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Jockeys Guild News and Articles

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Garrett Gomez Jockey of the Week

Gomez also won his third Bill Shoemaker Award as outstanding jockey at the Breeders' Cup. He won the award in 2005 and 2007.

The 36-year-old jockey's four wins on Friday and Saturday increased his total number of Breeders' Cup victories to eight. He won two races on the '05 and '07 cards.

On October 24, Gomez piloted Ventura to a four-length romp in the Sentient Flight Group Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

One day later, Gomez took the TVG Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile with Albertus Maximus, the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI) aboard Midshipman, and the Sentient Flight Group Breeders' Cup Sprint (GI) with Midnight Lute.

Gomez also finished third with Whatsthescript (Ire) in the Breeders' Cup Mile (GI).

Last weekend's Breeders' Cup performances continues Gomez's remarkable comeback story. He entered rehab on October 29, 2003, and missed 21 months of racing because of personal issues, including substance abuse.

He currently leads all North American riders with $21,463,879 in purse earnings through Tuesday, nearly $7 million more than second-place Kent Desormeaux.

Born in Tucson, Arizona, Gomez resides in Duarte, California with his wife, Pam, and their four children. Thoroughbred Times TODAY

Monday, October 27, 2008

Albarado captures Keeneland title

Albarado won three stakes during the fall - the Darley Alcibiades (GI) on Dream Empress, the Shadwell Turf Mile (GI) on Thorn Song and the Thoroughbred Club of America (GIII) on Indyanne - for a total of 41 Keeneland stakes wins. He ranks fourth amoung the track's all-time leading riders by stakes victories. Keeneland Communications Department

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Eddie Castro Jockey of the Week

Castro, 23, also ranked second in purse earnings among jockeys for the previous week with $510,987.

Thus far this season, Castro has won four graded stakes, including the United Nations (G1) on July 5 aboard Presious Passion at Monmouth Park, and compiled purse earnings of $7,794,211.

After arriving in the United States in 2003 from Panama, Castro quickly made a name for himself in Florida.

He won the Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice jockey in 2003 and went on to set a national record with nine wins on a single card on June 4, 2005 at Calder Race Course. Castro won 218 races that year at Calder, breaking a 26-year-old track record by 25 wins.

In 2006, Castro made his Breeders' Cup debut and rode Miesque's Approval to victory in the NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).

Castro currently resides in Pembroke Pines, Florida.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Lone Star Rider Paralyzed

Perez, 30, was scheduled to undergo surgery on Monday, said Jack Palmer, his valet the last twoyears. The goal is to correct some damage done to his spine, according to Bill Pettit, the stall superintendent at Lone Star.

"He can move his arms some," said Pettit. "He's in remarkably good spirits."

Lone Star officials said that Perez was conscious after the accident and complained of loss of feeling in the lower half of his body. The Daily Racing Form

Thursday, October 16, 2008

John Velazquez Jockey of the Week

In his first day back riding competitively after spending October 3 at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, Velazquez guided Alwajeeha to victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (GI) on October 11 at Keeneland Race Course.

One day later, he won the Bryan Station Stakes (GIII) aboard Cowboy Cal at Keeneland.

"I'm very blessed that nothing really serious happened to me," Velazquez said. "Thanks to Keeneland and everybody at the hospital, they treated me very well and they really took good care of me."

Velazquez's mount, Tap Dancing, fell over another horse during the seventh race on opening day at Keeneland on October 3. He was released from the hospital the following day, but did not return to action until October 11.

Velazquez, 36, won his 4,000th career race on September 28. Velazquez's mounts this year have amassed $11,875,895 in purse earnings, which ranks sixth among all North American-based jockeys through Tuesday.

He won four consecutive New York riding titles from 2001 through '04 and was honored by the New York Turf Writers Association with the Eddie Arcaro Award as outstanding jockey in 2001, '02, '03, and '05.

