The Maryland racing community will have a benefit May 24 at Laurel for apprentice jockey Marion Cornwell, who was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor attached to his pancreas earlier this month.
A longtime exercise rider at Franklin Smith’s Elloree Training Center in South Carolina, Cornwell came north about five years ago and galloped horses for Eddie Gaudet and Steve Casey at the Bowie Training Center while picking up an occasional mount.
The 33-year-old has 12 career victories from 259 mounts and earnings of $149,094, according to Equibase. Cornwell rode his first winner in October 2007 and his last aboard Captain Zim at Pimlico April 24.
“You cannot find one person with a negative thing to say about this kid,” said jockey agent Jay Burtis, who is helping to organize the event. “When he won his first race, the entire backstretch was cheering.”