Regardless of the horse racing discipline, the quality of the race, and the location, we all know that the best jockeys can make a difference to a race outcome. While some aspects of strategy may differ depending on where the jockey rides, the qualities that the best jockeys have – tactical genius, patience, fearlessness – tend to be universal.
In the US, that’s certainly no different. There’s some massive money out there on the US circuit, so it’s no surprise to see some of the biggest names in the world head out there to try their luck.
Below, we will list six of the best riders in the US right now. The kind of names that have popped up on horse betting cards across 2025 and delivered for trainers, owners, and bettors alike. To clarify, we have compiled this list based on jockeys who have achieved success, as measured by earnings and strike rates, in 2025, using data up to July 2025. So, apologies to any big names missing from the list.
- Flavien Prat
Flavien Prat is very much a Frenchman, but he has been such a consistent fixture on the US racing scene since moving out full-time that he’s close to becoming an all-American sports hero. Prat currently ranks first in North America for earnings, with over $19 million in 2025, and boasts a strong 25% win rate from 625 starts. He has handled elite mounts in all three Triple Crown races, winning the Kentucky Derby in 2019 and the Preakness Stakes in 2021. He’s also earned a coveted Eclipse Award (for Outstanding Jockey in 2024), marking the high-water point of a decorated and ascending career.
- Irad Ortiz Jr.
Second in earnings on the leaderboard with over $17.7 million in 2025, Irad Ortiz Jr. logs a win percentage of around 21％ from more than 820 rides. A perennial power in NYRA circuits (Belmont, Saratoga, Aqueduct), he’s regularly seen aboard graded stakes contenders and is a familiar face in Triple Crown entries. He’s won the Belmont Stakes twice, the Breeders’ Cup Classic twice, and far too many Grade 1s to list here.
- José Ortiz
José Ortiz, Irad’s younger brother, is also riding high this season, with $16 million+ in purse earnings and a sharp 24 % win rate across 750+ starts. Since joining the U.S. scene in 2012, he’s collected major race wins, notably the 2017 Belmont and 2022 Preakness, and an Eclipse Award (2017). His hot streak continues into 2025, and he and his older brother look like they have plenty more years left at the top of US racing.
- Luis Saez
Luis Saez is fourth on the earnings board in 2025 with $15.4 million and an 18 % win rate from nearly 860 mounts. A veteran of high-stakes companies, Saez combines consistency and poise under pressure, frequently partnering with top horses in the biggest graded races across the country. Saez has over 3500 winners and counting.
- Manuel “Manny” Franco
Manny Franco, fifth in the standings with over $10.3 million and a solid 19% win rate from 659 starts, is a familiar figure on NYRA tracks. A regular at the Kentucky Derby, Franco’s tactical speed, especially in early pace-making, makes him a trusted choice for trainers and owners in big graded races. He has yet to taste glory in the Kentucky Derby, though. He will be a popular figure at Churchill Downs if he can capture a Derby win before he retires.
- Brian Hernandez Jr.
Though slightly off the earnings leaderboard, Brian Hernandez Jr. remains a top-tier rider. He has firmly established himself among the elite with 2,500+ career wins, including a historic 2024 season when winning both the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby on successive days. His aggressive riding style, especially in classic and major stakes events, makes him always worth watching.