Velazquez has won 357 graded stakes victories among 4,010 career wins through Tuesday. He has seven grade I wins this year, two of which came aboard Indian Blessing.

Origianlly from Puerto Rico, Velazquez lives in West Hempstead, New York, with his wife, Leona, and their two children. Thoroughbred Times TODAY

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Jockey serves to show inside story on TV series

Smith, a resident of Sierra Madre is currently filming at his townhouse to show that in spite of the rigors of circuit riding and the tough regime required of all sports figurres, there is time to socialize with friends. Filming began Sunday evening. During the show he will serve, among other things, the Pinot Noir wine he and fellow jockey Alex Solis are involved with.

According to Paul Boese, the director of the series slated to run on cable television's Animal Planet in January, at least one of the episodes will show Smith entertaining friends at his place. The January scheduling, according to Boese, is to increase interest in the Breeders' Cup race to be held at Santa Anita Racetrack in Arcadia.

Smith, 43, has been aboard mounts in the last several Kentucky Derbies, winning on Giacomo in 2005. He has 10 Breeders' Cup wins to his name.

Breeders Cup World Championships will come to Santa Anita Racetrack in Arcadia on October 24 and 25. The Arcadia Chamber of Commerce anticipates more than $5 million in revenues will be added to the event. The Foothill Weeklies

Monday, October 13, 2008

Keeneland Jockeys Visit Young Patients

Keeneland's jockey colony has visited Kentucky Children's Hospital several times during the Keeneland meets. This time, jockeys Rene Douglas and Robby Albarado came up with the idea to visit the children and recruited other jockeys to come along. "I've been in the hospital and I know how it is; you appreciate visitors," said Albarado. "It's a small way to give back something to the community."

Dr. Tim Bricker, professor and chair, Department of Pediatrics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, and physcian-in-chief of Kentucky Children's Hospital, greeted the Keeneland jockeys. "We are so pleased to have the Keeneland jockey colony come back to visit our patients at our Kentucky Children's Hospital," said Bricker. "After all, Keeneland's jockeys are as committed to Kentucky as we are, and they are part of our team." Kentucky Children's Hospital Communications Department

Monday, October 13, 2008

Edgar Prado to donate portion of Breeders' Cup winnings

Prado is dedicating his potential Breeders' Cup earnings to his mother Zenaida Prado, who died of breast cancer in February of 2006, prior to his victory aboard Barbaro in the Kentucky Derby and subsequent induction into Racing's Hall of Fame in August.

The primary beneficiaries of Breeders' Cup Charities are: Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Breeders' Cup Charities also will support causes in southern California and Thoroughbred industry charities.

"We are grateful for Edgar's generous pledge in the name of his late mother at this year's Breeders' Cup," said Greg Aviloi, president and chief executive officer of the Breeders' Cup. "Over the years, Edgar has been the epitome of talent and class on and off the racetrack, and we welcome his support to these important causes."

The pledge by Prado is the fourth commitment from the Thoroughbred industry to Breeders' Cup Charities, which was established this year to further community outreach efforts in conjunction with the 2008 Breeders' Cup World Championships. Pamela and Martn Wygod, on behalf of WebMD Health Foundation, made the first contribution to Breeders' Cup Charities, donating $250,000. Earlier this month, IEAH Stables, owners of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, pledged a portion of all its starters' earnings at the Breeders' Cup to Breeders' Cup Charities. Former Hollywood Park President and current Breeders' Cup Vice Chairman R.D. Hubbard, on behalf of the R.D. and Joan Dale Hubbard Foundation, last week donated $50,000 to Breeders' Cup Charities.

"My mom was a great inspiration to me throughout my life," said Prado. "I hope that my participation in Breeders' Cup Charities will bring more attention to help find a cure for breast cancer and others in need."

