Rider

Marysia Orzazewska

Marysia Orzazewska -



Marysia Orzazewska

Edgar Prado

When Edgar Prado started his career at the age of fifteen he rode first call for Dante J. Zanelli Sr. from the very beginning of Edgar’s apprenticeship. Now thirty-three years old and one of the best jockeys in the world, Edgar will ride for Dante Jr. first call while riding in Kentucky or if the stable ships to Edgar’s New York based. Among the most memorable days in racing for the duo Prado-Zanelli is when they joined forces to win five races one afternoon in 1984. Also, Edgar won his first Classic aboard Ojitos, when the filly trained by Dante Sr. captured the second leg of the Peruvian Quadruple Crown.

Edgar Prado

Edgar S. Prado (born June 12, 1967 in Lima, Peru) is a U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey in thoroughbred horse racing. His big break came in 1997 when he won 536 races, making him the fourth rider in history to win 500 races in one year. Much of that success was gained in Maryland, where he ruled that circuit for several years.

A resident of Hollywood, Florida in 2004 Prado became the 19th jockey in thoroughbred racing history to win 5,000 races. Edgar has three children named Edgar Jr, Louis and Patricia.

On May 6, 2006, Prado rode Barbaro to victory in the 132nd Kentucky Derby, 6½ lengths ahead of the second finisher, Bluegrass Cat. The margin of victory was the largest since Triple Crown winner Assault won by eight lengths in 1946. Barbaro was pulled up following a horrific ankle injury during the Preakness Stakes two weeks later. Prado was visibly shaken, declining comment, but by all accounts his fast action on the track contributed to saving the colt`s life. (However, Barbaro was euthanized by veterinarians at the University of Pennsylvania`s New Bolton Center on January 29, 2007.)

Other racing accomplishments include victories in the 2002 and 2004 Belmont Stakes, in each case aboard a longshot depriving a favorite of the United States Triple Crown. In 2002 Prado won the Belmont aboard Sarava, who is the longest shot to ever win the Belmont Stakes in its history at odds of 70¼/1. In 2004 Prado rode Birdstone to victory in the Belmont, denying heavy favorite Smarty Jones the Triple Crown. Prado and Birdstone then went on to win the prestigious Travers Stakes at the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York in August 2004.

Prado had not won a Breeders` Cup race until 2005, when he won two, riding Folklore to victory in the Breeders` Cup Juvenile Fillies and Silver Train in the Breeders` Cup Sprint.

On September 24, 2006, Prado received the New York Racing Association`s 2006 Mike Venezia Memorial Award in a paddock ceremony at Belmont Park. The winner of this award is decided by the votes of fellow jockeys, turf writers and an online vote by fans. It honours those "...who exemplify extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship", and is given in memory of Mike Venezia, killed on October 13, 1988 in a spill at Belmont Park. On February 10, 2008 at Gulfstream Park, Edgar Prado achieved his 6000th win. Only 16 jockeys in the United States have achieved this record.

Prado is involved with Belmont Park`s "Anna House", a child day care centre providing care for the children of backstretch workers.

On August 4, 2008 he was formally inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame.

Edgar Prado Horses

Edgar Prado Competition Results

Edgar Prado - USA

Edgar Hotz

Edgar Hotz helped create and lay the foundation for the USDF L Education Program for Judge Training, and served as a distinguished faculty member. Mr. Hotz officiated at virtually all of the prestigious FEI-level competitions in the U.S. His efforts have had a lasting impact on an entire generation of U.S. dressage judges and riders.

Edgar was a giant among U.S. judges. He officiated at virtually all of the prestigious FEI level competitions in this country over a thirty year period, including Olympic Selection Trials, World Cup Finals, Olympic Festivals, North American Young Riders Championships, and CDI s. He was an FEI, AHSA S, and Canadian S judge who was very active in both the dressage, and dressage sport horse breeding divisions. His love for the horse and compassion for the rider gave him a sense of fair play that made him an immensely popular judge and a well-respected horseman.

Edgar laid the foundation for and helped create the USDF L Education Program for Judge Training, and served as a distinguished faculty member. The L Program has become a premiere tool for training aspiring judges, and is a model for judge training throughout the world. Without his hard work, it would not exist in the form it has today.

Edgar was an active presenter at symposia, seminars, workshops, and clinics such as his judge s viewpoint seminar. He was a highly-regarded instructor for aspiring judges. S judge Joan Humphrey said, I learned more from Edgar than any other judge I ever worked with. He was a demanding, emphatic, and wonderful man. He always gave the horse and rider the same amount of attention at 8 a.m. as he did at 5:30 p.m. I don t know how he did it; he was awesome. She said Edgar s demanding personality was what made him the best teacher of judges. He didn t let you get by with a just because or a that s what I think. You really had to justify what you thought and why you thought it.

His long-time friend and judge colleague, Marianne Ludwig, a USDF Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, said, When Edgar sensed a lack of focus to the judging process or encountered fuzzy arguments, he could get upset. At the same time, he had a great sense of humor and a genuine fondness of the riders and much compassion for the many problems that competitors encounter in the show ring. He was quite ready to shrug off mishaps that he considered insignificant; he knew how to reward the essential qualities of a ride. He hated sloppiness in appearance and test performance. He did not suffer fools gladly, but loved quick minds intelligent retorts.

Marianne Ludwig recounts an interesting story about how Edgar met his wife, Irmtraud. While still living in Germany, he boarded his horses at a stable owned by Irmtraud s family. Because she was the daughter of the owner, Irmtraud had the right of way in the riding arena, a custom that all boarders observed. Not so Edgar, said Marianne, He followed the usual arena etiquette and just would not move out of the way; so they crashed and that s how they met. Irmtraud was very upset at first, but Edgar would not concede anything since he had adhered to the rules. She found his boldness a bit intriguing. One thing led to another, and soon they were married.

Edgar assumed leadership positions in national organizations. He served on the AHSA and USET Dressage Committees, the AHSA Board of Directors, the USDF Judges Council, and the German Judges Association.

Edgar died on October 17, 2001 from complications from a severe stroke at age 60. He would have loved to see the new home for dressage at the USDF National Education Center, where he will be honored. His efforts have had a lasting impact on an entire generation of U.S. dressage judges.