edgar prado | Horse Racing Free Tips

Oaklawn to Honor Hall of Famers

Oaklawn will host its first even Hall of Fame Day Apr. 16. The day, honoring members of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, will be highlighted by several special events, including winner's circle presentations. The feature race will be the GIII Count Fleet Sprint H. Race fans will receive a commemorative poster while supplies last, and an autograph session with Hall of Fame members will take place on the north end of the Grandstand from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

“There are only a few other racing towns that can garner the enthusiasm and love for racing as Hot Springs, Arkansas, and we know this event will be a huge hit among our fans,” Oaklawn President Louis Cella said. “We are excited by the response we have received from the Hall of Fame members in the first year of this event, and we look forward to honoring some of our industry's greats.”

Scheduled to appear are 11-time Oaklawn leading trainer Steve Asmussen, Bill Boland, Calvin Borel, Ramon Dominguez, Earlie Fires, Sandy Hawley, Chris McCarron, Bill Mott, Don Pierce, Laffit Pincay Jr., Edgar Prado, Jose Santos, Gary Stevens and Nick Zito.

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‘Everything I Know I Learned From Him’: Hall Of Famer Prado Returns To Riding After Loss Of Father

Nearly a month since his last mount – and after traveling to Peru to mourn the loss of his father – Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado will return to the saddle Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

“It happened suddenly,” said Prado of the death of his father, Jose. “I went to see him in the hospital, but he passed away before I could get there.”

Prado, one of 12 children, said returning to Peru has brought back a lot of memories, feelings, and appreciation.

“Everything I know I learned from him,” said Prado of his father, an assistant trainer and groom. “He was very dedicated to his horses, and I learned to love and respect horses through him.

“When you go back you start thinking, especially when you start opening boxes of memories. Your mind starts to go back, and you think about everything that has happened in your life. You realize in order to achieve success sometimes you have to risk something…you pay the price of missing parents and family. But maybe I would have missed more if I didn't take the chance.”

Prado returns Saturday with two mounts for trainer Timothy Hamm. In the second race, Prado rides the debuting 2-year-old colt Cloud Play, a son of Into Mischief bred and owned by Patricia Pavlish. In the fifth, a maiden claiming event on the turf, Prado rides Mission Brief.

Prado, who is represented by agent Cliff Hopmans, is three wins shy of 7,100 and is ranked eighth all-time in wins. The 53-year-old is 45 wins shy of surpassing Chris McCarron for seventh. Prado, who makes his home in South Florida, says he is looking forward to getting back in the saddle.

“I feel good, physically and mentally,” he said. “My kids want me to stop, but I like what I'm doing. I feel a passion for the game, and I love winning and riding.”

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Keeneland Maker’s Mark Bottle Fundraiser to Benefit LexArts, Isaac Murphy Memorial Garden

This year, the annual release of a commemorative Maker's Mark Bourbon bottle in partnership with Keeneland will benefit LexArts, greater Lexington's premier cultural development, advocacy, and fundraising organization, to support its initiatives at the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden in Lexington. Murphy was a Hall of Fame jockey who remains the only rider to win the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Clark H. in the same year (1884). The Art Garden is the first park in the U.S. to honor African American jockeys, who were the earliest Black professional athletes.

For the first time, the fundraiser will feature three distinct bottles, each with its own label featuring the work of artists Sandra Oppegard, Andre Pater, or Tyler Robertson. The bottles are all pre-signed by the artist who created each label along with Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin, Maker's Mark Managing Director Rob Samuels, and one of three active Hall of Fame jockeys who have won the GI Maker's Mark Mile S. at Keeneland multiple times: Javier Castellano, Edgar Prado, and John Velazquez.

The three bottles will go on sale Friday, Apr. 2. This begins a three-year series benefiting LexArts initiatives, with the same three artists creating new labels each year for the commemorative release.

“To have the immeasurable support of these two iconic brands, Keeneland and Maker's Mark, is meaningful in so many ways for LexArts and our entire arts community,” said Ame Sweetall, LexArts President and CEO. “The support of the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden this partnership will further engage and enrich the East End community and build upon the early work of those who made the art garden a reality more than ten years ago.”

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New York Race Track Chaplaincy To Honor Irad Ortiz Jr.

The New York Race Track Chaplaincy will honor jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. for his generous and continued devotion to the backstretch community at its fundraiser during the 2021 Saratoga racing meet in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

“Since his arrival on the New York Racing Association circuit, Irad has demonstrated a deep appreciation for our backstretch community, and his actions have directly and indirectly improved the quality of life for those who make their living caring for horses,” said Humberto Chavez, the chaplain for the NY Chaplaincy. “He is immensely deserving of this honor.”

Ortiz, a native of Trujillo Alto in Puerto Rico, has won nearly 2700 races and earned nearly $200 million in purses in his career. He won the Eclipse Award as the nation's outstanding jockey in both 2018 and 2019. He also took home the title of the leading jockey of the 2020 Saratoga meet.

He won the 2016 Belmont Stakes aboard Creator and has won 11 Breeders' Cup races.

“Racing would not exist without the dedicated individuals who care for the horses,” said Ortiz. “It is a blessing and an honor to support them through the work of the NY Chaplaincy.”

Previous honorees have included Anne Campbell, Edgar Prado, Michael Dubb, Fay and David Donk, Marylou Whitney/John Hendrickson, Letty and Kiaran McLaughlin, Lisa and Kenny Troutt, Debbie and Terry Finley and, last year, the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.

The honoree is presented with an original painting by equine artist Tom Chapman at a brunch typically held at the Saratoga National Golf Club in Saratoga Springs. The event was held virtually under a different format in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are extremely hopeful that we will be able to once again host our annual event in person and make the presentation to Irad,” said Chavez, “but we will go forward with it only when we can ensure the health and safety of our attendees. We will make those decisions when we get closer to August and will get the word out.”

The NY Race Track Chaplaincy, which will soon be expanding its services as it breaks ground on a dedicated building at Belmont Park, serves the NY backstretch community with children's enrichment, social service, recreational, and educational programming as well as non-denominational religious services.

Additional information may be found at www.rtcany.org.

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