Jockey Vernon Bush has been named the winner of the 2022 Randy Romero Pure Courage Award. The award is given to a racehorse who has overcome severe trauma and/or adversity.
Bush returns at 61 from a back injury. He was sidelined for two years while recovering from a broken femur, requiring 12 screws and a pad above his kneecap to repair. Prior to that, he had been out of action two years earlier because of a broken ankle, which required 12 screws and two pads. Bush also underwent two hip surgeries, including a hip replacement. When he won at Belterra Park in May 2022, it marks more than 4 and a half years of waiting to return to the winner’s circle.
For his career, Bush is 3,247-3,263-3,111 from 25,604 starting with earnings of $24,530,920.
At the close of voting on February 12, Bush received 612 votes out of a total of 785 recorded votes.
In addition to the trophy bearing his name, Bush will attend a race in New Orleans named after him. He will participate in the winners’ circle presentation as part of the awards ceremony.
Previous winners of the Pure Courage Award include the late Miguel Mena, the 2020 inaugural trophy, and Marcelino Pedroza Jr.
Other finalists for the award are Patrick Canchari, Declan Cannon, Dylan Davis, Vincente Del Cid and Emmanuel Nieves.
This press release has been edited by BloodHorse Staff for content and style.
