Junior Alvarado

Junior Rafael Alvarado (born May 20, 1986) is a Venezuelan jockey who competes in the sport of American Thoroughbred horse racing. He rode the winning horse in the 2025 Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes.

Background His father, Rafael Alvarado, was also a jockey in Venezuela. He had intended to record his son's birthname as Rafael Alvarado Jr., but it was mistakenly registered as Junior Rafael Alvarado.

Career Alvarado rode his first winner as a jockey on December 30, 2005, at La Rinconada Hippodrome near Caracas, Venezuela, before moving to ride in the United States in 2007 where he got his first winner on February 17, 2007, at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.

In May 2025, Alvarado was fined $62,000, or 20% of his winnings from the Kentucky Derby, and was banned for two Kentucky racing days by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority for using his whip on a horse more than allowed. HISA determined he struck Sovereignty eight times during the Kentucky Derby, above the six-strike maximum. The usual fine of 10% was doubled to $62,000 due to a prior offense within the preceding 180 days. The earlier violation occurred at Churchill Downs on December 1, 2024.

On August 22, 2026, he guided Tam Tam to victory in Del Mar Oaks and Knightsbridge to victory in Pacific Classic Stakes