Ortiz decides to return to the tracks

A day after his brother achieved an unbelievable feat at the Saratoga race course, Jose Ortiz is planning to return to the race on the 26th of July. Last Friday, Jose was participating in a five-and-a-half furlong horse racing event with Same Old Fears at the Saratoga race course. They started well in the race and were podium-finish contenders. But, in the dying seconds of the race, his horse slowed down and fell to the ground. The jockey was unseated and also fell on the ground rolling over many times. His horse clipped the heel with another horse which led to his imbalance and resulted in his falling.

Luckily nothing happened to the filly but, Ortiz was taken to the hospital. He was taken to Albany Medical Center by ambulance for checkups. During the diagnosis, it was confirmed that he had bruised ribs. Since then the famed jockey has been in healing mode. Speaking on his healing he said, “I feel OK. Sore, but good” further adding, “I am just taking it day by day. It feels a little better every day, but I am still very sore.”

Read More: Famed Jockey Worth $286,155,753 Adds Another Win to His Name at Popular Equestrian Race Track

Jose saw the clip of Friday’s race to see how he fell. According to him, it could have been much worse but he was happy to return home to his family. The jockey was active on Sunday and did some work for trainer Jonathan Thomas. He breezed his horse on the Oklahoma training turf course. Ortiz, one of the best jockeys in the country, intends to better his position in the rankings by arriving at the track as soon as he can.

A look at Jose Ortiz’s career

Jose Ortiz comes from a family where being a jockey has been the profession for generations. He is the younger brother of Irad Ortiz Jr. In 2013, he became famous when he won seven races along with his brother at the Aqueduct track in New York. Since, 2014 he has been a regular rider of the Kentucky Derby aboard contender Samraat. In the same year, he won the Withers Stakes and Gotham with Samraat.  He has won the Breeders’ Cup four times in his career 2016,2017,2019, and 2021. In 2017 he won the  Eclipse Award for winning the Belmont Stakes and breeders cup the same year. This year in a total of 828 starts, Ortiz has 150 podium finishes. His 2023 total earnings are $11,076,777.

Jose’s career statistics show his skills and quality. His all focus is to arrive at the tracks and start his journey from where he left off.

Watch The Story: Despite 46–1 Odds, Yo-Yo Candy Strikes It Rich With $98,000 Payout in a “Dream Come True” Moment at Saratoga Race Course