Marin County racing fans are watching a major jockey move. Hall of Fame rider Joel Rosario plans to relocate his tack back to California, now represented by agent Bill Castle and preparing to ride at Santa Anita Park.
The 41-year-old rider has tallied 20 wins in 168 starts this year across Kentucky, Florida, and Arkansas. He’s approaching the $3 million mark in purses, and his homecoming to California promises a new chapter for fans in San Rafael, Novato, Mill Valley, and Corte Madera.
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Rosario Returns to California, Heading to Santa Anita
Rosario is slated to arrive at Santa Anita on Thursday. Belmont Park entries show him for Thursday through Saturday as well, which kind of highlights the juggling act in his schedule right now.
Santa Anita’s meet runs Friday through Sunday through June 14, but entries aren’t up yet. Still, the anticipation is obvious in Marin and the Bay Area as Rosario sets his sights on California after a season bouncing between Kentucky, Florida, and Arkansas.
What this move means for California racing
Having Rosario back on the West Coast could shake up jockey dynamics across Santa Anita’s weekends in Arcadia. In Marin County, trainers based in San Anselmo, Fairfax, and Mill Valley might be eyeing Rosario for their weekend rosters, hoping for stakes action and some real competition at the track that’s been a magnet for Bay Area fans from Tiburon to Sausalito.
Bay Area racing insiders are already talking about how Rosario’s experience and steady hand could boost top barns and set up bigger matchups on California’s winter-spring calendar. Marin’s racing crowd will be paying close attention to how his return changes race strategy and the overall vibe of race days in the next few weeks.
Santa Anita’s rounds will get plenty of attention from fans who’ve followed Rosario since his early days in California. Folks in San Rafael who make those annual trips to Arcadia for the big races are definitely watching.
- Representation: Bill Castle
- Arrival at Santa Anita: Thursday
- Belmont Park entry window: Thursday–Saturday
- Year-to-date performance: 20 wins in 168 starts; nearly $3 million in purses
- Career milestones: 3,802 wins and $347,755,545 in earnings
Rosario’s Career Milestones
Born in the Dominican Republic, Rosario started riding at age 14. He quickly became a four-time leading rider there before moving to the United States in 2006.
His early success in California set the stage for a career that’s seen him bounce between circuits. He even had a notable stretch in New York starting in 2012 before returning to the West Coast spotlight.
From the Dominican Republic to the Kentucky Derby and beyond
Rosario’s resume reads like a who’s who of modern jockey achievement. He captured the 2013 Kentucky Derby aboard Orb, a moment that etched his name in the history books.
In 2021, he earned the Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey. That honor really speaks to his skill under pressure on some of racing’s biggest stages.
Over more than two decades, Rosario has notched 3,802 career victories. He’s pulled in $347,755,545 in prize money—pretty wild numbers that show just how long and versatile his career’s been, from Del Mar to Santa Anita and beyond.
Fans in Marin County—San Rafael, Novato, and Corte Madera especially—still remember those landmark moments. Now, they’re buzzing about his California return and the chance for new memories at Santa Anita or regional simulcast venues.
For Marin County communities, Rosario’s California move really adds a high-profile twist to the Bay Area’s racing scene. San Anselmo’s tight-knit racing crowd, Larkspur’s weekend enthusiasts, and Fairfax’s equestrian-minded folks are all talking about it.
The Bay Area’s horse fans will be watching Belmont and Santa Anita results with fresh interest as Rosario’s schedule unfolds. Who knows what’s next?
Source: Daily Racing Form summarized and published by the Paulick Report.
Here is the source article for this story: Joel Rosario Shifts Tack To California
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