Keeneland jockeys in the spotlight: Javier Castellano

Click here to view original web page at www.kentucky.com
  • Keeneland Spring Meet

    Through April 25. Gates open at 11 a.m.; first post at 1:05 p.m. No racing Mondays and Tuesdays or Easter Sunday, April 20.

    $5 general admission

    (859) 254-3412, 1-800-456-3412, Keeneland.com

    Highlights during the meet include:

    Meet milliner Christine A. Moore. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Keeneland Gift Shop.

    Friday Pick 4 Presented by TVG. A $200,000 guaranteed pool will be offered on races 6-9.

    April 11, 12, 18, 19: Craft Beer Tent featuring craft beers including Country Boy, Kentucky Ale Kolsch, Land Shark, Shock Top, Sierra Nevada and Sweetwater. North Terrace patio.

    April 11, 12, 18, 19, 25: Tailgating at The Hill, next to Keene Barn and Entertainment Center. Food trucks, jumbo TV, wireless wagering and wagering terminals, race-day programs, a Keeneland Gift Shop kiosk and free shuttles to the track. Live bluegrass music on Saturdays.

    Maker's Mark commemorative bottle signing. Bottle sales start April 4 at retail stores across Kentucky and benefit UK HealthCare's Gill Heart Institute.

    Sunrise Trackside. Family friendly activities beginning at 7 a.m. with Breakfast With the Works, featuring Southern-style breakfast and trackside commentary on Thoroughbreds as they train (until 8:30 a.m.); children's activities (7-9 a.m.); equine-related demonstration in paddock (9 a.m.); walking tours of Keeneland (8-10 a.m.); trackside handicapping seminar (11:30 a.m.); Q&A session with Keeneland jockey in paddock (12:05 p.m.). Photos with bugler Steve Buttleman.

    All-Stakes Pick 5. $300,000 guaranteed featuring races 7-11, the Commonwealth (G3), Shakertown (G3), Madison (G1), Jenny Wiley (G1), and Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1).

    Horses and Hope Pink Day to raise breast cancer awareness. Nearly 30 retired and active female jockeys will sign commemorative fundraising poster by Peb.

    "Wins-day" Challenge handicapping contest. Register at Wagering Central. $10 entry fee. Guaranteed $2,500 pool. First 200 to register will receive a Daily Racing Form and a card for an appetizer at Malone's.

    50 to 1 movie tour celebrating Mine That Bird's victory in the 2009 Derby. Appearance by Mine That Bird and a fan meet-and-greet with actors from the movie.

    It's My Derby fund-raiser. Includes panel discussion and VIP reception with Stuart Janney, 2013 Derby winner Orb's co-owner and breeder, and Orb trainer Shug McGaughey; trainer Barclay Tagg, winner of the 2003 Derby and Preakness with Funny Cide; and two-time Derby-winning jockey Chris McCarron. Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas will moderate the panel. Proceeds benefit Kentucky Derby Museum. In Keeneland Sales Pavilion.

    TVG Hat Giveaway. First 1,000 patrons with paid admission get voucher for a free TVG hat.

    Herald-Leader Subscriber Appreciation Day. Free general admission for all Herald-Leader subscribers with the coupon from the front page of the April 24 edition. Meet Herald-Leader personalities.

    Concert on the Lawn featuring Laura Bell Bundy and Sundy Best. Benefits Markey Cancer Center. Immediately after races on Clubhouse Lawn.

The Keeneland race meet, one of Lexington's signature events, continues through April 25, with Throroughbred racing and all the hoopla that surrounds it.

Each Saturday, the track will feature top-notch jockeys signing autographs and taking fans' questions.

This week, the featured jockey is Javier Castellano. He will appear in the paddock for a Q&A session with fans at 12:05 p.m. Saturday.

BIO

Javier Castellano

October 23, 1977, in Maracaibo, Venezuela

Keeneland wins: 96

Keeneland Stakes wins: 19

First Grade 1 win: 2001 Gazelle at Belmont Park on Exogenous.

First graded stakes win: 1998 What a Pleasure (G3) at Calder on Certain.

First stakes win: 1997 Dr. Fager at Calder on Governor Hicks

Triple Crown highlights: Won 2006 Preakness Stakes on Bernardini. Second in the 2011 Belmont Stakes on Stay Thirsty.

CAREER STATISTICS

All figures current as of Wednesday.

Starts: 21,360

First-place finishes: 3,748

$195,232,605

Average earnings per start: $9,141

SOURCES: Keeneland, Equibase.com

Lexington Herald-Leader is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

Commenting FAQs |