Joe Bravo (born September 10, 1971 in Long Branch, New Jersey) is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. The son and grandson of jockeys, he began his professional career in Thoroughbred flat racing at Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens, Florida during the latter end of 1988.
Nicknamed "Jersey Joe",[2] Bravo has won 22 riding titles in his career at racetracks in New Jersey—13 at Monmouth Park and nine at the Meadowlands.[3] He got his big break in 1997 when he rode Formal Gold to his victories that year. Bravo has won the Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Stakes five times, including three straight from 2004 through 2006.
In 2019, Joe Bravo won the Breeders' Cup Distaff, his first victory after 21 career mounts at the Breeders' Cup.
In June 2021, Bravo announced that he would be relocating to ride in Southern California, starting at Santa Anita Park. He will be represented by agent Matt Nakatani, the son of retired jockey Corey Nakatani.[3] Bravo has declined to ride in New Jersey since the start of the 2021 Monmouth Park meet in disagreement with new rules regarding the use of the riding crop implemented by the New Jersey Racing Commission.[2]
Year-end charts[edit]
Chart (2000–present)
by earnings
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2000 26
National Earnings List for Jockeys 2002 294
September 10, 1971 (age 49)
Long Branch, New Jersey, U.S.
Career wins
5,400+[1]
Major racing wins
Long Branch Stakes (1994, 1996, 2004)
Pennsylvania Derby (1994, 2003, 2008)
Eatontown Handicap (1995)
Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Stakes
(1995, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006)
Royal Palm Handicap (1995)
Violet Stakes
(1995, 2022, 2018, 2020)
Cowdin Stakes (1996)
Donn Handicap (1997)
Mount Vernon Stakes (1997)
Sapling Stakes (1997, 2000, 2006)
Yaddo Handicap (1997)
Fred W. Hooper Handicap (1998)
Cliff Hanger Stakes (1998, 2013)
Pennsylvania Governor's Cup Stakes
(1998, 2016)
Tropical Park Derby (1998)
Vagrancy Handicap (1998)
Jamaica Handicap (1999)
Oceanport Stakes (1999)
Matchmaker Stakes (1999, 2003, 2008)
Salvator Mile Handicap (1999, 2008, 2009)
Endeavour Stakes (2000)
Aqueduct Handicap (2001)
Lamplighter Handicap (2001, 2006)
Carry Back Stakes (2003)
Red Bank Stakes (2001, 2003)
Frances A. Genter Stakes (2003)
Gulfstream Park Handicap (2004)
Haskell Invitational Handicap (2004)
Whimsical Stakes (2004)
Spectacular Bid Stakes (2004)
Victory Ride Stakes (2004)
Cotillion Handicap (2006)
Knickerbocker Handicap (2006)
Canadian Stakes (2008)
Long Branch Stakes (2009)
Sorority Stakes (2009)
United Nations Stakes
Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap (2013)
Cliff Hanger Stakes (2013)
Hawthorne Gold Cup (2013)
Fort Marcy Handicap (2015)
Sheepshead Bay Stakes (2015)
Westchester Handicap (2015)Breeders' Cup wins:
Breeders' Cup Distaff (2019)