Race Day for Longtime Laurel Park Jockey Valet

Photo: Angie Kozlowski

Jockeys count on him to get everything just right. He is the one who knows which saddle out of a number of differently weighted choices to use for each jockey and what position it needs to be in for each jockey for each ride. He makes sure the saddle is fitted properly and is completely safe for the jockey. He takes in the temperament of each horse and lets the jockey know if it is out of sorts in any way. Daniel Orellana has been keeping his jockeys safe for 28 years at Laurel Park.

Orellana works for three jockeys during normal racing at Laurel Park: Javier Perez, Victor Carrasco, and Angel Cruz. However, when big races come to town, Orellana will work for three different jockeys.

Big races, such as the Preakness, draw big-name jockeys. During these races, Orellana would normally travel to Pimlico to work for Flavien Prat, Rafael Bejarano, and Jose Lezcano when they are in town. Lezcano was at Laurel Park, not riding in the Preakness Stakes race but to ride in undercard stakes races during Preakness week.

However, having the Preakness at Laurel Park offered a different opportunity for Orellana. He continued to prepare his usual jockeys’ horses and the big-name visitors, as well. While he said that it is exciting to be at a new racetrack for the Preakness this year, he is looking forward to going back to the rebuilt Pimlico for the Preakness next year.

He observed that “old Pimlico is where everybody wants to go.” But he thinks the jockeys like different types of racetracks and would like the “big, long stretch backside [of Laurel Park]. It is really nice. It’s very fun.”

Preakness Saturday began at 5 am for Orellano. He was well into his workday by 10 am, having prepared Javier Perez’s first ride, on Itsamonstahmash, for the first race of the day.

Orellana also can be found working at Colonial Downs in Virginia during the summer.

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Angie Latham Kozlowski is a staff writer and member of the Board of Directors for the Laurel History Boys. In addition to her investigative reporting, her articles frequently spotlight Howard County.