A fund has been established to aid the family of jockey Mark Villa, who was killed in an accident at Zia Park Sept. 25.
Villa is survived by his wife Krystal, 33, and twins Olivia and Garrett, 6.
The fund is being coordinated through the Ruidoso Downs Race Track chaplaincy. Checks should be made out to "Race Track Chapel" and sent to the Ruidoso Downs Race Track Chapel, P.O. Box 449, Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico 88346. Please specify "Mark Villa family" in the memo line on the check.
Villa was a veteran on the New Mexico circuit. His most important victory came in 2009 when he won the grade I Ruidoso Derby for Quarter Horses aboard champion Time For A Cigar. He was also an important Thoroughbred jockey and had 42 career stakes wins.
Villa won a total of 1,726 races during a career that began in 1983. He was the second leading Thoroughbred jockey at Ruidoso Downs in 2010 and was the fifth leading all-breed jockey at Zia Park in 2009.
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