Javier Castellano (born October 23, 1977 in Maracaibo, Zulia, Venezuela) is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing.
Castellano began his riding career in his native Venezuela in 1996 and in June 1997 moved to the United States where rode at race tracks in southern Florida until 2001 when he moved to race on the New York State racing circuit.
In 2004, Javier Castellano was the rider for Frank Stronach's colt Ghostzapper on whom he won several major races including the 2004 Breeders' Cup Classic. Ghostzapper was voted the 2004 Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year and named the World's Top Ranked Horse. In 2006, Castellano rode Bernardini for Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Darley Racing. Among his wins with Bernardini was the Preakness Stakes, and the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Currently lives in Garden City, FL
Height: 5'1 Weight: 110
Family: Wife, Abby; daughters Kayla & Sienna Became involved in racing: Father was a jockey
First Win: Santa Rita, 3/12/1976 in Venezuela
Greatest Achievement: Winning the 2004 Breeders' Cup Classic with Ghostzapper
Career Goals: To win the Kentucky Derby
Hobbies: Working in the office
Role Models: My parents
Favorite Sport: Baseball
Favorite Horse Ridden: Ghostzapper, Bernardini
Favorite Food: Italian
