Nobody Asked...But There You Have It. by Robert Edwards I was at the <strong>State</strong> <strong>Fair</strong> the afternoon Mark Villa was killed at Zia Park. The news literally spread like a shot through the grandstands that day. It was, by far, the saddest afternoon I can remember. I rode with Mark at Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Arapahoe and in Arizona in the early days of his career. I sat in the hot box with Mark on many a day, so I got to know him very well. Mark was a helluva guy. And the ‘was’ part is the part I am having a hard time dealing with. The drive home from Albuquerque was an overwhelming drive for me. I talked to a lot of people on the phone about what had happened after I got home. Everyone was talking about the amount of horses that were breaking down at Hobbs. Two horses also died at Albuquerque on that same day. So yeah, I guess, you can chalk it up as a bad week. His death didn’t really hit me until I was eating supper with my family that same evening. When I realized Mark’s wife, Krystal and his 6-year-old twins Olivia and Garret, would be looking at Mark’s empty chair the next time they sat down to supper, it really got to me. I know what kind of family man Mark was. He loved his family more than life itself. Krystal and those kids have a long lonely road ahead of them. I attended Mark’s funeral in Phoenix a few days later. Since then, a lot of nice things have been done for Mark’s family. There have been several fund raisers. Albuquerque put on a good one and raised quite a bit of money. Zia Park held a golf tournament in Mark’s name and I hear it did real well. There were a couple of fund-raisers in Ruidoso and lots of private donations. What really concerns me is where we go from here. Are we willing to take a look at what happened and make good decisions from here on out Or, are we going to turn a blind eye to a lot of what is going on in racing like we have been doing lately Let’s face it. There are a lot of things we could do better. We can do so much as individuals to make the changes needed. There are all kinds of committees and task forces which are already in place to help prevent these types of tragedies, but I think it takes more than just them. They have good intentions and discuss plenty of important issues in the industry. But we, as individuals, have to let these guys know our concerns. We can’t just leave it up to them. A wise man once said, “We must become the change we want to see.” When Juan Campos was killed at Albuquerque a couple of years ago I got really mad at myself. Here was a guy who fell through the cracks. He got a jockeys license before he was ready to ride. I realized that the first time I saw him ride at SunRay earlier that summer. I said something to a few people, but I guess it fell on deaf ears. I feel I am part to blame because I didn’t go any further with it. He could have been helped had someone really stepped in and taken the time to talk to the guy. On the other hand Mark Villa was a very experienced jockey. He started riding in 1984 at Prescott Downs in Arizona. He had come a long way since then. He had good teachers and a lot of mentors. And still, even as experienced as he was, he too, lost his life riding. His horse broke down and he was struck by a horse coming from behind. It was one of those extremely freak accidents. But, in my own mind, I have to wonder, was there enough done to help prevent it We all know riding races is an extremely dangerous job. I know that nobody is holding a gun to these guy’s heads to make them do it. They do it because they love it. But let’s face a fact. Only about ten percent of the riders in the country make a bunch of money for doing what they do. The rest live from pay check to pay check. Fortunately Mark was one of the guys on top. But he isn’t there anymore to take care of his family. Let’s also not forget, Mark Villa wasn’t just another rider. He was a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a grandson, a nephew, an uncle and a friend. Let’s keep an open mind when it comes to safety issues and keep our eyes open when we see things we see that we shouldn’t be seeing. And, the next time these guys ask for a $10.00 a mount pay raise, lets think of Mark Villa, and the ones he left behind, before these brave men and women have to settle for $5.00. Mark Villa 1966-2010 He was a prince in the sport of kings But the thrill of racing and the danger it brings And he would ride them all the worst or the best To his courage each horseman here could attest Many the winners he’d helped to the wire And many losers he’d tried to inspire It was so fitting as we stood there and tears did fall That we heard a familiar trumpet’s call His call to post and though we know not where Each one of us prayed to someday be there To once again see this man that we loved so Pick up the reins and postward go Nancy Brookfield 54 <strong>New</strong> <strong>Mexico</strong> <strong>Horse</strong> Breeder
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