Every Kentucky Derby has that one horse. The attention grabber, the headline stealer, the favorite. Well this year is no different and in 2025, it’s Journalism who’s heavily favored to walk away covered in those bright red roses. The colt has been stunning with 4 out of 5 career wins, and with Michael McCarthy at the helm, he’s really turned into one of the top contenders for this year’s Run for the Roses. But you know what? Umberto Rispoli is going to be on that saddle, and he’s not taking any of this for granted.

“It’s great. I just love it. It’s a good field, but I have the confidence I can win the Kentucky Derby definitely,” the Italian jockey shared when talking about his plans for the Run for the Roses. For Rispoli, this is going to be a big day with the horse, and it’s something he’s really put a lot of effort into.

On World Horse Racing’s X profile, the Italian jockey opened up about his background, saying, “I grew up in a neighborhood in Scampia, Napoli. You know, when you grow up there, you never believe that you can be a rider, but fortunately I have my dad take me out of the street. And it was about all the passion for horse racing. I grew up in my room with the posters of Frankie Dettori, Godolphin. I drew horses and that’s what I want to do.”

In Naples, everyone loves soccer, but when it comes to horse racing, it’s pretty quiet. But with horse racing in Rispoli’s blood, he kept chasing his dream no matter what. He also decked out his bedroom with posters of racing legends like Frankie Dettori and well-known racing organizations like Godolphin. He found even more inspiration for his journey with these.

“I went away from Napoli when I was 14. I was only 14 years old. I wasn’t that high. And when I get there, I cry for every night for a month. But in my mind, I would say, I want to be a jockey. I have to stay here. There’s no way I’m going to go back. I start to learn how to cook, how to iron, how to wash my clothes. I’m a good mate. Like, I can do everything, you know. And that’s, I think, what the street teaches you,” Rispoli said.

At just 14, he was so passionate about his dream that he decided to leave home and chase after jockey training. It was really tough for him — he talks about crying every night for a month due to homesickness — but he stayed motivated by keeping his eyes on the prize: becoming a jockey. He picked up life skills like cooking, ironing, and doing laundry pretty early on — all things that helped him get by on his own while going after his dream. He happily shared how the tough environment he grew up in shaped him into a stronger, more resourceful person, and played a big role in his success. So, just how good is journalism, really?

Journalism’s rise to glory

Jockey Umberto Rispoli’s connection with journalism has really come into focus as we approach the 2025 Kentucky Derby, where he’s gearing up to ride the race favorite, Journalism. He’s shared some interesting thoughts with the media about how he’s getting ready and what he’s thinking for the upcoming race. The three-year-old colt trained by Michael W. McCarthy that’s definitely the one to watch at Churchill Downs on May 3.

Journalism has shown some solid results with 5 starts, 4 wins, and 1 third-place finish as we head into the Derby. He really stood out by winning the Santa Anita Derby and the San Felipe Stakes, proving he can hold his own in tough competitions. He comes from a long line of fast and endurance horses, with Mopotism as his dam and Curlin as his sire.

So, Journalism has drawn post position No. 8 and is heading into the Derby with 3-1 odds. That really shows he’s one of the top contenders out there!