News
Maldonado Awarded Leading Apprentice Title
Nestor Maldonado earned his final win of the 2010 season in the 12th race on the closing day program Saturday, Oct. 24. The victory was his 10th of the season and enough needed to meet the 10-win requirement to earn leading apprentice jockey for the 15th season of Thoroughbred racing.
A native of Puerto Rico, Maldonado has been riding in the United States for the past six months. He completed his first meet in Indiana ranked 20th on the list of leading riders with more than $170,000 in earnings for the 63-day meet. Maldonado missed three weeks of competition in September after being sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Jeff Smith, Hoosier Park’s general manager of racing, made the winner’s circle presentation to Maldonado following the 13th race on the card. The title marked the first award of his career. He plans to ride on the Kentucky circuit this winter and will return to Indiana in the spring.