by Michael Burns

United States-based jockey Edgar Prado will be awarded with the Sporting Laurels, Peru’s highest sports award, in recognition for his outstanding achievements in racing.

The Peruvian Superior Council of Sporting Justice and Sporting Honors on Monday unanimously approved the award for Prado, the most accomplished jockey in racing history in his native Peru. The award to a jockey is unprecedented in Peruvian sports.

“It is an honor for me to receive this distinction,” said the 41-year-old Prado. “I am very moved by this news, which is also a recognition to the Peruvian jockeys who chose this profession.”

A date and time for the award presentation has not been announced.

Prado was voted the 2006 Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey, and in 2008 became the first Peruvian inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York.
 

Other athletes to have received Peru’s elite sports award, include 1959 Wimbledon singles champion Alejandro “Alex” Rodriguez Olmedo, 2004 Association of Surfing Professionals World Champion Sofia Mulanovich, 2008 French Open doubles champion Luis Horna, and this year’s WBA female super featherweight champion Kina Malpartida.

Michael Burns is a South American-based THOROUGHBRED TIMES correspondent