The passing of jockey Avery Whisman, age 23, has left the American racing industry in a state of sadness, and his family has expressed their hope that the tragedy “may benefit someone else”
He continued to ride horses despite the emotional and physical strains that came with a lifelong profession in the saddle, which he did right up until the year 2022.
During his three-year career, Whisman rode the winning horses in 90 of 810 races. In addition to this, he developed a strong friendship with the great rider Mike Smith, who later paid honour to him by referring to him as his “little brother.”
Emma, his sister, is quoted as saying, “We are not ashamed of what happened, and we hope that the lessons we may learn from this tragedy will benefit someone else.” We never want anyone else to have to endure the misery that we are currently going through.
“He had a heart the size of a mountain, and he wanted everyone to know that they were loved and treasured by him.”
He had an incredible talent for working with horses and other animals. Everyone who was around him was aware of how much affection there was for them.
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Jockey Avery Whisman: Early Life
While Whisman was growing up in Kentucky, his parents instilled in him a love for horses, which he later passed on to him.
After moving to California in 2018, Whisman began training to become a jockey.
He did his training with the well-known trainer Carla Gaines, but he developed a particularly close friendship with Smith, who not only assisted him in getting his career began but also gave him the saddle that he had ridden in to victory in the Kentucky Derby in 2005 on Giacomo.
Before taking a vacation of two years beginning in August 2020 and lasting until May 2022, he rode consistently. After his return, he continued to work as a jockey at Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania, where he had a record on 16 victories from a total of 93 starts.
His mother, Salli Whisman, had this to say about her son: “He was an excellent athlete and very determined. When he set his mind to doing something, not only did he do it, but he was good at it naturally.”
Positive results are achieved when a natural athlete is combined with an extraordinary amount of determination. Avery possessed a high level of motivation and an upbeat attitude.
“He was a huge fan of the sport and lived for the rush of excitement. He looked forward to waking up first thing in the morning and riding as many horses as he could.
It was his favourite thing to do, whenever he would get on a horse that was level-headed, for him to find a quiet moment on the track as the sun was coming up so that he could give the horse the opportunity to stand there and breathe, and to have a little more time out of the stall than it would otherwise.
Smith expressed his condolences for the loss of his younger brother in a tweet that read, “RIP my little brother, you will always be so adored.”
His sisters, Clare McCabe, Caitlin Pinkney-Atkinson, and Emma Whisman, as well as his parents, Lyman and Salli, will carry on his legacy after his passing. On Monday, a memorial service will be held at the residence that he shared with his family in Versailles, Kentucky.
Jockey Avery Whisman: Death Cause
In the previous year, Whisman was successful in 16 of his wagers. The reason for his passing is unknown. Whisman, who had previously competed in three-day events and had followed in his parents’ footsteps by taking up the sport, made the decision to convert to racing.
He spent his childhood in the area surrounding Keeneland Racecourse and eventually began riding horses for trainer Joan Scott, who instructed him on how to become a jockey.
In addition to Smith, Whisman became acquainted with the champion jockey Joe Talamo, who was stationed in California.
“Being around somebody like Mike, who is absolutely a complete professional and so focused and so good at what he does, gave me the inspiration to strive to be like that,” Whisman said in an interview with the Maryland Jockey Club.
“Being around somebody who is absolutely a complete professional and so focused and so good at what he does gave me the inspiration to strive to be like that.”
“He is completely perfect in every way. They provide useful guidance and other things, but it is encouraging and motivational to watch how they carry themselves and go about their work.
The most recent victory for Whisman came in August of the previous year for Matthew Kintz on Indian Spider. In the later part of that month, he competed in Presque Isle Downs in his final ride for the same owner and trainer.
During the $100,000 Karl Boyes Stakes, which took place at the same location, Whisman established a new track record on Surely Furious. Over the course of his riding career, his mounts won a total of $2,715,109 in prize money.
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Fans of horse racing joined Smith in paying their respects to the brilliant jockey, who also competed in the junior Olympics in 2017 with an off-track thoroughbred that he had trained.
One person expressed their concern by writing, “My heart breaks for Avery Whisman and his family.” He’s only 22 years old and has a promising career in front of him.
This past summer, he even triumphed in a stakes race held at PID Casino. To his family and all of the people who had the good fortune to know him, please accept my thoughts, prayers, and sympathies during this difficult time.
Another person commented, saying, “I was shocked to learn that jockey Avery Whisman had passed away at the age of 22.” Way, way too young. RIP.”
Jockey Avery Whisman: Net Worth (2023)
Whisman had a total of 90 winners from 810 rides, and he had brought in more than £2.2 million in prize money for his connections.
