Jockey Pedroza Receives 'Pure Courage' Award

Jockey Marcelino Pedroza Jr. has been announced as the 2021 recipient of the Randy Romero "Pure Courage" Award. Pedroza was injured twice during the year of 2020, and came back with a vengeance, to not only ride and win races but finish the 2021 Indiana Grand racing season as the leading rider.

Pedroza was riding at the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in January of 2020 when he fell and broke his left collarbone. His injury was supposed to keep him sidelined for eight weeks, but the COVID-19 pandemic had other ideas and kept him inactive until May.  

After the opening of the 2020 Indiana Grand summer season, and after riding only five races, Pedroza was working horses in the morning, when his saddle slipped, and he fell, badly breaking his elbow.  He was again on the mend for five months, this time from May to September.

Pedroza returned to the races at Indiana Grand Sept. 7 of 2020, and quickly won 45 races, in a very short time.  At the conclusion of the Indiana Grand racing season, he moved his tack to the Fair Grounds, won 49 races, finishing sixth in the standings, with purse earnings of $1,813,812.

Marcelino Pedroza's "Pure Courage" not only allowed him to overcome one injury, but it pushed him to get through two serious injuries.  He will be awarded the "Pure Courage" Award Trophy on a day to be announced at the current Fair Grounds live racing season.

It should be noted that on Dec. 6, of the current Fair Grounds season, Pedroza rode five horses on the day's card, and won all five races, including four for trainer Sam B. David, Jr.

The first winner of the "Pure Courage" Award given in 2020, was Miguel Mena, who recently passed away from a pedestrian-car accident, just days before his 35th birthday.  The Randy Romero "Pure Courage" Partners send our thoughts, prayers, and condolences to Miguel's wife April, two young daughters, and his entire family.