Prado, 41, a native of Lima, Peru, is a regular rider on the New York circuit. Now a resident of Miami, Prado won the Eclipse Award for outstanding jockey in 2006. Breeders' Cup

Friday, October 10, 2008

Keeneland Medical Director Pleased With Response

One of the first jockeys to sign up for the system, Velazquez was transported to the University of Kentucky Medical Center. He was accompanied by a copy of his medical records, which also were faxed.

The creation and development of the Jockey Health Information System featured collaboration among InCompass Solutions, Inc., The Jockey Club Technology Services, Inc., the Jockeys' Guild, Keeneland and Dr. Barry Schumer, Keeneland's Medical Director who developed the original concept and consulted on the project. The system is a module of the InCompass Race Track Operations software, which nearly every racetrack in the United States uses.

Once a jockey receives a username and password from InCompass, he or she can enter and update personal health information, such as broken bones, surgeries, illnesses and medications, in the database.

"Thus far, the riders have uniformly thought this was a great idea," Schumer said. "I've been pleased with the response from the riders.

"We've probably assigned user names and passwords to over 30 riders thus far through four days of racing. About half of them have filled out health forms. It's a great first step."

In late April, Keeneland accounced the concept, and Schumer worked with InCompass on the design. Keeneland is the first track in the United States to make use of the system.

"Once we test drive it here for the next couple of weeks, it's going to be sent out nationwide," Schumer said. "We want riders who are at Keeneland and go elsewhere to have their information accessible at any track."

Meanwhile, the Jockeys' Guild is working to publicize the new system and recruiting jockeys to participate. Keeneland Communications Department

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Javier Castellano Jockey of the Week

Castellano rode Marsh Side in third until the quarter pole and the Gone West colt seized command when given his cue to score by 1-3/4 lengths.

The 30-year-old Venezuela native ranks ninth in 2008 by purse earnings with $10,733,951 through Tuesday.

Since moving to the United States in June 1997, Castellano has emerged into one of the nation's elite riders.

After riding for about four years on the Florida circuit, Castellano's career took off after he moved his tack to New York in 2001 on the advice of former agent Steve Adika.

The move paid immediate dividends as he finished sixth in the New York standings in 2001 and second in 2002.

Castellano notched his biggest win of his career in 2004, when he guided eventual Horse of the Year Ghostzapper to victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (GI) at Lone Star Park.

He also recorded wins in the 2006 Preakness (GI), Travers (GI), and Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI) Stakes aboard champion three-year-old male Bernardini.

This season, he has ridden Music Note to wins in the Coaching Club American Oaks (GI), Gazelle Stakes (GI), and Mother Goose Stakes (GI) and guided Red Rocks (IRE) to a two-length victory over reigning Horse of the Year Curlin in the Man o' War Stakes (GI) on July 12 at Belmont.

Castellano resides in Garden City, New York, with his wife, Abby, and their daughter, Kayla Marie. Thoroughbred Times TODAY

Monday, October 06, 2008

Guild bankruptcy case moves forward

The action follows approval of the Guild's disclosure statement on October 2. The court, determined tht the parties involved have resolved objections regarding the adequacy of the disclosure statement.

A confirmation hearing has been scheduled for November 17. Guild lawyers were ordered to mail copies of the amended disclosure statement, reorganization plan and ballot to all scheduled creditors. Any objections to the Guild's reorganization plan would have to be filed by November 10. Thoroughbred Times

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Albarado Named Jockey of the Week

Albarado has been aboard Curlin for all but one of the colt's 15 career starts, including his narrow victory over Street Sense in the 2007 Preakness Stakes (GI) at Pimlico Race Course, his emphatic 4-1/2-length win in the slop in the '07 Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (GI) at Monmouth Park, and a dominant 7-3/4-length triumph in the $6-million Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-GI) in March at Nad al Sheba racecourse.

Four of Albarado's five Grade I victories this sason have come aboard Curlin. Albarado's other Grade I win was with Einstein (BRZ) in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (GI) on May 3 at Churchill Downs.

Albarado ranked fifth by purse earnings for the week ended September 30 with $482,800. Thoroughbred Times TODAY

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