Luzzi Welcomed Back to Saratoga Jockey Colony

Following Wednesday's eighth race at Saratoga, veteran jockey Mike Luzzi was met with the kind of reception befitting a winner. Cheered by fans and embraced by his fellow riders, he even took a congratulatory call from the stewards' box.

 

It didn't matter that the 45-year-old Luzzi finished sixth aboard 4-year-old colt Artie Crasher. He was already a winner as soon as he climbed aboard.

 

"It felt good. Once I was on the horse, it felt like old times," Luzzi said. "I was very comfortable, and I thought I had a real good shot at winning the race. I felt like a winner turning for home, but he just kind of hung in the stretch a little bit."

 

Artie Crasher was the first race for Luzzi at the meet, coming exactly 10 months to the day since he was seriously injured in a paddock accident at Aqueduct Racetrack. On November 2, his mount flipped over backward and landed on top of the journeyman rider, breaking his femur in two places and his pelvis in five places.

 

Even worse, it took several surgeries and 14 transfusions before doctors were able to locate and stop the source of massive internal bleeding that threatened his life. During his recovery, he was nominated for and later won Santa Anita's George Woolf Memorial Award, chosen by his fellow riders.

 

"Ever since the Woolf Award, it's been really cool. There's been a lot of inspiration from people," Luzzi said. "I didn't know. I thought just my wife liked me, pretty much. And, I wasn't always sure about that. It meant a lot."

 

The Woolf Award honors the Hall of Famer best known for riding Seabiscuit in his 1938 match race with War Admiral, and recognizes riders for the dedication and character on and off the track. Luzzi's grandfather, Virgil "Buddy" Raines, won the 1962 Preakness with Greek Money during a training career that spanned 6 ½ decades, knew Woolf personally. Raines helped raise Luzzi and his brother, John, who also rode professionally.

 

"I found out I was nominated, and I didn't even know if I was going to live," Luzzi said. "I was still bleeding inside. To win it was just incredible, to know your peers voted for you. My grandfather and George Woolf were actually friendly. It was way back. I had heard about George Woolf when I was a little kid and my mom used to hear about George Woolf every day of her life. It was kind of extra special."

 

The Eclipse Award-winning apprentice of 1989, Luzzi began getting on horses before the meet began to prepare for his comeback. Among the horses he worked were Grade 1 Travers winner Keen Ice for trainer Dale Romans, and Jess's Dream for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. The first foal of Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, Jess's Dream was a dramatic winner of his long-awaited debut August 24.

 

A winner of 3,420 races, Luzzi has one mount in Thursday's fifth race, O K by Me, for trainer Bruce Brown.