Jockey Antonio "Tony" Vega, leading rider at Monmouth Park in 1983, passed away Nov. 11 following a brief illness. He was 52.
Vega, who led all local riders in 1983 with a then-Monmouth Park record 134 wins, finished second in that year's Eclipse Award voting for leading apprentice. Vega rode in New Jersey as recently as 2012. Out of six Monmouth Park mounts that year, Vega's best finish was a third-best placing aboard Bojan on Sept. 29.
Vega made 6,154 starts during his career, 714 of which found the winner's circle. His mounts, which included grade III winner Timely Business, earned purses totaling $7,224,777.
Vega was a New Jersey native, born on April 21, 1961 in New Brunswick. Final arrangements are pending.
