?Garrett Gomez ? After his substance abuse dilemma when he missed over twenty months of racing he won the jockey Eclipse Award in 2003 that is awarded to most outstanding jockey. He has made the most bucks out of any North American jockey of approximately $21 million and had four victories in 2008, including the Breeders Cup where he rode the horse Ventura. We think he's pretty cool?anyone who can overcome a tough time and win a lot of money is someone we admire!



?Edgar Prado ? This jockey won the Belmont Stakes in 2002 with Sarava and has become known as the longest shot to ever win a race?what an achievement, we think. In 2006, he rode Barbaro to win that race and in 2008, he continues his award winning jockey title riding Benny the Bull, Tough Tiz's Sis, and Adriano. With a modest $14 million (yeah right) in total lifetime winnings, he was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in this year after he won his 6,000th race. Way cool, we think.

?Kent Desormeaux ? This jockey has won the Eclipse Award for outstanding jockey two times! While he did win both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, he has yet to champion the Belmont Stakes?but we think he will someday if he keeps jockeying. With 5,000 career wins, he too has been elected to the Horse Racing Hall of Fame and has made just a tad over $14 million in his career?wow, we'd like to be related to him!

?John Velazquez ? He too won that Eclipse Award twice! In 2007, he won the Belmont States atop Rags to Riches who was the first Philly since 1905 to win this race. He came in second in 2008's Breeders Cup and he too is hanging in there with only $14 million in earnings?what's with all the fourteens?

?Mike Smith ? Okay, we found a jockey whose earnings are around only $8.8 million'he has some catching up to do. Also a two-time Eclipse Award winner, he has be given the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award?this is awarded by jockey peers?kind of like an NFL player going to the Pro Bowl. To us, his best accomplishment is that he has won more Breeders Cup titles than any other active jockey out there?wow.

Somehow we feel we would be remiss here if we didn't mention other jockeys who are tops in the field?but in a big and bad way! Dermot Browne has admitted to doping 23 horses, Dean Gallagher keeps failing drug tests, John Egan, was suspended from riding after being found guilty of corruption?what he corrupted we don't actually know though. Chris Munce had to go to jail for twenty months for conspiring?again who or what he was conspiring with is a mystery to us. Dean McKeown had to end his thirty-year racing career over the laying of eleven horses?what a bad boy. Finally, we must add Kieren Fallon to this list?his past includes pulling another jockey from a horse (meanie), keeps landing in rehab, and has been accused of race fixing. Well, now you have what jockey names are worth a mention, and you can pick any of these top good jockeys and well, most of the bad ones don't ride anymore so you probably won't see their names on any betting lists. If we have not named your favorite Jockey here, we apologize, but after all, it is our list.

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