Our questions are answered by the G1-winning rider who enjoyed his biggest career success in Dubai with Golden Shaheen winner Big City Man before becoming a familiar face on Spanish-language racing TV
Jose Verenzuela has become a familiar figure on the international racing circuit working with Carlos Morales on his Agentes305, the hispanic Youtube racing channel, and for Hipica TV.
The 55-year-old from Caracas, Venezuela, remains an active jockey, even though recent appearances have been fleeting. Equibase stats (for North America) have his tally at 215 wins, yet his total from a career which started in 1988 stands at nearer 1,200 including successes in other parts of the world.
Starting out in his homeland, Verenzuela was champion apprentice and then champion journeyman in 1993. He travelled between Venezuela and the US before taking a riding contract in Saudi Arabia where he stayed for six years. He was back and forth between the US and the Middle East where he landed the 2009 Dubai Golden Shaheen on Big City Man.
After a five-year break, Verenzuela was offered rides by veteran trainer Ron McAnally in 2023, an association which took him back to the winners’ circle at Santa Anita last year.
“Mr McAnally gave me a chance and we got lucky,” he says. “I haven’t ridden this year but if something comes up, I’m available.”
Which racing figure past or present do you most admire?
In Venezuela it was Angel Parra. He was a super jockey; he was the one person that you wanted to be like.
In the US it would be Angel Cordero. He is my idol; I tried to follow him and copy his riding style. When he retired, in around 1995, and he was training horses, I would ride for him in the winter in New York. Johnny Velazquez started riding as an apprentice at the same time.
Unfortunately at that time he didn’t have any good horses so it was hard but I learned a lot because he was always teaching me things. After the races Johnny and I would go to Angel Cordero’s house. Johnny would be exercising on the mechanical horses. Angel and I would spend all day playing canicas (marbles).
Which is your favorite venue, and favorite race, anywhere in the world?
My favorite racecourse sadly is closed. It was Arlington Park. It was a beautiful racecourse with an excellent grass course, probably one of the best in the world. It was an amazing place with nice people.
In Venezuela I rode the winner of the Clasico Simon Bolivar, the best race over there which everyone wanted to win. I won it in my second or third year. I was riding in Miami at the time. I flew to Caracas and when I arrived I figured out that I was actually down to ride a filly, not the one I had been told I was booked for. I was so mad when I knew I was on a filly against male horses. Nevertheless, I still won the race.
What is your favorite racehorse and why?
I have to say Big City Man because he took me to the biggest stage, the highest level of racing. We brought him to Saudi Arabia with some expectations and he was more than our expectations.
We got him classified for the Dubai Carnival and he won his first race after being off for a year and a half. He went to Dubai and won first time out, then in the Al Shindagha he beat a very good horse, but then Gayego beat us in the Mahab Al Shimaal. There were six or seven Group 1 horses in the Golden Shaheen but he ran the race of his life. That win changed everything for me.
In Venezuela my favorite horse was Volantin, my first G1 winner. We won three together and it was the first year of my apprenticeship.
What is your fondest memory in racing?
Winning the Golden Shaheen was amazing. I still try to remember jumping on the stage to collect the trophy but my mind was blocked. I only figured out I had won the race when I was in the press conference. I started shaking and sweating. It was my biggest memory from riding.
If you could change one thing in racing, what would it be?
We need to attract more young people. The young generation are into technology and don’t care about anything else. I believe right now horse racing is declining and we need to teach the next generation that this sport is for everyone, for families, for kids. It’s not only about betting.
There are so many things around that are beautiful, the horses, the people that take care of them, the jockeys who work hard to get the ride and the trainers who have to deal with a lot of things to get the horse right to run and then win the races. The most important thing is to get the young people to get involved in horse racing.
Jose Verenzuela was speaking to Jon Lees
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