LOUISVILLE — As a young boy in Venezuela, Junior Alvarado wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and be a winning jockey.
He started as what he called a “backboy” in the racing stables in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. He remembered hearing about this big race called the Kentucky Derby.
“We didn’t have much access to watch any other races, but the Kentucky Derby was the famous race,” Alvarado said. “Once I became a jockey, I thought my only chance to win that race — I had to go to the United States and I had to make it there. And that’s what I did.”…