Legendary Derby Winning Jockeys Return to Louisville for 2008 Kentucky Derby Week
Louisville, KY (PRWEB) April 25, 2008 -- Legendary Kentucky Derby jockeys Dave Erb and Braulio Baeza will be a part of the 2008 Kentucky Derby week activities as the special guests of the Jane Dempsey and the 62nd Annual Kentucky Derby Junket. The jockeys will celebrate their 52nd and 45th respective Kentucky Derby anniversaries.
In addition to the Kentucky Derby Junket activities, Erb and Baeza will be honored in a special ceremony at 11 a.m. on April 30th at the Galt House Hotel & Suite's "Gallop to Glory". Erb and Baeza will add their handprints in cement to this tribute to Kentucky Derby winning jockeys. There are now 27 Kentucky Derby jockey's winning handprints on display. A tribute to two-time Kentucky Derby winner Ismael 'Milo' Valenzuela, who will be inducted into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame later this year, will also be placed in the exhibit.
Dave Erb was catapulted into Kentucky Derby history books when his mount, Needles came from next to last in the field and went on to win the race. Dave never rode in the Kentucky Derby again but did train Helio Rise to run in the 1971 Derby. He rode such champions as Kentucky Derby winners Swaps and Iron Liege in other stakes races. Dave rode for 21 years and went on to train thoroughbreds for another 28 years.
Braulio Baeza began riding at 15 in his native Panama. Within 5 years, he was offered a riding contract in the US. Braulio went on to win his first race at Keeneland Race Course. He was awarded two of the first five Eclipse Awards ever given to jockeys. During his racing career, Braulio won the Belmont Stakes three times, the Travers Stakes four times and was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1976. He rode 3,140 winners during his 21-year career as a jockey.
Since 1947, generations of the Dempsey family have escorted thousands of people to the Kentucky Derby. Started as a two-week train trip to the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Derby Junket now offers 5- and 3-night tour packages to the Kentucky Derby.
In 2006 and 2007, Kentucky Derby winning jockeys Ira "Babe" Hanford (1936 Bold Venture), John Sellers (1961 Carry Back), Bill Boland (1950 Middleground) and Ray York (1954 Determined) were special guests of Jane Dempsey and the Kentucky Derby Junket -- see website http://www.kentuckyderbytours.com/photos.html
Contact
Jane Dempsey
Kentucky Derby Junket
310-392-3366
Starting April 28, contact Jane Dempsey at the Executive West Hotel 502-367-2251
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