FeatuRe

A looK At the perMAnently DisABleD JocKeys funD

Thomas Allen Pauly

liVes

the riDe of their

By Patti Davis

Jockey Gary Stevens tumbles from his mount, Storming Home (GB), in the 2003 Arlington Million. Stevens returned from his injuries to ride again, but others are not so lucky.

the questions coMe in the quiet MoMents, when the sounD of thunDerinG hooVes AnD the cheers of the crowD GiVe wAy to the rhythMic Beeps of A BeDsiDe Monitor, the steADy whoosh of A BreAthinG MAchine. for soMe, the questions coMe the instAnt BAlAnce is lost, when the eArth AnD the BoDy Meet too fAst AnD too Violently, when the hooVes ABoVe Are friGhteninGly close to the heAD.

is My cAreer oVer? who will tAKe cAre of My fAMily? how will i pAy the Bills? will i eVer Be ABle to wAlK AGAin?
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the questions coMe. But for JocKeys who suffer cAtAstrophic on-trAcK inJuries, one orGAnizAtion the perMAnently DisABleD JocKeys funD (pDJf) helps proViDe soMe of the Answers. since its inception, the pDJf hAs DisBurseD ApproxiMAtely $4.5 Million to DisABleD riDers in finAnciAl support to Assist with MeDicAl cAre, equipMent purchAses such As wheelchAirs AnD speciAlly-outfitteD Vehicles, rehABilitAtion trAininG AnD the expenses of DAily liVinG. the pDJf Also Acts to heiGhten puBlic AwAreness of the pliGht of DisABleD riDers.
Secretariat.com

Nancy LaSala (center) of the PDJF receives a donation on behalf of (from left) Pat Day, Jean Cruguet, Penny Chenery and Ron Turcotte at the annual Secretariat Festival in Paris, Kentucky, in September 2012.

The PDJF currently supports 58 former jockeys whose lives have been dramatically altered by on-track catastrophic accidents. Most of the jockeys now supported by the PDJF were injured early in their careers, in their 20s and 30s, without time to build a financial cushion for themselves or their families. Having lost their income, they face decades of living with disability and limited means. Created in 2006, the PDJF is a fairly new organization. Many leaders representing the racing industrysuch as racetracks, jockeys, horsemens groups (including the National Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association and its affiliates) and other racing organizationsrecognized the need to create a program that would bring much-needed financial assistance to a group of athletes who gave so much to the sport of horse racing. Initially, the PDJF was run under the auspices of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Charities, giving the organization time to build an infrastructure and gain the support of all facets of the horse racing industry. In January 2009, the PDJF became a freestanding 501(c)(3) public charity governed by a board of directors composed of representatives of both Thoroughbred and American Quarter Horse racing. In order to receive PDJF funds, applicants undergo a review process by the PDJF Eligibility Committee. Additionally, the PDJF maintains Investment and Fundraising Committees that oversee the operations of and disbursements by the Fund. Based in suburban Chicago, Nancy LaSala, the wife of recently retired jockey Jerry LaSala, is the Funds president and administrator.

Disabled jockeys often say the hardest part of transitioning into their new lives is when friends and fellow riders gradually stop visiting, when the racetrack chaplain is no longer beside the bed and when the number of cards and well-wishes trickles to a halt. Many say they feel forgotten. That is why the PDJF set out to be a constant and reliable source of support in a dangerous sport whose athletes compete without adequate health insurance, life insurance or a retirement fund. A small percentage of riders make the big bucks, and when serious injuries result, it is not only the end of ones racing career but also their way of life, and they find themselves in need of support, financially and emotionally, said Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day. The PDJF helps to meet these needs and lets them know they havent been forgotten. Whether piloting a stakes horse in the Breeders Cup or a low-level claimer around a half-mile bullring track, jockeys acknowledge and accept the inherent risks of the sport. They know a catastrophic injury is but one stride, one bad step, one riding mistake away. In the 2003 Arlington Million, Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens thought he had the race won as his mount, Storming Home (GB), glided across the finish line but then promptly veered, catapulting him to the ground and into the path of oncoming horses. Escaping with a collapsed lung and broken vertebrae, Stevens later said the horses hooves were so close he could read the numbers on their shoes as they miraculously passed over his head. Less than a month later, however, Stevens was back in the saddle and counting his blessings. www.nationalhbpa.com
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pDJf: A View froM within

