Van Dyke to ride Wednesday
September 24, 2014Drayden Van Dyke, the top apprentice on the Southern California circuit and a leading candidate for an Eclipse Award, will be among the riders back at Kentucky Downs for the closing-day card Wednesday. Van Dyke, who went winless with his six mounts Sept. 6 at Kentucky Downs, is named on three mounts, all for trainer Tom Proctor.
As a boy, Van Dyke, now 19, spent a considerable amount of time in Kentucky. He is the son of Seth Van Dyke, who died last month in Florida. The elder Van Dyke was a former jockey who worked in later years as an exercise rider and valet on this circuit.
Also Wednesday at Kentucky Downs, retired jockey Ron Turcotte, best known for his rides aboard the legendary Secretariat, will conduct autograph sessions. For a suggested $10 donation to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, Turcotte will sign autographs from noon to 1 and from 2 to 4.