Top jockey Javier Castellano tests positive for the coronavirus

Javier Castellano, one of the most successful jockeys in North America, tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, according to multiple reports.

In a since-deleted tweet, Castellano’s agent, John Panagot, said his client had tested positive.

The jockey, who was scheduled to ride Thursday and during Saturday’s Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, confirmed the results a little later. He’s the first known jockey in the United States to test positive for the virus, USA Today reported.

Someone with knowledge of the situation who wished not to be quoted said Castellano had asked to ride at Gulfstream Park but was told he needed to undergo a physical first. The positive test was discovered during that physical.

Castellano had not been to Gulfstream Park in two weeks as he was in New York visiting family, he tweeted out.

New York has the highest number of positive cases at 37,258 and coronavirus-related deaths at 385 as of Thursday afternoon, a New York Times database shows.

Gulfstream Park provided the following statement to the Miami Herald:

“Our thoughts go out to Javier Castellano today and we are so glad to hear that he is asymptomatic. At Gulfstream Park, we have been operating in full compliance with all executive orders issued by the state of Florida and have, in fact, initiated stringent measures for the protection of all of our essential personnel, including our jockeys. It is because of our strict protocols requiring all jockeys to be screened prior to entering the facility that Javier’s symptoms were recognized, and he was able to be tested for which we know he is thankful. Javier last rode at Gulfstream Park on March 15^th and has not been back to the property since.

Javier will not be able to return to riding at Gulfstream Park until after his mandatory 14-day quarantine is complete and he has received a clean bill of health from his medical practitioner. We wish him a speedy and complete recovery.”

This story was originally published March 26, 2020 at 3:36 PM.

C. Isaiah Smalls II

Miami Herald

302-373-8866

C. Isaiah Smalls II is a sports and culture writer who covers the Miami Dolphins. In his previous capacity at the Miami Herald, he was the race and culture reporter who created The 44 Percent, a newsletter dedicated to the Black men who voted to incorporate the city of Miami. A graduate of both Morehouse College and Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, Smalls previously worked for ESPN’s Andscape.