Author: Wynn Elliott

Suffolk Downs Press Release East Boston, MA — SuffolkDowns hosted the final of four scheduled live racing and food truck festivalweekends of the year and concluded the 2018 season on Sundaywith aneleven-race card. Jockey Hector Diaz, Jr. rode three winners on the day andRuben Silvera swept the $5,000 Jockey Challenge. “We arevery happy about the way these festival weekends have turned out and thesupport they have gotten from the local horsemen and horsewomen,” said Chip Tuttle, the Chief Operating Officer at SuffolkDowns. “As part of our ongoing partnership with the New England HBPA and theMassachusetts Thoroughbred Breeders Association, we plan to file a request fordates in 2019 with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission by the end of themonth.” Jockey Hector Diaz,Jr. kicked off his triple in the second race with a win aboard Stormy Change($3.80) for trainer Gregory Sacco. He piloted King of New York ($10.40) tovictory in the seventh race for trainer David Donk and took the featured ninthrace with Diamond Play ($6.00) for Kelly Breen. Suffolk Downs also concludedthe fourth $5,000 Jockey Challenge of the year in which the riders compete forpoints over the course of the weekend. Jockey Ruben Silvera took home the topprize of $2,000 and led the standings with 41 points. Erik Barbaran finishedsecond with 40 points for a prize of $1,500 while Jose Baez and PedroMonterrey, Jr. tied for third with 36 points each and each received $750. The2018...

Gulfstream Press Release HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Jockeys and staff from Gulfstream Park visited children at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in nearby Hollywood Monday afternoon. Jockeys visited children in the play room before visiting children and parents in individual rooms. The jockeys brought coloring books, stuffed animals, backpacks, bracelets and goggles. Children also took pictures wearing jockey silks. Jockeys attended included Tyler Gaffalione, C.C. Lopez, Carlos Montalvo, Luca Panici and Raul Mena. “It means so much to me to be able to give just a small portion of my day to visit with the kids,” Panici said. “It’s truly a humbling experience,” Gaffalione said. “I’ve been coming for the last four years. It makes you realize how blessed we are.” “It’s like a wake-up call to have such a small period of time with these kids,” Montalvo said. “They’re in a lot of pain, and some are so young they do not even understand why they are here. To see what their families and friends have to go through is a lot. For us to be able to come and visit it means a lot from the bottom of our hearts.” Shannon Bajwa, a Child Life Specialist at Joe DiMaggio, said: “It means a lot to the patients. Sometimes they’re here for a long time and they don’t have much to look forward to, so when we have visitors...