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Beloved Midwest Jockey J.J. Sunseri Succumbs To Injuries From Automobile Accident

He may have weighed 110 pounds – but most of that was his heart.

James “J.J.” Sunseri, 70, of Erlanger, Ky., born as Tito Libero Cavanti in Ascoli Piceno, Italy on May 4, 1950, passed away on Jan. 2, 2021, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident on Dec. 13, 2020.

Sunseri was adopted in the United States when he was thirteen by Joseph and Dorie (Osinski) Sunseri of Erie, Penn., who preceded him in death. He was a graduate of Erie Cathedral Prep High School in 1968. After high school, he spent a year at Penn State Behrend Campus where he found his passion for horses.

Sunseri spent his adult life as a professional jockey with nearly ten thousand Thoroughbred mounts over 45 years. He rode races in Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Illinois, Indiana, and Florida, entering the winner's circle 545 times. Sunseri also appeared in the movie “Dreamer” as the stunt jockey.

Sunseri received numerous awards over the course of his career including a Kentucky State Senate citation for his professional dedication. He was also a member of the Florence Elk Lodge #314 for 17 years serving in several capacities, including chaplain.

He was a great storyteller and dancer. He never forgot a birthday or special occasion for anyone in his huge extended family. He was always sending cards with underlines on the meanings he wished to emphasize. His love for his cousins and their children went beyond happiness. Mr. Santa is what he was! He gave love and smiles to all who knew him.

He is survived by his “Lady” Judith Costigan of Cincinnati OH, an uncle, and many aunts and cousins.

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Umberto Rispoli ‘So Excited’ To Pick Up Saudi Cup Mount on Max Player

Italian jockey Umberto Rispoli is living the American dream as he prepares for some choice rides at The Saudi Cup meeting.

The 32-year-old switched to California 14 months ago having enjoyed a fruitful spell in Hong Kong and success has followed him all the way to the West Coast of America. His first year in the states yielded more than $7 million in prize money and he currently lies second in Santa Anita's jockey standings after a sparkling start to 2021.

The only thing missing is a Grade 1 win to add to his top-level prizes collected in Italy, France, Japan and Hong Kong. He will attempt to add The Saudi Cup to his international haul of racing trophies when he rides Max Player in the world's most valuable race.

It will be his first ride for American Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and he is looking forward to partnering the 4-year-old, fifth in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness last year, in the meeting's glittering $20 million feature run over 1800m (1 1/8 miles) on Feb. 20.

Rispoli said: “I was so excited when I received the call. When I heard which horse I would be riding and for which trainer, I was like 'oh my goodness'.

“Max Player has run in some tough races, he always comes late. He looks like he needs a little something extra but he's getting more experienced.

“It would be a dream come true to win The Saudi Cup. I would be the happiest person in the world if I could win the race. This will be my first time in Saudi but the track is supposed to be very good. It's very exciting to both be riding over there and to be involved in the biggest race.”

Asmussen has also booked Rispoli to ride Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint runner-up Cowan in the $1.5million Saudi Derby, run on the dirt track over 1600m on the same day as The Saudi Cup.

Rispoli revealed: “I saw him at the Breeders' Cup and he ran a huge race. I got the impression you could go longer with him and he switches from the grass to the dirt. He was second on his first start back after the Breeders' Cup and he looks in fantastic order.

“He is the highest rated horse in the race and he might have a better chance than Max Player, but I have 100 per cent confidence in both of them.”

It would be fitting for Rispoli to grab a winner at The Saudi Cup meeting having impressed in some of the world's top races. He was twice champion jockey in Italy before enjoying plenty of success when based in France and then in the ultra-competitive racing scene in Hong Kong.

His move across the Pacific has been a roaring success and he just missed out on the jockeys' title at Del Mar's summer meet to Flavien Prat by a single winner.

Rispoli said: “Since I landed here it feels like home. It's a new challenge and a new chapter for me. If anybody would have told me it would go this way, I wouldn't have believed them.

“I've had great support from nice people and nice owners. The lifestyle is fantastic and since I've been riding here, I've been doing well. The numbers last year were unbelievable, some of the best of my career.

“Del Mar helps me a lot so I'm glad the Breeders' Cup is here this year. I love the place and I couldn't feel happier. I'm really excited about my second season, excited like a kid.

“I learned a lot in Hong Kong, you need a strong personality to succeed, but my time there was done. I am ambitious and one day I want to win an Eclipse Award. To do that I may have to move to the East Coast one day.”

Rispoli is clearly loving life in California but he does admit that racing in the state is going through a tricky period with a crackdown affecting trainers and jockeys.

He added: “In California things are very difficult at the moment. The trainers have a lot of restrictions for Lasix and the jockeys have whip restrictions. It's tough and I hope this isn't going to push the riders away. The fines are very high and you get banned quite easily so you end up missing a week.”

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Australia Jockey Handed One-Year Ban For Mistreatment Of Horses

Queensland jockey Chris McIver has been banned for 12 months for “stomping” on a horse at the stalls – the third ban he has received for mistreating horses.

McIver, 33, returned from seven months on the sidelines only in November after he was stood down for whipping a horse on the head.

That sentence included an extra month activated from when he was found guilty of misconduct in 2019 for kicking and punching a horse after a race, resulting in a three-month ban, of which a month was suspended.

In the latest incident McIver faced a Queensland Racing Integrity Commission inquiry for kicking a horse at the barriers before a race last month at Rockhampton, in Central Queensland. He was found guilty of misconduct after he twice forcibly stomped on the hindquarters of his mount Or Else.

Chief Thoroughbred steward Peter Chadwick said any rule breach involving the mistreatment of a racehorse must be met with a significant penalty.

McIver was previously banned for striking Absolute Bonza on the head as he they pulled up at the end of this race in 2020

“The penalty must not only deter Mr McIver but must also illustrate to the racing industry that these actions are not to be tolerated,” said Chadwick. “In this case Mr McIver also had two recent breaches of the misconduct rule in 2019 and 2020.”

McIver's was one of four misconduct cases dealt with by QRIC, which issued a general warning to the sport's participants to keep their behavior in check or suffer the consequences.

Jockey Nigel Seymour was found guilty of misconduct and disqualified for nine months for sending threatening text messages to a licensed trainer.

In another incident, Brisbane-based jockey Nathan Thomas pleaded guilty to misconduct and was suspended for two weeks after he struck his mount in the shoulder with his whip after getting dislodged before a race at Mackay.

While stablehand Nick Trimble pleaded guilty to misconduct and was disqualified for three months for striking a horse in the girth while unsaddling following a race.

Chadwick said all of the incidents had a detrimental effect on the image of racing, and penalties must serve as a general deterrent to illustrate to the racing industry that these activities were unacceptable.

This story was originally published by Horse Racing Planet and is reprinted here with permission.

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Jockey Devin Magnon ‘Progressing Very Well’ After Jan. 14 Spill At Delta

Jockey Devin Magnon is expected to make a full recovery from a serious fall at Delta Downs in Vinton, La. on Jan. 14, reports the Daily Racing Form. The rider's mount fell on top of him, causing a trio of fractures in his back, 10 broken ribs, a broken collarbone, a fractured pelvis, and a punctured lung.

Magnon underwent surgery and has two rods in his back to stabilize his spine.

“He's progressing very well,” agent Wes Landry told drf.com. “I saw him today. Stopped and checked on him. He looked great, sounded great. He was in real good spirits and anxious to keep going forward.”