Gulfstream: Hall of Famer Prado Returns to Riding After Loss of Father

By David Joseph —-

Hall of Famer Prado Returns to Riding After Loss of Father

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Nearly a month since his last mount – and after traveling to Peru to mourn the loss of his father – Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado will return to the saddle Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

“It happened suddenly,” said Prado of the death of his father, Jose. “I went to see him in the hospital, but he passed away before I could get there.”

Prado, one of 12 children, said returning to Peru has brought back a lot of memories, feelings, and appreciation.

“Everything I know I learned from him,” said Prado of his father, an assistant trainer and groom. “He was very dedicated to his horses, and I learned to love and respect horses through him.

“When you go back you start thinking, especially when you start opening boxes of memories. Your mind starts to go back, and you think about everything that has happened in your life. You realize in order to achieve success sometimes you have to risk something…you pay the price of missing parents and family. But maybe I would have missed more if I didn’t take the chance.”

Prado returns Saturday with two mounts for trainer Timothy Hamm. In the second race, Prado rides the debuting 2-year-old colt Cloud Play, a son of Into Mischief bred and owned by Patricia Pavlish. In the fifth, a maiden claiming event on the turf, Prado rides Mission Brief.

Prado, who is represented by agent Cliff Hopmans, is three wins shy of 7,100 and is ranked eighth all-time in wins. The 53-year-old is 45 wins shy of surpassing Chris McCarron for seventh. Prado, who makes his home in South Florida, says he is looking forward to getting back in the saddle.

“I feel good, physically and mentally,” he said. “My kids want me to stop, but I like what I’m doing. I feel a passion for the game, and I love winning and riding.”

Twilight Program Kicks off Memorial Day Weekend Friday

Memorial Day Weekend racing action at Gulfstream Park will kick off with a twilight program Friday with a first-race post time set for 2 p.m.

The nine-race card will be highlighted by a $400,000 20-cent Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool guarantee.

The popular multi-race wager, which will span Races 4-9, has gone unsolved for five consecutive racing days.

The jackpot pool is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

There will also be a Super Hi-5 carryover of $41,456.72 heading into Friday’s program.

Stakes will be contested Saturday, Sunday and Monday at Gulfstream, where the $75,000 Musical Romance will get the stakes action started on Saturday’s 12-race program.

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred horseracing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The company’s consumer facing brand 1/ST (pronounced “First”) powers The Stronach Group’s forward-thinking 1/ST RACING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY, 1/ST LIVE and 1/ST PROPERTIES businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING drives the best-in-class horseracing operations at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, and Gulfstream Park West (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the newly formed operating group for all of 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, GWS and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is horseracing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST LIVE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality by delivering uniquely curated events such as InfieldFest and Pegasus LIV Stretch Village. 1/ST PROPERTIES is responsible for the development of the company’s live, work and play communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred horseracing on and off the track. For more information please email david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com and visit www.1st.com.