NYRA Honors Memory of Exercise Rider Becerra

The New York racing community honored the memory of exercise rider Juan Becerra Nov. 14 by observing a moment of silence following the fifth race at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Becerra, 43, was performing his daily duties of working horses for trainer Steve Asmussen's stable at Belmont Park on Nov. 8 when he suffered a health incident, lost consciousness, and fell off his mount. He was rushed to nearby Winthrop Hospital and placed on a life support unit but died Nov. 11.

"He was my right arm. He was my rock. It's been tough at the barn, but we're pulling through," said Toby Sheets, an assistant to Asmussen who oversees the barn's New York operations. "It's a huge loss. He was a big part of our team. It happened so suddenly. He was just about to go home and see his kids, who he hadn't seen for a few years. It breaks your heart."

Fittingly, the fifth race was won by Viradia, who is trained by Asmussen and owned by Paradise Farms and R. Townsend Sparks and had been ridden by Becerra during morning works.

"Maybe Juan was guiding her today," Sheets said. "It was a special moment."

The moment of silence included a gathering of the New York Racing Association's jockeys and backstretch workers, as well as NYRA president and CEO David O'Rourke and NYRA senior vice president of racing operations Martin Panza.

Becerra is survived by his wife, Karen, and three children. They live in Mexico.

A memorial is scheduled for Nov. 18 at the Elmont Funeral Home from 7-9 p.m.

Becerra's family will receive financial support from the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association Benevolence Fund and a donation from NYRA.

Additional donations can be made through a GoFundMe page.