Online voting to select the 2018 Mike Venezia Memorial Award winner will open Friday, Apr. 27, the New York Racing Association announced Wednesday. This year, racing fans will choose among a distinguished group of finalists including Javier Castellano, Joe Bravo, Irad Ortiz, Jr., Jose Ortiz, and Manny Franco.
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 native of Brooklyn, N.Y., won more than 2,300 races during his 25-year career.
Fans can make their selection at NYRA.com/Venezia with the online voting period to conclude Tuesday, May 15. The winner will be announced the following day and the award will be presented in a special ceremony at Belmont Park Monday, May 28.
Previous winners of the award, given posthumously to Venezia in 1989, include Kendrick Carmouche, Mario Pino, Jon Court, John Velazquez and Ramon Dominguez.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
