Online voting for the 2019 Mike Venezia Memorial Award began May 6, with racing fans given the option of choosing from finalists Javier Castellano, Irad Ortiz, Jr., Jose Ortiz, Florent Geroux and Ricardo Santana, Jr.
Fans can make their selection at NYRA.com/Venezia with the online voting period to conclude May 20. The winner will be announced May 23 and the award will be presented in a special ceremony at Belmont Park May 27.
Created in 1989, the Mike Venezia Memorial Award is given to a jockey who displays the extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship that defined Venezia, who died as the result of injuries suffered in a spill in 1988. Venezia, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., won more than 2,300 races during his 25-year career.
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