Battle Off the Saddle
Two of Del Mar’s top jockeys -- Corey Nakatani and Elvis Trujillo -- are going to battle it out in the ring rather than on the track in a three-round exhibition boxing match. The winner will earn jockeys’ room bragging rights as these two elite athletes trade punches to raise money for a great cause in what has been dubbed the “Battle Off the Saddle.”
The event -- featuring six fights with the tussle between Nakatani and Trujillo being the fifth of the night -- will begin immediately following the last race of the day at approximately 7:15 p.m. The professional main event features WBC Caribbean Champion Ruben “El Cobra” Garcia (10-0, 5 KOs) of Cancun, Mexico and battle-tested Javier “El Bravo” Gallo (21-9, 12 KOS) of Buena Park.
Benefits the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, a public charity that provides financial assistance to some 60 former jockeys who suffered career-ending injuries while riding. A percentage of each reserved ticket purchased will be donated to the fund, which is supported by The Jockeys’ Guild.
General admission is free with racetrack admission prior to the last race of the day. Fans who arrive following the last race will be charged $35 for the boxing event. Pre-paid racetrack tickets, complimentary racetrack tickets, and season racetrack passes are not accepted for the “Battle Off the Saddle” after the last race.