Former South Surrey jockey Mario Gutierrez has another win to add to his resume.
The popular jockey – who raced at Hastings Park for Glen Todd before hitting it big in the U.S. – was named top jockey at the ESPY Awards this week in Los Angeles.
The award show, created by sports network ESPN, is held annually to honour the top achievements in sports.
Gutierrez is certainly deserving of the honour after coming just one race short of winning the prestigious Triple Crown – which has not be won since 1978.
Riding aboard I’ll Have Another, Gutierrez won both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, and was aiming for the third leg of crown – the Belmont Stakes – but I’ll Have Another was scratched from the race with a leg injury. The injury ended the thoroughbred’s racing career.
Since his run at the Triple Crown ended, Gutierrez, who now lives in Los Angeles and races primarily out of famed Santa Anita Park, has been travelling throughout North America, racing at different parks.
On July 1, Gutierrez – once the top-earning jockey at Hastings Park – made his return to the East Vancouver track, winning the fourth race of the card – the $30,000 Chris Loseth Handicap – aboard Devil in Disguise.
On Sunday, Gutierrez will be in Auburn, Wash. racing at Emerald Downs.
