Leparoux to be recognized with Mike Venezia Memorial Award

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Jockey Julien Leparoux was selected as the winner of the 2022 Mike Venezia Memorial Award, the New York Racing Association announced Friday.

The Venezia, named in honor of the jockey who died in 1988 as result of injuries suffered in a spill at Belmont Park, is awarded to a jockey who displays the extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship that personified Venezia, who won more than 2,300 races during his 25-year career.

Leparoux was chosen by a committee comprised of members of the Venezia family, representatives of The Jockeys’ Guild, and retired Eclipse Award-winning rider Richard Migliore.

The award will be presented to Leparoux in a winner’s circle ceremony on Aug. 12.

A native of Senlis, France, Leparoux has won 2,880 races in his career which began at Saratoga in 2005 where on Aug. 18 of that year he won his first race in North America. He earned the Eclipse Award as leading apprentice jockey in 2006.

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In 2009, Leparoux won the Eclipse Award as North America’s outstanding jockey, making him just the fourth jockey to receive an Eclipse as an apprentice and journeyman

“It’s a great honor,” Leparoux said. “Looking at the list of the jockeys that have won it, and the story about the family, it’s a great, great, honor to be part of the list. I try to help people and stay the same person I’ve always been. Saratoga, New York, has been a big part of my career.”

Leparoux joins a roster of previous Venezia winners that includes Bill Shoemaker, Angel Cordero, Jr., Jerry Bailey, Mike Smith, Gary Stevens, Migliore, Patti Cooksey, Edgar Prado, Ramon Dominguez, Joe Bravo, Javier Castellano, and DeShawn Parker.