Voting Opens Friday for Mike Venezia Memorial Award
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Racing fans will decide which of four outstanding jockeys will be the recipient of the 21st Mike Venezia Memorial Award, to be presented by The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) in a special ceremony at Belmont Park on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30.
Beginning tomorrow, Friday, April 29, fans can choose among Javier Castellano, Joe Bravo, Cornelio Velasquez, Aaron Gryder, and Mario Pino and vote for their choice online at www.nyra.com/veneziaaward.
Voting will close at midnight on Monday, May 16 with the winner announced on Tuesday, May 17.
Created in 1989, the Mike Venezia Memorial Award is given to jockeys who display the extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship that defined Venezia, who died asthe result of injuries he suffered in a spill in 1988. Venezia, a Brooklyn, New York native, won more than 2,300 races during his 25-year career.
Each of the finalists is an accomplished athlete whose aptitude on the track is rivaled only by the respect they garner off it.
Each of the finalists is an accomplished athlete whose aptitude on the track is rivaled only by the respect they garner off it.
- Castellano, 38, who won his third straight Eclipse Award as Outstanding Jockey in 2015, led the nation in earnings last year with a record $28.1 million. Among his victories was a record fifth Travers, in which he piloted Keen Ice to upset Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.
- Bravo, 39 had the best year of his career in 2015 with more than $8.39 million in purses earned and three Grade 1 wins in New York: the Personal Ensign with Sheer Drama, the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic with Big Blue Kitten and the Champagne with Greenpointcrusader.
- Velasquez, perenially among NYRA's top jockeys, this year won the Grade 1 Carter Handicap and the Grade 3 Tom Fool with Salutos Amigos. The 48-year-old native of Panama has more than 3,700 winners of $164 million since he came to the United States in the late 1980's.
Gryder, 45, has won dozens of stakes races throughout his career, including a victory aboard Well Armed in the 2009 World Cup. He is the co-founder of The Giving Circle, based in Saratoga Springs, which connects donors with communities in need.
- Pino, 54, currently is third among active jockeys and 10th overall in career victories, having ridden 6,707 winners of more than $124 million. Only all-time leader Russell Baze (12,812 and counting) and No. 8 Edgar Prado (6,882 and counting) have more wins among active jockeys.
The first Venezia Award was awarded posthumously to Venezia in 1989. Previous winners of the award include Jon Court (2015), Hall of Famer John Velazquez (2014) and newly minted Hall of Famer Ramon Dominguez (2013).
Source: NYRA Communications
Source: NYRA Communications
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