Velazquez hires Anderson as new agent

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez announced Saturday that he has parted ways with his longtime friend and agent Angel Cordero Jr. and hired Ron Anderson to handle his riding engagements moving forward.

“Angel and I have split up, Ron Anderson is going to be representing me from now on,” Velazquez said moments after riding Shotski in the Fountain of Youth. “Ron has handled several big riders really well, and when it comes to the big races and everything he is great.”

Velazquez said the decision to part-company with Cordero was a tough one.

“I came to live with Angel, he’s the one who brought me to New York, it’s been something like 31 years now we’ve been together,” said Velazquez. “I love him. He’s been great for me and great for my career. But I’m getting older and I just wanted to try something different.”

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Anderson has been an agent since 1973. Over the years, he has represented some of the most prestigious jockeys in the business including Jerry Bailey, Gary Stevens, Garrett Gomez, Chris Antley, and Joel Rosario, whom he currently handles. His riders have won 38 Breeders’ Cup races and 13 Triple Crown races during their association with Anderson.

Rosario is one of two jockeys Anderson has been handling at Santa Anita this winter along with Umberto Rispoli, whom he’ll have to give up to take on Velazquez, as jockey agents are only permitted to represent two riders at the same time.

“Joel will come east with me and I’ll have Johnny and Joel,” said Anderson. “I feel terrible about the whole situation having to give up Umberto, but this is a business decision and sometimes you have to separate business from friendship. Umberto is an awfully good rider and he will do fine. I’m honored Johnny asked me, and I’m looking forward to working with him. There aren’t but a couple of guys I would have even considered doing this for, but Johnny is Johnny. He is very elite.”