JOCKEYS’ GUILD’S STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF JUAN SAEZ LEXINGTON, KY (October 15, 2014)- The Guild is saddened to report that our member, apprentice jockey Juan Saez, 17, passed away late last night due to the injuries he sustained Tuesday evening, Oct. 14, during the 8th race at Indiana Grand. After the spill, Saez was airlifted from a heliport near the track by Life Flight and transported to IU Health Methodist Hospital where he was treated in the level one trauma center. “There are no words to describe the devastation that we are all feeling,” said Terry Meyocks, National Manager of the Guild. “Our thought and prayers are with Juan’s family during this tragic time.” “Juan was such a talented and sweet kid, with a promising future,” said John Velazquez, Chairman of the Guild. “It is like losing a member of the family. We are competing against one another on the track, but off of the track, we are all very close. Since his family was in transit, it gives some comfort knowing that he was surrounded by his fellow riders, his agent, Julio Espinoza, and close friends, when he passed.” Saez, a native of Panama, comes from a racing family, and was the younger brother of journeyman Luis Saez, cousin to Gabriel Saez and Angel S. Arroyo. Saez received the leading rider title at Ellis Park this summer, with 51 wins from 194 starts. He graduated at the top of his class from of the Laffit Pincay Jr. Jockey School in Panama. Juan’s family is traveling is en route to Indiana at this time and service arrangements are pending. Contact: Jockeys’ Guild 859-523-5625 About the Guild Jockeys’ Guild, Inc., the organization representing professional jockeys in Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing in the United States, was founded in May 1940 and has approximately 1150 members, including active, retired and disabled jockeys. The purpose is to protect jockeys, strive to achieve a safer racing environment, to obtain improved insurance and other benefits for members and to monitor developments in local, state and federal laws affecting the racing industry, and in particular, the jockeys. More information at jockeysguild and facebook/jockeysguild.
Posted on: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 16:01:12 +0000
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