Irad Ortiz Jr wife Meliza Betancourt studied at Puerto Rico Escuela Vocacional Hipica jockey school. Irad first met her in 2011 at high school.
Irad is a Puerto Rican jockey and lead rider in the New York Thoroughbred horse racing circuit. He is one of the most successful jockeys in his generation.
Though winning more than 3,500 races including a dozen Breeders’ Cup contests and the Belmont Stakes twice, he is yet to win Kentucky Derby.
As the Kentucky Derby 2023 is scheduled for May 6, 2023, Irad Jr eagerly awaits winning his first Derby.
Irad is enjoying his career, and in his 541 starts, he has won 141 times and finished on the board 321 times. He won Ecplise Award for Outstanding Jockey in 2018, leading the jockey list both by number of earnings and win.
Irad Ortiz Jr Married Life
Irad Ortiz Jr is married to his high school girlfriend Meliza Betancourt. Irad and Meliza have been together for twelve years.
Irad first made his relationship official with Meliza through his Facebook account on 29 March 2013, where they spent time together at the restaurant.
Since then, he has shared a picture of his relationship on his social media account. The couple looks adorable and has traveled to many destinations together.
Meliza has seen the starting struggling phase of her husband in horse racing and she has been with him since his starting career. She attends racing and cheers up for him.
As time goes on, Irad has established himself as a well-known jockey with the support of Meliza and his struggle. He is famous today and attends renowned events with Meliza.
In 2013, Irad attended the Travers Gala at Saratoga Race Course with his spouse, where they both looked dashing.
Irad Ortiz Jr Children
Irad Ortiz Jr children are Sarai Ortiz, Saeli Ortiz, and Salome Ortiz.
The three children are featured on Irad’s Instagram official account. Sarai is the first-born daughter of Irad and Meliza.
She was born in 2015 and as of 2023, Sarai is eight years old. She celebrated her fourth birthday on February 20, 2019.
The second daughter Saeli was born prematurely at 26 weeks on November 27, 2017. As of 2023, Saeli is six years old.
Irad shared a picture of her third daughter Salome in 2020. On the occasion of Father’s Day, he shared pictures of her three daughters on his social media account.
Sarai and Saeli attended St. Jerome school. On January 30, 2023, Sarai along with her two younger sisters attended their father’s racing.
The three kids often make an appearance in their dad’s games and events. In 2018 when Irad won Shoemaker Award his daughter Sarai was there to share the happy moment with him.
Irad usually takes his kids on the vacation trip and spent time with them. Also, the children enjoy each other’s company and they share a strong bond.
They celebrated the 2023 New Year together with their mom and dad where Sarai, Saeli, and Salome were looking pretty in the yellow outfit.
Irad Ortiz Jr Family Life
Irad Ortiz Jr was born on August 11, 1992, in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico to his parents Irad Ortiz and Vilma Morales Adomo. Irad grew up with his younger brother Jose Ortiz.
His grandfather Irad Ortiz and uncle Ivan Ortiz was also a jockey. Ortiz Jr chooses to follow in his family’s footsteps to become a jockey.
Also, he became interested in sports at a young age he was encouraged by family friend Efraim “Piti” Rosa and coached by Hall of Fame rider Angel Cordero Jr.
Jose Ortiz Is A Jockey
Jose Ortiz is a leading jockey who has been a rider in the New York Thoroughbred horse racing since 2012.
He won the Eclipse Award for Oustanding Jockey in 2016, his first Triple Crown Race, and the 2019 Belmont Stakes. Also in 2022, he won the Preakness Stakes in his triple Crown race win.
Jose marked the 100th victory of his career when he rode Moonlight Song in the John Morrisset Stakes at Saratoga on July 28, 2016. With 65 victories, he eventually won the Saratoga riding championship.
He concluded the year 2017 as the highest-paid jockey in the US after riding Good Magic to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile victory.
During the Kentucky Derby appearing on Good Magic, he was seen wearing a “Free Murdoc” strip on his leg.
Talking about his personal life, Jose married to jockey player Taylor Rice on December 20, 2016. Taylor and Jose have three children.
Taylor is a former jockey at Hawthorne Race Course and she studied BA in International Affairs at Florida State University.