Mike Venezia Memorial Award Explained

Mike Venezia Memorial Award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor given annually by the New York Racing Association to honor a jockey who exemplifies extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship. The award was created in 1989 to honor the memory of jockey Mike Venezia, who was killed in a racing accident in October, 1988 at Belmont Park.

The award is determined by voting from jockeys, turf writers and racing fans. The winner is announced in July of each year and at a ceremony held in the fall, each recipient receives a 13-inch bronze sculpture with a title that reads, "The Jockey, A Champion."

Recipients

• 1989 : Mike Venezia (posthumously)
• 1990 : Bill Shoemaker
  • 1991 : Chris McCarron 1992 : Ángel Cordero Jr.
• 1993 : Jerry Bailey
• 1994 : Mike E. Smith
• 1995 : Pat Day
• 1996 : Laffit Pincay Jr.
• 1997 : Robbie Davis
  • 1998 : Eddie Maple 1999 : Gary Stevens
• 2000 : Jorge F. Chavez
• 2001 : Mike Luzzi
  • 2002 : Dean Kutz 2003 : Richard Migliore
• 2004 : Patti Cooksey
• 2005 : No award given
• 2006 : Edgar Prado
• 2007–2012 : No award given
• 2013 : Ramon Domínguez^[1]
• 2014 : John Velazquez
• 2015 : Jon Court
• 2016 : Mario Pino
• 2017 : Kendrick Carmouche
• 2018 : Joe Bravo^[2]
• 2019 : Javier Castellano^[3]
• 2021: DeShawn Parker^[4]
• 2022: Julien Leparoux^[5]
• 2023: Junior Alvarado

Notes and References

1. Web site: Saratoga: Dominguez to be honored Sunday.
2. Web site: Thompson . Najja . Bravo to receive 2018 Mike Venezia Award . New York Racing Association . 18 September 2022 . 16 May 2018.
3. Web site: Castellano wins 2019 Venezia Award. NYRA. 2019-05-22. 2020-05-26.
4. Web site: TDN . The . 2021-08-26 . Deshawn Parker Wins Mike Venezia Memorial Award . 2022-08-07 . TDN Thoroughbred Daily News Horse Racing News, Results and Video Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions . en.
5. Web site: 'Richly Deserving': Julien Leparoux Named 2022 Mike Venezia Memorial Award Winner - Horse Racing News Paulick Report . 2022-08-07 . paulickreport.com.