Voting Opens Friday for Venezia Award
Updated: April 28, 2016 at 5:02 pm
Racing fans will decide which of four jockeys will be the recipient of the 21st Mike Venezia Memorial Award, to be presented by The New York Racing Association, Inc. in a special ceremony at Belmont Park Memorial Day, Monday, May 30.
Beginning Friday, fans can choose among jockeys Javier Castellano, Joe Bravo, Aaron Gryder, Cornelio Velasquez and Mario Pino and vote for their choice online at www.nyra.com/veneziaaward. Voting will close at midnight May 16 with the winner announced the following day.
Created in 1989, the Mike Venezia Memorial Award is given to jockeys who display the extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship that defined Venezia, who died as the 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.