Renegade’s Jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr., Makes More Money Than You Think

Renegade’s jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr., will trip the saddle of the Kentucky Derby favourite with loads of expertise. Ortiz is a two-time Belmont Stakes winner however remains to be looking for his first Kentucky Derby victory.

Fans are sometimes interested in how tall the everyday Kentucky Derby jockey is as the game prioritizes smaller athletes which permit the horses to run at their quickest. Ortiz is listed at 5-foot-3 and 112 kilos, by Equibase.

Renegade’s jockey is initially from Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico. Being a horse racing jockey could require being a smaller athlete, however the high performers within the sport can have a profitable profession.

Ortiz has earned $390 million over his profession in additional than 22,000 begins, by Equibase. Heading into the Kentucky Derby, Ortiz had already earned greater than $11.5 million in 2026.

It remains to be a dangerous occupation for apparent causes, however Ortiz and different jockeys’ payouts depend upon the race outcomes. The purse for the 2026 Kentucky Derby is $5 millionwith the winner incomes $3.1 million.

This cash is split among the many proprietor, coach and jockey.

Each jockey’s payout is completely different however the trade normal is 10% of the purse, per Yahoo Sports. This means Ortiz would make an estimated $310,000 if Renegade wins the Kentucky Derby.

Here’s what it’s good to learn about Renegade’s jockey.

Renegade’s Jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr., Is Married to Wife, Meliza Betancourt

Ortiz’s spouse is Meliza Betancourt and the couple are proud dad and mom. The couple met whereas Ortiz was in jockey college in Puerto Rico.

“Irad met his partner, Meliza Betancourt, seven years ago while he was in jockey school in Puerto Rico, making them the racetrack equivalent of high school sweethearts,” Saratoga Living’s Teresa Genaro written in a July 20, 2018, story titled, “Brothers José And Irad Ortiz Are Horse Racing Phenoms. Isn’t It Time Everybody Knew That?” “They have two daughters.”

It seems Ortiz and Betancourt now have three kids primarily based on the Instagram pictures the jockey continuously posts on social media.

Renegade’s Owner Is Mike Repole While the Horse’s Trainer Is the Legendary Todd Pletcher

Renegade’s coach is the well-known Todd Pletcher whereas the proprietor is Mike Repole. The horse racing staff will look to make historical past as Renegade can be the primary pony to win the Kentucky Derby from the No. 1 submit place in 40 years.

Repole bought Renegade for $975,000 on the Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale, per Paulick Report’s Tom Pedulla,. The quantity now seems to be a little bit of a cut price.

Ahead of the Kentucky Derby, Repole has threatened to file a lawsuit in opposition to The Jockey Club. Repole defined why he has no downside sporting the black hat in horse racing.

“I think I’m on a bit of a racing crusade right now,” Repole instructed Yahoo Sports’ Dan Wolken. “That makes me slightly little bit of a renegade.

“I named him a year and a half ago, not thinking we’d be here with the Derby favorite. But maybe that’s the sign of times to come. Maybe you need to be a little bit of a renegade,” Repole added.

“What are they going to do? Sue me? Fine me? Throw me out of the game? I’d be lucky if they did that. But I’m not gonna go away. I got in this to change the sport.”

Jonathan Adams is a veteran sports activities contributor masking the NFL, NBA and golf for Heavy.com. His work has been prominently featured on NFL.com, Yahoo Sports, Pro Football Talk, CBS Sports, Bleacher Report and Sports Illustrated. More about Jonathan Adams