Nick Santagata, a retired Grade I-winning jockey and long-time jockey valet, is the 2026 recipient of the Mike Venezia Memorial Award, officials at the New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced July 10.A winner of 4,144 races for purse money in excess of $74 million in a career that spanned better than 30 years, Santagata was chosen by a committee comprised of members of the Venezia family, representatives of The Jockeys' Guild and retired Eclipse Award-winning jockey Richard Migliore.Santagata, the first retired jockey to earn the Venezia Memorial Award, will be recognized in a winner's circle presentation on Sunday, Aug. 2 at Saratoga.“As a jockey and throughout my career, I have always tried to represent the sport to the best of my ability,” said Santagata. “This award means so much because Mike Venezia was someone I really admired. My family and I look forward to celebrating this award and thanking the Venezia family here at Saratoga Race Course.”The Mike Venezia Memorial Award is presented annually to a jockey who displays the extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship that personified Venezia, who died as the result of injuries suffered in a spill in 1988. Venezia, like Santagata, was from Brooklyn, and won more than 2,300 races in his 25-year career.“Nick was a 'jockey's jockey'–tough, dedicated and with an enduring love for our sport,” said Terry Meyocks, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Jockeys' Guild. “As the winner of the Venezia Award, he joins an elite group of riders, many of them Hall of Famers, who are distinguished as great riders and as role models. We're proud to welcome Nick to this group.”Migliore, the 2003 Venezia Award recipient, also reflected on the honor being bestowed up on his good friend.“Like Nick, I sat in the jockey's room as a young rider and learned a lot about how to be a professional from Mike Venezia,” said Migliore. “That Nick is this year's Venezia Award winner is a testament that the qualities of what it takes to be a top jockey, a horseman and a mentor are timeless. I can't count the times I've walked into the jockey's room and found him advising a young rider. On behalf of the past winners of this prestigious award, I congratulate Nick. He richly deserves this honor.”In addition to honoring his accomplishments as a jockey, the award acknowledges Santagata's decades-long contribution in mentoring and supporting a generation of riders. He remains a familiar presence at the New York tracks; Santagata galloped horses in the mornings until 2024, and he continues to work closely with riders as a NYRA valet.The Venezia Memorial Award is a 13-inch bronze sculpture with a title that reads, “The Jockey, A Champion.” Santagata joins a legendary group of riders who have won the award previously, led by Venezia, who posthumously earned the inaugural award in 1989. Other winners include Bill Shoemaker, Chris McCarron, Angel Cordero, Jr., Jerry Bailey, Mike Smith, Pat Day, Laffit Pincay, Jr., Robbie Davis, Eddie Maple, Gary Stevens, Jorge Chavez, Mike Luzzi, Dean Kutz, Richard Migliore, Patti Cooksey, Edgar Prado, Ramon Dominguez, John Velazquez, Jon Court, Mario Pino, Kendrick Carmouche, Joe Bravo, Javier Castellano, DeShawn Parker, Julien Leparoux, Junior Alvarado, Brian Hernandez, Jr. and the 2025 winner, Irad Ortiz, Jr.The post Santagata To Receive Mike Venezia Award appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.