Popular Monmouth Park Jockey Dies at 52

Jockey Antonio “Tony” Vega, leading rider at Monmouth Park in 1983, passed away on Nov. 11 following a brief illness, according to Monmouth Park Director of Media Relations John Heims. 

Vega, a New Brunswick native, was 52 when he died.

Vega, who led all local riders in 1983 with a then-Monmouth Park-record 134 wins, finished second in that year’s Eclipse Award voting for leading apprentice, Heims said. Vega rode in New Jersey as recently as 2012. Out of six Monmouth Park mounts that year, Vega’s best finish was a third-best placing aboard Bojan on Sept. 29. 

Final arrangements are pending.