Jockey killed at Indiana track remembered for his infectious smile, potential in the sport
SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Oct. 15, 2014)– Races at the Indiana Grand Racing and Casino were canceled Wednesday after a jockey was killed.
Juan Saez, 17, of Panama moved to the states in April and raced at tracks in Kentucky and Indiana. At Indiana Grand Racing and Casino, he was this year’s leading apprentice rider with 21 wins.
“The riders around him (that) were mentoring him were very excited about his prospect of becoming one of the top riders in the nation,” Jeff Johnston, general manager of the Jockeys’ Guild said.
Johnston was a jockey for 21 years, before becoming a member of the Jockeys’ Guild. He said horse racing is a thrill, but it can be a dangerous sport.
“This really drives home just exactly how dangerous it is for these guys and how courageous they are,” Jon Schuster, vice president and general manager of racing at Indiana Grand Racing and Casino said.
Saez is the first jockey killed at the track. His horse, and another horse injured in a separate incident, were euthanized Tuesday.
“This is the worst day in my professional year in almost 40 years,” Schuster said.
Tuesday night, Saez was thrown from his horse, Montezuma Express, during the eighth race.
“The horse that Juan Saez clipped heels in front of it which created a chain reaction spill,” Schuster said.
Saez was trampled by other horses. He was flown to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, where he passed away. The Marion County Coroner indicated the manner of death was an accident and the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.
“We’ve lost one of our family members. (We’ve lost) one of our friends and it’s very tough,” Schuster said.
The Indiana Horse Racing Commission Board of Stewards is currently reviewing the crash. Their final report will be completed by Friday. Track officials believe this was an accident. According to Schuster, the track is a member of the Safety Alliance and practices a number of safety procedures.
“It looked like the race was running properly. It was a very experienced group of rider’s. (They are a) very talented group of riders that were doing everything right,” Johnston said.
The last time Saez won at Indiana Grand Racing and Casino was on Oct. 4, when he won the Indiana Derby Race. People described Saez as a sweet person with an infectious smile.
The track will have a memorial and moment of silence for Saez on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at the Winner’s Circle before the first race.
“The first race back will be very emotional, but at some point you have to put it behind you and that’s what riders do every day,” Johnston said.
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