Gilbert Cardenas Honored With White Horse Award
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Photo: Evan Hammonds
Gilbert Cardenas and his wife, Gina, at the RTCA White Horse Awards
Del Mar assistant starter Gilbert Cardenas was recognized for his heroic efforts and honored with the White Horse Award Oct. 31 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. The Race Track Chaplaincy Association's award goes to "an individual or group who has performed a heroic act on behalf of human or horse."
The award, presented in the Chandelier Room at Santa Anita, was part of the 17th annual awards that also featured the Community Service Award given to longtime racetrack executive Corey Johnsen.
Cardenas' award was presented by Eli Hernandez, the chaplain at Santa Anita.
"His acts saved this man's life. I had asked some of Gilbert's co-workers to describe him in one word … and be nice about it," Hernandez said.
Several said "funny," but "loyal," "genuine," and "friend" resonated as true descriptions of Cardenas.
Cardenas has worked as an assistant starter at Del Mar, Santa Anita, and Los Alamitos Race Course for more than 30 years. He is the nephew of star Southern California jockey Ismael Valenzuela, and his cousin, Oscar Gonzales, is a member of the California Horse Racing Board.
On July 27, assistant starter Hector Ramirez fell to the ground after suffering a heart attack just after the start of a race on the turf. Cardenas quickly shed Ramirez's helmet and flak jacket and began to administer CPR with the aid of fellow turf course worker Arturo Moreno until paramedics arrived. Ramirez was able to recover and hopes to return to the gate crew soon.
The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club provided CPR classes, and Cardenas credited those classes as the reason he was able to respond.
Once introduced, Cardenas said:
"This is a great honor to be here. Thank you all," he said. "I would like to thank the racetrack ministry for nominating me and the Lord Jesus Christ for giving me the ability to save Hector's life and his quick recovery. This is a great honor … one for the books."
The program included a panel discussion of faith and sports/racing that included Hall of Fame jockey Ramon Dominguez, West Point Thoroughbreds president and CEO Terry Finley, and former NBA basketball player and NBA/college basketball coach Avery Johnson. It was moderated by WinStar Farm president and CEO and RTCA president Elliott Walden.