2013 Kentucky Derby: Most Decorated Jockeys in Field

The horses may change from year to year at the world-famous Kentucky Derby, but many of the jockeys tend to stick around due to their world-class ability and that certainly shakes up the field when predicting odds.

The "Run for the Roses" brings with it a great deal of pageantry, and that culminates in each winning jockey earning his place in horse racing lore. Despite your career's struggles, a win at the Kentucky Derby can make even the most glaring mistakes seem small in comparison.

We should have no shortage of decorated jockeys in the field during this iconic weekend in sports, but these have emerged from the pack as the best ones active in Saturday's race. 

John Velazquez––Verrazano

The 42-year-old John Velazquez is no stranger to big races, and that experience will come in handy when he approaches the gate as a sure-fire favorite behind Verrazano. 

Velazquez is most known for his historic 2011 run with Animal Kingdom, winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes to come just one victory away from winning the elusive Triple Crown award. Coming so close to such an impossible award is a feat within itself.

But it wasn't just his 2011 successes that established him as a jockey. He's an eight-time Breeders' Cup race winner, and has picked up numerous recognizable awards including being inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame. 

He also has two Belmont Stakes victories in the past five years—2007 and 2012—behind Rags to Riches and Union Rags, respectively, so you know he can win on the big stage regardless of which horse he's riding.

Calvin Borel––Revolutionary

It just so happens that one of the greatest all-time jockeys at the Kentucky Derby is in the running to secure another victory here in 2013. 

Just elected to join Velazquez in the hall of fame Thursday, Calvin Borel is a world-famous jockey mostly because of his successes at Churchill Downs.

Most of that recognition is due to the historic three victories in four years he had at the Kentucky Derby (2007, 2009, 2010), a feat which no one else has accomplished. 

While being the age of 46 has retracted him from being one of the most active jockeys, he's still bringing the experience necessary to win such a momentous race and for that reason alone, we cannot count out his horse, Revolutionary. 

Martin Garcia––Governor Charlie

Martin Garcia may not have the massive experience of Velazquez or Borel's degree, but he has raced on the biggest stages and won historic races that immediately earn you a legacy.

Garcia's 2010 Preakness Stakes victory, as well as a number of other races, came on Lookin at Lucky behind trainer and Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who he has built a great relationship with and earned victories on many of his horses.

His other major victory came at the 2011 Kentucky Oaks, which is also raced at Churchill Downs. Garcia has proven his ability to not only win the big races, but to win at the most iconic racing venue in all of sports. 

This success at Churchill Downs as well as his ability to win with Baffert's horses—he'll race Saturday on Governor Charlie—should help translate into a solid race overall for Garcia.

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