Ramon Dominguez

A three-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey and a member of the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame, Ramón A. Domínguez has been retired since 2013, when he suffered a traumatic brain injury in a racing accident. He has since devoted his time to helping causes like the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and New York Race Track Chaplaincy, and he was instrumental in the introduction of the 360 Gentle Touch Riding Crop, a modernized and more humane version of the traditional whip. After the initial recovery from his accident, Domínguez was...

Michelle Cuozzo Borisenok has been elected as the new president of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy, the organization's chairman Terry Finley announced Thursday. Celebrating its 40th year of service to the New York backstretch community, the Chaplaincy was previously headed by Hall of Fame jockey Ramon Dominguez, who will remain as a board member. "It is hard to adequately convey the countless ways Ramon Dominguez helps our organization thrive and we are thrilled that he has agreed to stay involved as a member of our board of directors," Finley...

The Jockeys' Guild Education Foundation (JGEF), an initiative dedicated entirely to the educational empowerment of professional jockeys, has been launched through a partnership between the Lavin Family Foundation, Glen Hill Farm, and the Jockeys' Guild. Through scholarships, personalized academic guidance, and practical skills training, JGEF will aim to give jockeys the tools to build financial security and employment opportunities during and after their riding careers. Prior to its official start date of July 1, JGEF will be circulating a survey to jockeys and will be forming focus groups in coordination...

Kim Weir, the Director of Strategic Growth for Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga, received the first Nancy Kelly Volunteer Award for her extraordinary volunteer efforts with the New York Race Track Chaplaincy at a luncheon held Tuesday at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York, the chaplaincy said via a NYRA release on Wednesday. The award is named in honor of the late Nancy Kelly, a former president, vice president and longtime volunteer with the New York Chaplaincy. Kelly passed away in February 2024...

Dave Rodman, announcer at Maryland's racetracks since 1991, has been named recipient of a Special Award of Merit for his contributions and positive impact on the racing industry. Rodman will be presented with the award at the May 15 Alibi Breakfast at Pimlico Race Course. A native of New Orleans, Rodman worked as a deejay at various radio stations before calling his first race at Jefferson Downs in 1981. He moved to Louisiana Downs in 1985 before becoming the track announcer for the Maryland Jockey Club, calling races at Pimlico,...

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez and his wife Leona will be honored with the newly renamed John Hendrickson and Marylou Whitney Award by the New York Race Track Chaplaincy (NYRTC). The award recognizes the couple for their longstanding support of the New York backstretch community and will be presented at NYRTC's 18th Annual Fundraising Brunch to be held Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, at Saratoga National Golf Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. "Johnny and Leona have demonstrated a deep commitment to the backstretch community and they continue to set...

The 17th Annual Breakfast at the Gallops, hosted by the City of Aiken Parks, Recreation and Tourism, will begin Friday. Mar. 14 at the Aiken Training Track with Ramon Dominguez serving as the guest speaker, Aiken officials announced via press release. The event will give guests an opportunity to observe juvenile and older runners before they ship out to racetracks across the country and local trainers will be on hand to speak with participants regarding various training methods used to condition their equine athletes. Tickets for the event are now...

Retired Hall of Fame jockey Ramon Dominguez and his wife Sharon are among the four new board members of Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga (THS), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing sanctuary for retired racehorses and to sharing their horses and farm with the community through programs focused on mental health and wellness. Along with the Dominguezes, new board members are Keith Augustine and David Swank. "The addition of these dedicated individuals to the THS board will ensure that the organization continues to thrive and expand its equine-assisted therapy programs," said...

Angel Cordero, Jerry Bailey, Steve Cauthen, Julie Krone, Edgar Prado, Pat Day, Laffit Pincay, Ramon Dominguez, Jean Cruguet and Chris McCarron are just a few of the names confirmed to attend the 10th annual Jockeys and Jeans event at Gulfstream Park Jan. 11. Proceeds from the event go to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF). Other riders confirmed to attend include Jose Santos, Jorge Velasquez, Earlie Fires, Alex Solis, Bill Boland, Mike Manganello and current riders John Velazquez, Javier Castellano and Joel Rosario. The event, to be held in the...

The Race Track Chaplaincy of America (RTCA) will host "RTCA Night of Faith, Hope & Love" during Breeders' Cup week at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on Tuesday, Oct. 29. The evening will include food, music, the premier of this year's RTCA White Horse Award video, and a celebrity panel interview moderated by FanDuel's Scott Hazelton with scheduled guests Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, Hall of Fame jockey Ramon Dominguez, horseman and racing executive Janet VanBebber and multiple graded stakes winning jockey Kyle Frey discussing what Faith, Hope & Love...

The Racetrack Chaplaincy of America (RTCA) invites everyone to an evening of "Faith, Hope and Love" at the Breeders' Cup World Championships on Tuesday, Oct. 29, the non-profit said via a release on Thursday. Held in the Palio Room at Del Mar, the evening will include a meal, music, the premiere of this year's White Horse Award video, and a celebrity panel with Hall of Fame jockeys Mike Smith and Ramon Dominguez, plus racing executive Janet VanBebber and California-based rider Kyle Frey will speak. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and...

For most of the sport's history the mental well-being of jockeys was not something that anybody talked about or even thought about. But the problem could no longer be ignored when, in 2023, two jockeys, Alex Canchari and Avery Whisman, took their own lives. They were otherwise young and healthy, but the pressures of being a jockey was a burden both, apparently, could not handle. They were not alone. Jockeys' Guild President and CEO Terry Meyocks said that 230 jockeys were surveyed last year and asked about their mental health....