In July of 2017, while riding Simply Furious to victory in the £80,000 Karl Boyes Stakes at Presque Isle, he established a new record for the track.
His final victory, aboard Indian Spider, came in August of last year for trainer Matthew Kintz.
He began his equestrian career in eventing and went on to compete at the 2017 Junior Olympics. He was born in Lexington, Kentucky, not far from the world-famous Keeneland racecourse.
But he switched to racing because of the money that was available, as well as the opportunity to learn from heroes like Smith.
While he was competing in the races in California, he had the opportunity to speak with the legendary driver known as “Money.”
The unfortunate passing of Whisman is the second jockey in the last four weeks to occur.
Megan Taylor, age 26, succumbed to the injuries she incurred as a result of a catastrophic fall involving four horses that occurred in New Zealand.
Jockey Avery Whisman: Tribute
Comments paying tribute to Whisman may be found all over social media.
One person expressed their sadness upon hearing the news that jockey Avery Whisman had passed away at the age of 22. Significantly too young”
Top jockey Jose Ortiz penned the following: “So sad. RIP AW.”
Jockey Avery Whisman: Family
His family would like to shed light on the uncomfortable discussion surrounding the life of a competitive jockey and the demands it places on the body and mind; it took its toll on their son and must not be swept under the rug.
His family would like to shed light on the uncomfortable discussion surrounding the life of a competitive jockey and the demands it places on the body and mind.
In the end, Avery gave himself the power and voice to decide when to stop the suffering by giving himself agency.
Emma added, “We are not ashamed of what occurred; we hope that this tragedy can help someone else.” “We hope that this tragedy can benefit someone else.” “We never want anyone else to experience the agony that we are going through,” they said.
Despite taking a break from competitive riding from August 2020 until May 2022, the young jockey rode 810 horses through the starting gate and finished with a record of 90-96-98 while earning more than $2.7 million.
This was accomplished despite the fact that he would not return to riding horses in races until May 2022. During the course of the previous year, he competed solely at Presque Isle Downs, which is located in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Jockey Avery Whisman: Career
- One of the highlights of his career as a jockey was the 2022 victory of Surly Furious in the Karl Boyes Stakes at Presque Isle Downs, which was won for owner Novogratz Racing and trainer Glenn Wismer.
- The victory was by a margin of 4 3/4 lengths. Simply Furious ran the six furlongs in the race in a time of 1 minute 7.77 seconds, which was a track record.
- The track announcer later told Whisman that he could hear his father yelling, “That’s my boy!” as he turned for home during this race as well as countless others.
- In 2019, Whisman competed in the races held in the Mid-Atlantic region. On Maryland Million Day at Laurel Park, Whisman rode 67-1 Port Louis to victory, helping the horse’s owner, Rob Ry Farm, and trainer, C. Robert Haynes, win a $50,000 starter stakes race.
- “He was a huge fan of the sport and lived for the rush of excitement. It was his favourite thing to do to get up early every day and ride as many horses as he could, according to Salli.
- “Whenever he would get on a horse that was level-headed, he loved to find a quiet moment on the track as the sun was coming up to give the horse the opportunity to stand there and breathe, have a little more time out of the stall than it would otherwise,” says the narrator.
- “He would give the horse the opportunity to stand there and breathe, and have a little more time out of the stall than it would otherwise.”
- The three-day-eventing and Thoroughbred racing industries are both in a state of mourning following the untimely death of a young and talented rider who never stopped giving his all and who lived his life with an abundance of love for everyone he came in contact with.
- In 2018, Whisman stated in an interview with Noell Floyd Magazine, “At the end of the day, I want to be known as a good horseman over anything and as someone who always puts the horse first.”
- “He was an outstanding athlete and exceptionally determined; when he set his mind to do anything, he not only did it, but he was good at it, naturally,” Salli said.
- “When he set his mind to do something, not only did he do it, but he was brilliant at it, naturally.” Positive results are achieved when a natural athlete is combined with an extraordinary amount of determination. Avery possessed a high level of motivation and an upbeat attitude.
- The kindest of people, who would always make an effort to find out what it was that you needed and what one little thing he could do to help you.
- His sisters, Clare McCabe, Caitlin Pinkney-Atkinson, and Emma Whisman, as well as his parents, Lyman and Salli, are among those who carry on after Whisman’s passing.
- On Saturday, January 16, there will be a ceremony held at the Blackburn and Ward Funeral Home in Versailles. The wake will begin at 5:30 p.m. and continue until 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), after which there will be a memorial service.
- It has been suggested that memorial payments be made to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
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