Image courtesy of Daniel Quintero, Tampa Bay Downs.
Tampa, Florida – The brother of a Venezuelan exercise rider who died Saturday morning at the Tampa Bay Downs said 19-year-old Daniel Quintero died while pursuing his dream of becoming a jockey.
According to the Tampa Bay Downs, Daniel Quintero died in a training accident at a racetrack while galloping on horseback around 7 a.m.
In an online statement, Truck said Daniel Quintero has been in Tampa Baydown for the past six weeks and during that month and a half, the people around him have had what it takes to make that dream a reality. He said he believed he was.
Oldsmer jockey Manny Jimenez, who was translating for Daniel Quintero’s brother Darwin Quintero, said: “He had a passion. That’s how we all get through this.” “He (Darwin) has no bad feelings about racing or horses. He understands that this is a risk we all take, but I want people to get out of this, we We come here, we have opportunities, and sometimes we have to risk everything because someone is waiting for us at home.”
Darwin Quintero and his father, Ivan Quintero, a 45-year-old machinist and welder from Miami, led a prayer meeting inside the jockey room at Tampa Bay Downs 30 minutes before the first race on Sunday. bottom.
The Tampa Bay Downs said Ivan Quintero, who was struggling to cope with the tragedy, said Daniel was committed to getting his way in the Thoroughbred game.
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Ivan Quintero said he disagreed with his son’s career choices, but dropped his objections when he realized his son’s passion for horses.
“He tried to do things right and was very dedicated,” Ivan Quintero said. “He was a good friend, a very good kid, a great son.”
Venezuelan redneck and jockey Samuel Martin met Daniel Quintero at a racetrack about two years agorCheck in your home country. He said Quintero told him he worked hard to be the best jockey in the sport.
Tampa Bay Downs staff pay tribute to 19-year-old boy who died in training accident
“He was watching my race and asked me why I did something in the race and how I did it,” Malin said. he was happy he loved his job he loved to talk about racing it was hard (Saturday) i couldn’t believe it happened he was a good boy he was a special man was.” If he is gone, we must believe that God has a plan for him. “
Veteran exercise rider Alberto Paico of the Tampa Bay Downs says he mentored Daniel Quintero when he arrived at the Oldsmar.
“I gave him advice and told him to ask if he needed anything,” Paiko said.
“He listened. He always listened and took what you gave him very well. The important thing for people to understand is that what happened to him can happen to anyone.” It doesn’t matter if you have a lot of experience or not. “(On racetracks) there’s a lot of traffic and sometimes you can’t do anything. He was still learning, but bad things about it.” He was interested in learning and getting better,” Paiko said.
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Jimenez says he really knew Daniel Quintero by chance, but saw his joy and passion for the sport.
“What I saw in this kid was like a mirror reflection of a jockey’s life,” Jiménez said. “The risks we have to take, the roads we have to take, how we have to keep working to get the chance to ride a horse.
“He was a kid with a great attitude. This was the beginning of that dream. (Darwin) wants to let people know how much courage it takes to get there,” Jimenez said. rice field. “His brother is of course saddened by what happened, but he was happy he was doing what he loved.”
In addition to his father and brother, Daniel leaves his mother Ja.Kukrin Rivera lives in Caracas with his brother Diego from Colombia, sister Samantha from Venezuela and another brother Juan Pablo.
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