Javier Castellano is a four-time Eclipse Award Winning jockey and a member of racing’s Hall of Fame.

On Sunday he will be accompanied by friends, family members, and a number of his fellow riders at Santa Anita, where he will accept the prestigious George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award Trophy in a Winner’s Circle ceremony.

Castellano, 45, immigrated from his native Venezuela in 1997, was one of five Woolf Award finalists that included jockeys Daniel Centeno, Terry Houghton, Edwin Maldonado and Willie Martinez.

The award has been presented annually by Santa Anita since 1950. Therefore, Castellano becomes the 74th Winner of one of the most coveted awards in racing and a trophy that can only be Won once in a jockeys career.

Determined by a vote of jockeys nationwide and named for the late jockey who was regarded as one of the greatest big money riders of his era, the Woolf Award Trophy is a replica of the life-sized stature of Woolf that adorns the Santa Anita Paddock Gardens area.

Castellano and his wife Abby are currently based in Florida. The couple have three children, Kayla, Sienna and Brady.

Castellano is also the son-in-law of Terry Meycocks, National Director of the Jockeys’ Guild.

Second all-time only to fellow Hall of Famer John Velazquez, Castellano has career earnings of more than $377 million dollars and through December 31st, 2022, he had recorded 5,595 career Wins.

The son of a jockey, Castellano’s first Winner came aboard PHONE MAN on July 31st, 1997 at Calder Racecourse.

Castellano first came to national prominence on October 30th, 2004, when he rode the Bobby Frankel-trained GHOSTZAPPER to Victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Lone Star Park.

Sunday’s Woolf Award ceremony will include a video that honors all past Winners dating back to Gordon Glisson in 1950 through last year’s Winner, Joe Bravo.

A tip of the cap to a worthy Winner, congrats JJ !