Page 56 - 14 September 2012

GILBERT ORTIZ
Presented With Sam Thompson Memorial Jockey Award
by Stacy Pigott
Gilbert Ortiz and Kool Kue Baby winning the 1996 Grade 1 AQHA Challenge Gilbert Ortiz and World Champion Tailor Fit winning the 1999 Sam Houston
Championship at Turf Paradise.
On Sept. 2 at Ruidoso Downs, jockey Gilbert Ortiz was honored in a winner’s circle presentation as the recipient of the second
annual Sam Thompson Memorial Jockey Award. Popular horse racing sportscaster Chris Lincoln emceed the award presentation, which was held just prior to the running of the All American Gold Cup.
Several members of the Ruidoso Downs jockey colony, as well as various trainers,
Classic at Sam Houston Race Park.
54 SPEEDHORSE, September 14, 2012
owners and breeders, joined Ortiz in the win- ner’s circle for the ceremony.
“He’s a key rider in my operation,” said trainer Janet VanBebber. “His work ethic is unparalleled. He’s had some serious injuries in the last few years, yet he gets back to riding and working hard and doesn’t let it get him down.”
Sam Sr. and Kathy Thompson were on hand to present the trophy. The award is named in honor of their son, jockey Sam
Thompson, who suffered a fatal riding accident in 2008. One of the leaders in the jockeys’ room during his riding career, Thompson was a Jockeys’ Guild senator and the room represen- tative at Los Alamitos and a council member
of the Los Alamitos division of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America.
Speedhorse Magazine, in conjunction
with The Jockey’s Guild, developed the Sam Thompson Memorial Jockey Award, modeling
Coady Photography
Coady Photography
Kate Dickens: Speedhorse