Mario Gutierrez is a renowned jockey who won the 2016 Kentucky Derby. Image Source: Mario Gutierrez's Instagram.
- Birth DateSeptember 19, 1986
- Birth Name Mario Alberto Gutierrez Cruz
- Age 38
- Height 5' 2"
- Father's Name Mario Gutierrez Sr.
- Mother's Name Paulina Gutierrez
- Birth Place Veracruz, Mexico
- Birth Sign Virgo
- Nationality Mexican
- Profession Jockey
- Partner Rebecca Ayarra
- Relationship Status Married
- Eye Color Black
- Hair Color Black
- Children Sebastian Gutierrez
- Twitter https://twitter.com/_mgutierrez_
- Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063535788829
- Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mariogutierrez_19/
- Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Gutierrez_(jockey)
One of the most popular sports in the USA is horse racing. With several events happening every year, the horses, trainers, and jockeys participating in those tournaments have gained significant fame. One such person is Mario Gutierrez.
Although the jockey has gained prominence worldwide, very little is known about him. Many want to learn the details of his personal life. Hence, let’s take a look at Mario Gutierrez’s biography, including his family, net worth, wife, and kids.
Mexico Born Jockey
Mario was born Mario Alberto Gutierrez Cruz on September 19, 1986, in Veracruz, Mexico. He is one of the four kids of Paulina Gutierrez and Mario Gutierrez Sr. The Mexico-born horse jockey grew up on a small farm along with his siblings, Juan Gutierrez, Mayte Gutierrez, and Fidelina Gutierrez.
When he was seven years old, Mario Gutierrez’s dad was training to be a jockey. So, watching him, the little guy became more interested in horse racing. Furthermore, he learned from his dad and showed good results by the time he turned fourteen. However, Mario’s parents forced him to finish high school before pursuing a horse-riding career.
Also Read: Take A Look At Damian Lane’s Biography
Mario Gutierrez Net Worth And Career
Mario makes significant earnings from his profession as a jockey. Hence, Mario Gutierrez’s net worth must be a considerable sum. He has been active in sports for a long time.
Being the son of a jockey, Mario grew up watching his dad ride. Following his father’s footsteps, he began riding quarter horses and made a bit of money in his earlier years. Afterward, he had to move to Mexico City in order to find Thoroughbreds. Moreover, when the horse rider was nineteen, he met trainer Terry Jordan, who provided a contract to ride in Vancouver. That’s where he met stable owner Glen Todd who took him under his wing. In 2011, he moved to California and began riding at Santa Anita.
The Mexico-born jockey rode several horses and even claimed victories in many racing events. Some of his major wins are the 2012 Santa Anita Derby, Preakness Stakes, Kentucky Derby, etc. Similarly, he won the 2016 Kentucky Derby while riding Nyquist. J. Paul Reddam owned it while Doug O’Neill trained it.
As mentioned earlier, Gutierrez has earned significantly as a jockey. The table below shows some of Mario Gutierrez’s earnings in different years.
| Year | Starts | Per Start | Earnings |
| 2006 | 437 | $2,647 | $1,156,947 |
| 2012 | 424 | $12,595 | $5,340,452 |
| 2015 | 585 | $10,791 | $6,313,005 |
| 2016 | 566 | $17,344 | $9,816,844 |
| 2020 | 393 | $7,260 | $2,853,255 |
Table Source: Equibase
According to Equibase, the jockey’s estimated earnings is $59,276,607 with 7,830 starts. He has made an income of $1,402,974 in the 2022 season alone. It will likely increase more with the upcoming competitions. Hence, looking at his earnings, Mario Gutierrez’s net worth must be in multi-millions.
Married For Many Years
The two-time Kentucky Derby winner shares a blissful marital life with Rebecca Ayarra. The couple exchanged the vows in January 2015 and have been together ever since. Furthermore, Mario Gutierrez’s wife, Rebecca Gutierrez, was the woman who picked him and his bag of belongings up at the airport in 2006 when he first came from Mexico.
Rebecca had done so according to her dad’s suggestion. Her father is a horse owner who also worked as an interpreter in the racing office. The duo began dating shortly after and eventually tied the knot.
Moreover, Mario Gutierrez’s spouse is a graphic designer and even works as his nutritionist and chef. He credits his partner for every success he has achieved on the track. Furthermore, the smitten pair’s marital life seems to be going smooth. They gush about their love for each other on social media.
Has Welcomed A Son
Mario has been married to Rebecca for many years now. In all these years of sharing a blissful marital life, the couple has welcomed a child together. Mario Gutierrez’s son, Sebastian Gutierrez was born in November 2016, a year after they tied the knot.
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Furthermore, in an interview, the jockey revealed that after finding out he would be a father of a boy, he cried. He added that he initially wanted a daughter because girls are attached to their fathers. Moreover, he does not want his kid to become a jockey. Nevertheless, Mario revealed that if his son loves horses, he will not stop him from pursuing his dream. He would support the little guy but not encourage him.
All in all, Mario must be living a wonderful life with his family. As he still actively works as a jockey, his wealth is likely to increase in the future. So, let’s hope we get to see Mario Gutierrez claiming more victories in the coming days.
