Created in 1989, the New York Racing Association’s Mike Venezia Memorial Award is awarded to a jockey who displays the extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship that personified Venezia, who died as the result of injuries suffered in a spill in 1988.
Venezia, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., won more than 2,300 races during his 25-year career.
The 2021 winner is veteran jockey DeShawn Parker, who was honored September 2, 2021 at Saratoga Race Course in a ceremony attended by the Venezia family and past award winners, Richard Migliore and Hall of Famer Ramon Dominguez.
Parker, based at Indiana Grand, was chosen in ballots cast by more than 360 professional jockeys at North American tracks. He outpolled a distinguished group of finalists including Junior Alvarado, Julien Leparoux, Scott Stevens and Gerard Melancon.
“It’s an honor just to be on the ballot for this award,” said Parker. “It’s extra special that my fellow riders are the ones who made the selection. I take a lot of pride in being a role model both on and off the track. I will l cherish this award.”
In a career that has spanned more than 30 years, Parker, 50, was America’s leading rider in 2010 with 377 wins, becoming the first Black rider to do so since 1895. He led all jockeys again in 2011 with 400 wins; and is now closing in on 6,000 career wins. A native of Cincinnati, Parker was a dominant rider for more than 20 years at Mountaineer Park in West Virginia. He has also enjoyed considerable success at Indiana Grand, where he was leading rider in 2020, and at Sam Houston Race Park, where he was leading rider in 2015.
Winning the Venezia Award is another major accomplishment for Parker in a year he described as “personally emotional but exciting.” In early March, Parker lost his father, Daryl Parker, a longtime Ohio racing steward, to cancer. Parker called his father his mentor and inspiration for becoming a jockey, especially after telling his 5-foot-10-inch son to ignore the naysayers who said he was too tall to make it as a professional rider.
“My idol, my best friend and a great father!” Parker said of his father. “He meant so much to my life and my career. I can only hope to be as great as he was.”
Two weeks after the passing of his father, Parker was selected by a vote of jockeys nationwide as the winner of the 2021 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, presented by Santa Anita Park.
The Venezia Memorial Award is a 13-inch bronze sculpture with a title that reads, "The Jockey, A Champion." Parker has joined a legendary group of riders who have won the award previously, including Venezia, who posthumously earned the inaugural award in 1989, as well as Migliore, Domiguez, Bill Shoemaker, Angel Cordero, Jr., Jerry Bailey, Mike Smith, Gary Stevens, Edgar Prado, Joe Bravo and Javier Castellano.
For Migliore, the 2003 Venezia Memorial Award winner who is now with NYRA TV, the award continues the legacy of Venezia.
“Winning the award myself was one the proudest moments of my career because Mike Venezia embodied everything you look for in a rider,” said Migliore. “He continues to be an example for today’s jockeys and for our sport. DeShawn Parker is a worthy addition to this group of jockeys.”
Gambling Problems? The New York Racing Association encourages responsible wagering. If gambling is a problem for you or someone you care about, help is available 24 hours a day. Scan here to talk with someone now about your gambling. Or call toll-free 1-877-8-HOPE-NY.
Privacy Policy | Ethics | About NYRA | Careers | Do Not Sell My Information