Churchill meet draws strong jockey lineup

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Jose Ortiz, sidelined since March 18 with a wrist injury, is among the all-star cast of jockeys who will be in action when Churchill begins its spring meet May 16.

Ortiz will be joined by a handful of other top jockeys who also would otherwise have been competing at Belmont Park at this time of year, among them John Velazquez, Javier Castellano, and Joel Rosario. With New York racing still on indefinite hiatus, they’ll be joining Churchill regulars such as Corey Lanerie, Julien Leparoux, Ricardo Santana Jr., Florent Geroux, and Brian Hernandez Jr. in a jockeys’ room that will have the feel of Derby Week.

Rafael Bejarano and Joe Talamo also are here, with both having announced even before the coronavirus crisis that they are making Kentucky their primary base for the foreseeable future.

Entries for opening day will be drawn Tuesday.

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