Future looks bright for Joe Santos

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Fame in racing came easily to Joe Santos as a young boy, but now he’s working hard for a more lasting reward.

In the spring of 2003, Santos had his image splashed virtually everywhere as an 8-year-old when his father, Jose Santos, rode Funny Cide to win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Now just days from his 21st birthday, Joe Santos is working daily as the agent for jockeys Didiel Osorio and Jack Gilligan while three semesters away from earning a college degree.

Osorio is off to a particularly good start at the Ellis Park meet in western Kentucky, having surged to the top of the jockey standings by riding seven winners during the first six days.

“Things are going really well,” said Santos, who turns 21 on Tuesday.

Santos is on course to earn a degree in broadcast communications at Bellarmine University in Louisville in December 2016. He said he would “like to get in the TV end” of racing while also furthering his career as an agent. In the meantime, his dad retired from the saddle in 2007 with mount earnings of $187 million from his fabulous career and now runs a horse-feed company that services tracks in Florida and New York.

“He’s happy for me as long as I keep doing good and work hard at it,” said Santos.

Osorio, a 21-year-old native of Panama, had his first mount in the U.S. in November 2013 while still working as an exercise rider for trainer Olivo Inirio. Gilligan, 18, grew up in the English horse country of Newmarket and rides with a five-pound apprentice allowance. With Ellis conducting racing just three days a week (Friday through Sunday), both also have been riding regularly at Indiana Grand, with occasional appearances at Belterra Park and Mountaineer.

“It’s that time of the year,” said Santos. “We mostly work mornings at Churchill Downs and go from there.”

Santos initially found his way to Louisville to play soccer for Bellarmine but played only one year. Much of his time is now consumed with the racetrack, where most horsemen call him Jose. “I go by Joe, but everyone at the track calls me Jose, so I just roll with it,” he said.

He has fond memories of the Funny Cide days but clearly has moved on.

“Hopefully, there’s more ahead,” he said.