Promising jockey Avery Whisman passed away on January 11 in Versailles, Kentucky according to statement by family members, know his cause of death
Whisman had spent the majority of his riding career in Maryland and Arizona. The age of Whisman was 23.
Jockey Avery Whisman cause of death, obituary, age, family and career
American racing is mourning the loss off 23-year-old jockey Avery Whisman after he committed suicide.
In July of last year, he won the £80,000 Karl Boyes Stakes on Simply Furious at Presque Isle, establishing a new track record in the process. Last August, he rode Indian Spider to victory for trainer Matthew Kintz.
He began eventing and competed at the 2017 Junior Olympics shortly after his birth in Lexington, Kentucky, not far from the world-famous Keeneland racecourse. But the money in racing drew him in, and so did the opportunity to work with legends like Smith.
R.I.P my little brother you will Always be so Loved 🙏❤️ pic.twitter.com/akQmENODhc
— mike e smith (@mikeesmith10) January 12, 2023
Whisman, who last rode on August 23 at Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania, won 53 of 483 mounts in his rookie year of 2019, earning him approximately $1.6 million. Despite less mounts in his second year due to the COVID-19 outbreak closing racetracks, he still managed to win 21 races out of 231. While he did not compete at all in 2020, his 2022 record of 16 victories from 93 starts was impressive.
Over £2.2 million was won by Whisman’s connections thanks to his 90 wins from 810 rides. Whisman had sought out to legendary jockey Mike Smith early in his career for guidance; Smith suggested that Whisman ride at Arizona’s Turf Paradise to get experience.
Avery Whisman is second jockey to die recently
He finally got to meet racing great “Money” when in California for a race. Whisman is the second jockey in the previous four weeks to suddenly die. The 26-year-old Megan Taylor died from the injuries she sustained in a horrific four-horse collapse in New Zealand.
There were many tributes to Whisman on social media. In a social media post on Friday, Smith referred to Whisman as his “little brother.”
“R.I.P. my little brother you will always be so loved,” Smith wrote.
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