Jockey Marcelino Pedroza Jr has been announced as the recipient of the 2021 Randy Romero “Pure Courage” Award. Pedroza was injured twice in 2020, and is back with a vengeance, to not only ride and win races. but also to the finish line in 2021 Indiana Grand racing season as lead racer.
Pedroza rode in Fair Grounds & Slots in January 2020 when he fell and broke his left collarbone. His injury was supposed to keep him out for eight weeks, but the COVID-19 pandemic had other ideas and kept him out of action until May.
After the 2020 Indiana Grand summer kicked off and had only ridden five races, Pedroza was riding in the morning when his saddle slipped, and he fell, severely breaking his elbow. He went to the hospital again for five months, this time from May to September.
Pedroza returned to the races at the Indiana Grand on September 7, 2020, and quickly won 45 races, in a very short time. At the end of the Indiana Grand racing season, he moved to the Fair Grounds, winning 49 races, placing sixth in the standings, with $1,813,812 in earnings.
Marcelino Pedroza’s “pure courage” not only got him through one injury, it also pushed him through two major injuries. He will be awarded the “Pure Courage” Award Title at a date announced at the current Fair Grounds live racing season.
It should be noted that on December 6, of the current Fair Grounds season, Pedroza rode five horses on the card of the day, and won all five races, including four for coach Sam B. David, Jr.
The first winner of the “Pure Courage” Award presented in 2020, is Miguel Mena, who recently died in a pedestrian accident just days before his 35th birthday. me. Randy Romero “Pure Courage” Partners sends our thoughts, prayers, and condolences to Miguel’s wife April, his two young daughters, and his entire family.
