OLDSMAR, FL— For jockey Wesley Ho, the decision to come to Tampa Bay Downs this winter didn’t take a lot of convincing. The 39 year-old from Charles Town, West Virginia was urged by an owner he rode for up north to take a chance a go come ride this winter at Tampa Bay Downs. The decision has paid off as Ho has been named the Martin’s Italian Restaurant Jockey of the Month award winner. He will be presented the award at the track on Sunday March 8th.
“I was looking for something new,” said Ho. “I’ve been up north my whole life and riding up there and frankly I was wanting to get out of the cold for the winter. I had an owner who talked me into coming, so I decided to give it a shot. Business is starting to pick up and it seems like as the meet goes on I’m getting more and more opportunities.”
Ho is currently ranked 13th in the jockeys standings with 9 wins for the meet, with three of those victories coming over the last couple of weeks. He had winners on back to back days on February 27th and 28th at Tampa Bay Downs. In total Wesley Ho has amassed 1,043 victories since he started riding in 2007, many coming at his hometown track of Charles Town. His mounts have amassed just over $20,000,000 in earnings from over 8,600 mounts.
Racing returns at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday March 7th for the annual Festival Day which features the ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby (Gr. 3) headlining a twelve race card. First post time is at 12:15pm EST and gates open early at 10:00 A.M. For ticketing information visit www.tampabaydowns.com .