The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity, is governed by an independent board of directors comprised of stakeholders from a broad crosssection of the horse racing industry. Current board members are: G. R. Carter Jon Court (Vice President) Bo Derek William Farish Jack Fires Craig Fravel Peggy Hendershot Nancy LaSala (President) Terry Meyocks Bill Murphy (Treasurer) Billy Peterson (Secretary) Bill Punk Mike Rogers John Velazquez

Four Footed Fotos

Many Hall of Fame jockeys and retired riders took part in the Dining with the Dynasty fundraiser at Arlington Park held in conjunction with the 2009 Arlington Million.

We lay our lives on the line every day, Stevens said, recalling the Million incident. That was the first time I looked death in the eyes, and it gave me a new respect for life itself. The PDJF supports dozens of former jockeys who werent as lucky as Stevens. Some require round-the-clock care; others live with varying degrees of paralysis or traumatic brain injuries. All are survivors of horrific, life-altering accidents. Jockeys are truly remarkable athletes, fearless competitors and at risk every day they get on a horse, noted Mike Rogers, president of the racing division of The Stronach Group, which owns racetracks across the country. Many have not only suffered career-ending injuries but injuries that have been life-changing for them and their families. It is imperative that our industry supports the PDJF and these extraordinary men and women with all its energy and passion. Fundraising, especially in lean economic times, is a constant challenge for the PDJF. It was our vision, when the PDJF was created in 2006, that all of our industry partners would support the organization in a way that its funding would never be in jeopardy, explained PDJF President LaSala. The goal was for the PDJF to become a perpetual, self-sustaining source of revenue for its beneficiaries. Such a permanent endowment would ensure long-term, stable financing for the PDJF for years to come. Unfortunately, we still havent met this goal. There have been very troubling times in the past when we could not plan ahead 30 or 60 days on available funds, she continued. Witnessing the impact this had on the disabled riders and their families was very distressing. Without consistent support from within the horse racing industry, forecasting

for monthly disbursements remains difficult. A permanent endowment would provide interest income to fund PDJF programs and services. Jockey karaoke contests, softball games, golf outings, poker tournaments, autograph sessions, jockeys tending bar or acting as chefs all are events in heavy rotation to raise funds for the PDJF. The Dining with the Dynasty luncheon has become a popular event held at Arlington Park the day before the Million, as many retired jockeys (Ron Turcotte, Chris McCarron, John Rotz and Angel Cordero Jr. among them) gather to tell stories and mingle with fans. A jockey challenge race is held, pitting legends against representatives of the Arlington riding colony in a pari-mutuel race that benefits the PDJF as well as the Race Track Chaplaincy of Illinois. This summer, the sale of an original oil painting depicting a morning workout scene at Santa Anita Park raised $22,000 for the Fund. And, of course, contributions from individuals, organizations, racetracks, horsemen and many others generously contribute to the PDJFs coffers. Support for the PDJF is not just one persons or one groups responsibility, said LaSala. To be successful, we need the support of the entire Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse industry. It is the community of horse racing as a whole that can make a difference. One enthusiastic supporter of the PDJF is Penny Chenery, Secretariats owner and breeder. I am delighted that the legacy of Secretariat can assist the PDJF in all its worthy endeavors, Chenery said. The continued and collective support of friends and fansbe it through the Foundation, the Secretariat Festival or the Secretariat.com websiteprovides the means to contribute to the welfare of disabled jockeys and brings recognition to this essential organization within the racing community.

Your support is greatly needed and very much appreciated by the men and women we serve. For further information about the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, please visit www.pdjf.org or call (630) 595-7660. The PDJF is on Facebook and Twitter (@PDJFund). The next time you hear the call to the post, think of it as a call to action. Grab your cell phone and text JOCKEY to 50555 to make a $10 donation to the PDJF (charges will appear on your wireless bill or be deducted from your prepaid calling plan). Donations can be made online at www.pdjf.org or by check to PDJF, P.O. Box 803, Elmhurst, IL 60126.
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