Latin American Talent Stands Out at Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby, known as the fastest two minutes in sports, delivered more than just competition this year for Latin Americans. It also highlighted the growing presence of Latino jockeys in one of Latin America’s oldest sporting traditions. Among them was Junior Alvarado, a Venezuelan rider whose horse racing career reached a milestone on Saturday.

Junior Alvarado, 38, earned his first Derby victory aboard Sovereignty, a bay colt that outran 18 others in the 1 1/4-mile race at Churchill Downs. The win marked his sixth attempt at the prestigious event. For Junior Alvarado, the moment reflected years of consistent effort that began in the racing stables of Barquisimeto, Venezuela.

“I started as a backboy,” Junior Alvarado said, recalling the early days of cleaning stalls and handling horses. “In Venezuela, we didn’t have access to watch many races, but we always heard about the Kentucky Derby. That was the one.”

He made the decision early in his horse racing career to move to the United States, believing it was the only way to reach the sport’s highest levels. His win on Saturday confirmed that belief.

This year’s Kentucky Derby was a big event with jockeys from all over Latin America. Some of them are from the Latin American countries of Mexico, Panama, and Venezuela. These nations operate long-standing jockey schools and support well-established horse racing circuits. Others in the lineup were U.S.-born, including Puerto Rican riders who trained at facilities on the island before competing professionally in the mainland.

The Latin American Business Immigration Coalition estimates that around 70% of jockeys in the U.S. are in the country on work visas. For those in the racing industry, changes to federal immigration policies remain a concern. While elite athletes may continue to receive support for their visa applications, the uncertainty is felt across the industry, especially among stable workers and trainers who also rely on temporary permits.

Retired Hall of Fame jockey Ramon Dominguez, also from Venezuela, said the interest in horse racing runs deep in many Latin American cultures. “In Venezuela and several other countries in the region, horse racing is a major sport. Kids grow up wanting to be jockeys, much like how children in the U.S. might aim for the NFL,” he said.

Junior Alvarado’s success adds to that legacy. His victory didn’t come through shortcuts. He worked for years to gain recognition, proving his ability in races across the country. Although it was the jockey’s debut win in the Derby, it stood for his track record based on patience, discipline, and consistency.

On the day of the Derby, the ambience at Churchill Downs is usually all about fashion, crowds, and spectacle, but for the jockeys, it’s a professional rite of passage. Tons of money are at stake, and it is the fork in the road moment of one’s horse racing career. Nonetheless, Da Silva was in charge by riding with restriction, and that brought him a finish that put him on the level of other Derby winners, Latin American.

For many aspiring jockeys watching from abroad or from training centers across Latin America, his win was more than just a headline. It confirmed that success on the sport’s biggest stage is possible, even for those starting in modest conditions.

“You come here with a goal, and you work every day toward it,” Junior Alvarado said after the race. “You don’t stop until you get there.”

As the Derby concluded and Sovereignty was led back to the stables, Junior Alvarado took a moment to acknowledge the people who helped him throughout the years. From his early mentors in Venezuela to trainers and owners in the U.S., he credited a long list of supporters who believed in his ability.

The Kentucky Derby may last just over two minutes, but its impact often lasts much longer. For Junior Alvarado and the many Latin American jockeys who rode on Saturday, it was a clear example of what consistent effort and direction can lead to, even in a highly competitive field.