Breakout Jockeys and Horses to Follow in the Upcoming Calendar
Horse racing is a sport that is constantly evolving, with new names joining the sport every year.
Every star coming into the sport will aim to make their impression, whether that is by winning a notable Grade One or scoring victory in one of the Classics.
Breakout jockeys will be looking to upset the status quo, and their mounts will likely be overlooked due to the inexperience of the rider when making online horse racing betting selections.
But, who are potentially some of the breakout jockeys and horses worth following in 2026?
Jaime Torres
One of the fastest-growing stars in U.S. horse racing continues to be Jaime Torres.
His emergence is no secret, as the talented 25-year-old famously won the Preakness Stakes back in 2024 when aboard Seize The Grey.
His desire to become a professional rider led to him dropping out of college, and he has since been rewarded with notable wins.
Torres broke the $7 million mark for earnings for the second straight year in 2025, and he has already started the 2026 season in red-hot form, with 23 places in 71 starts.
Pietro Moran
Pietro Moran may be one of the exciting riders worth following throughout 2026.
Racing is in the blood, with father David Moran being a staple of the jockey room over the last 20 years.
However, Pietro looks set to exceed his father’s achievements on track, having already shown his ability last year when recording the most wins at Woodbine.
The 20-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise through the grades in the sport, with his biggest victory coming in the King’s Plate.
Moran won the Eclipse Award Outstanding Apprentice Jockey in 2025, and his continued rise to the top of the sport is set to continue this year.
Erik Asmussen
The son of legendary trainer Steven Asmussen is another rider that is set to make waves in 2026.
Erik Asmussen is a talented 22-year-old rider, who has already made over $5 million in prize money since making his debut.
Asmussen won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey in 2024, and he has shown early signs in 2026 of enjoying his best season to date.
He has already won over $870,000 in prize money this calendar year, with his best win coming aboard Perfect Shot in the G3 Houston Ladies Classic Stakes.
Based on his early season form, he could be an outsider to pick up a ride on the Kentucky Derby.
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Billy Loughnane
It could be argued that the most exciting young jockey in the world is Billy Loughnane.
The 19-year-old has rapidly gone through the grades in British horse racing, being named Flat Racing Champion Apprentice in 2023.
Since then, he was also named the All-Weather Champion Jockey for the 2024-25 season.
Loughnane has continued to progress at a high level, winning his first Grade One in 2025 after landing the Grosser Preis von Berlin aboard Rebel’s Romance.
The fact that he is regularly picking up rides for Charlie Appleby means that he is likely to have leading hopes in the 1,000 Guineas, 2,000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby at the start of the British flat season.
Zany
An exciting season could lie ahead of the Todd Pletcher yard, as they have another excellent chance in the Kentucky Oaks.
Zany is a daughter of American Pharoah, and has done little wrong on track to this point.
The filly was excellent when easily moving eight lengths clear of the field to land the G2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct in December, before making her three-year-old debut impressively at Tampa Bay Downs when scoring in the Suncoast Stakes.
Holds rock solid claims for the Oaks at this stage.
Paladin
Ted Noffey’s absence on the Road to the Kentucky Derby has left a void for a superstar to fill.
At this stage, it could be Chad Brown-trained Paladin that looks set to step up.
The son of Gun Runner is perfect in four starts under rules, and his full potential was clear to see at Fair Grounds in February when landing the G2 Risen Star Stakes.
He only looks set to progress further when stepped up in trip, and at this stage, he could be the leading hope of an American Triple Crown winner.
Constitution Hill
In Britain, the flat season is likely to revolve around the plans of two-time Cheltenham Festival winner Constitution Hill.
The Nicky Henderson star ended his jumps career with some poor displays, but his ability was clear for all to see when scoring easily against top-class graded runners by a yawning ten-length margin on his flat debut at Southwell.
As Britain’s most popular horse in training, Constitution Hill will focus heavily throughout the season, and connections have already teased big targets, with races such as the Melbourne Cup and Breeders’ Cup Turf being potentially on the radar.
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