🚨5 MINUTES AGO: IRAD ORTIZ JR. JUST ACCEPTED AN INVITATION FROM CROWN PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN – SALARY 10 TIMES HIGHER, US Horse Racing is about to lose its ‘number 1 ticket-attracting name’?

In a development that has sent shockwaves through the global horse racing community, top American jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. has reportedly accepted a private and lucrative invitation from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia. According to sources close to both camps, Ortiz is set to begin riding full-time in the Middle East, with a staggering salary package said to be nearly ten times higher than what he currently earns on the U.S. circuit. The news broke just minutes ago and is already lighting up every corner of the horse racing world.

Ortiz Jr., considered by many to be the most valuable and marketable jockey in American racing, has dominated the sport for the past several years. His name alone has sold tickets, driven betting lines, and brought global attention to American meets from Belmont to Saratoga. The idea that he could now be permanently riding in Saudi Arabia is almost unthinkable for many U.S. fans. Yet, insiders say the offer on the table was simply too massive to ignore.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has made no secret of his ambition to turn Saudi Arabia into a global hub for elite sports, especially horse racing. With the Saudi Cup already being the world’s richest horse race, and numerous initiatives underway to attract top-tier talent, bringing Irad Ortiz Jr. into the fold appears to be the crown jewel of his racing empire’s next phase. For Ortiz, who has already accomplished nearly everything a jockey can dream of in North America—including multiple Eclipse Awards and Breeders’ Cup wins—the challenge and payday might have come at the perfect time.

While official confirmation from Ortiz’s camp is expected later today, the backlash in American racing circles has already begun. Trainers and owners who regularly rely on Ortiz are scrambling to adjust their summer and fall lineups. Many fans are expressing heartbreak online, citing his unique ability to turn average horses into headline contenders and his signature finishes that have become the stuff of legend. “Irad leaving is like losing LeBron from the NBA,” one commenter wrote. “He’s the ticket.”

There is also speculation about how long Ortiz intends to stay in Saudi Arabia. Some believe this could be a temporary high-stakes contract for a single racing season, while others warn it may signal a permanent shift in the global balance of horse racing talent. With oil money flooding into the sport and many Western athletes being courted for similar roles, this may be the start of a broader exodus.

For now, what remains clear is that the U.S. racing world is facing a major blow. The departure of its most magnetic name could affect not just competition, but attendance, betting activity, and the very energy that Irad Ortiz Jr. brings to every race day. If this is goodbye, then it’s not just the end of an era—it’s the beginning of a power shift that may reshape the sport for years to come.