Born: June 25, 1958
Birthplace: San Julian, Mexico
Residence: Oldsmar, FL
Family: six brothers, four sisters
Started Training: 1976
First Win: 1982, Tampa Bay Downs
Circuit: Tampa Bay Downs, Calder Race Course
|
Year
|
Starts
|
1st
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
Earnings
|
W rank
|
W %
|
ITM %
|
|
2007-2008 meet
|
99
|
14
|
19
|
13
|
$200,240
|
15th
|
14.1
|
46.5
|
Javier Contreras began his relationship with horses as a jockey in his native Mexico. He rode his first winner in 1972 at the age of 14, and came to the United States at age 15 to gallop horses; however, Contreras gave up race riding when he realized that he would be too big to be a jockey. “I knew that I was still growing, and that by age 18, I’d be too big,” Contreras explains. Contreras decided then to become a trainer, and won his first race as a conditioner a week after being awarded his license. Contreras says of Tampa Bay Downs, “It’s the best place I’ve ever been. I came here in 1985, and I feel like this is home.” Contreras finished up the 2007-2008 Tampa Bay Downs season tied as the 15th leading trainer with 14 wins from 99 starts. During the summer months, Contreras can be found at Miami’s Calder Race Course meeting.