At age 24, jockey Jose Ortiz just wrapped up a Saratoga meet which saw him finish third in the overall jockey standings with 42 wins, but he wasted no time resting on his laurels, jumping right into racing at the Belmont Park fall meet and Kentucky Downs over the weekend. We caught up with the regular rider of Grade 1 winners Good Magic and Oscar Performance in between meets. 

Get to know the current reigning Eclipse Award winner as outstanding jockey with the fun Q&A below.

What I do for a living:

Ride horses

What I like about Thoroughbred racing:

Love the horses but the family I have found in it is special.

How I became a jockey:

I fell in love with the sport when I was very young … and my brother (Irad Ortiz Jr.), of course.

Ortiz and Good Magic en route to winning the 2017 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. (Eclipse Sportswire)

If I wasn’t a jockey, I would be a:

I don’t really know- I love baseball but I’m too small.

Best advice to someone considering becoming a jockey:

Work hard and always give your best

My top three favorites racetracks, in order:

Belmont Park, Saratoga, Keeneland

Should the Breeders’ Cup rotate from coast to coast or have a permanent home?

Rotate coast to coast

Most influential person in my career:

My brother Irad

Other sports/teams I follow:

Baseball and basketball: Golden State Warriors and New York teams

My favorite athletes of all time:

Michael Jordan, Ivan Rodriguez, John Velazquez

What book(s) I am reading or have recently read:

Daily Racing Form

Favorite magazines:

BloodHorse

Hobbies away from Thoroughbred racing:

Golf

Favorite movies:

"Drumline"

Favorite TV shows I watch:

"El Señor de Los Cielos"

Favorite foods:

Rice, beans, fried chicken

Favorite vacation spot:

Puerto Rico

Ortiz and his daughter Leilani (Eclipse Sportswire)

Favorite musician/band:

Miky Woodz, Ozuna, Anuel AA, Bad Bunny

Favorite actor:

Kevin Hart

Websites I visit daily:

Equibase

I’d like to have dinner with the following three people inside racing:

Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Moore, Peter Brant

I’d like to have dinner with the following three people outside of racing:

Jennifer Lopez, Gabrielle Union, Kevin Hart

Best racetrack food can be found at:

Keeneland and Oaklawn Park

Accomplishment I am most proud of:

Eclipse Award (2017 Outstanding Jockey)

My philosophy on life:

Family first and always give your best

Things I collect:

Shoes

Favorite charities:

PDJF

Favorite animal other than a horse:

Dogs

Favorite non-Thoroughbred racing sports event I have attended:

Baseball game

Three words that define what Thoroughbred racing means to me:

Living my dream

Top three fashion brands you prefer to wear:

Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Adidas

Ortiz aboard Oscar Performance (Eclipse Sportswire)

Favorite month of the year:

June

What apps are on your phone:

Horse Races Now, Uber, ESPN, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat

If you could pick walk-up music that would play whenever you entered a winner’s circle after a win, what song would you pick:

“Real Guerrero,” by Secreto

Favorite all-time racehorse:

Rachel Alexandra

Favorite racehorse currently competing:

Good Magic

Favorite international racing event:

Royal Ascot

Which jockey in the East Coast colony is the funniest?

Joel Rosario

Which jockey in the East Coast colony is the smartest?

John Velazquez

What you drive:

Range Rover

Who will win the Super Bowl this year?

New England Patriots