Five nominated for Venezia Award

ELMONT, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association announced the five nominees for the Mike Venezia Award, given to the jockey who displays extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship, and named after the rider who died from injuries suffered in a spill here in 1988.

The nominees are Joe Bravo, Kendrick Carmouche, Javier Castellano, Rajiv Maragh, and Cornelio Velasquez.

Online voting at nyra.com/venezia was to begin Friday and will close at midnight on May 16. The winner will be announced May 17.

◗ For the time being, the New York Racing Association will not be offering a late pick five on cards with at least 10 races, as it did last year. The first card expected to have at least 10 races is next Saturday’s Kentucky Derby Day program, when 12 races are scheduled.