With the totals in for the fourth annual "Jockeys and Jeans" fundraising event, this year at Parx Casino and Racing on June 3, proceeds from it and an earlier Stallion Season Sale total a record $252,000.
This tops the previous record $235,000 raised by the group for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund in 2016. Since its inception in 2014, the all-volunteer group, founded by five former jockeys, has raised for PDJF, over $715,000.
Some 300 fans and horsepersons were on hand to mingle with 14 Hall of Fame Jockeys and honor six catastrophically injured jockeys.
"All this is simply a testimony to the concern and generosity of the racing community and those who love this sport," said Jockeys and Jeans President Barry Pearl. "Donors, volunteers, Hall of Fame riders and fans joined hands to honor and support those men and women whose catastrophic injuries may have disabled their bodies but has not diminished their spirits. I and all on our committee are truly humbled by the response."
Jockeys and Jeans was formed in early 2014 by five former jockeys to raise awareness of the dangers inherent in race riding and funds for the some 60 former riders who suffered catastrophic, career ending injuries and are supported by monthly payments from the PDJF.
Hall of Famers attending were Braulio Baeza, Bill Boland, Pat Day, Ramon Dominquez, Earlie Fires, Sandy Hawley, Julie Krone, Chris McCarron, Don Pierce, Laffit Pincay, Jr., John Rotz, Bobby Ussery, Jorge Velasquez, and Manuel Ycaza. Honorees included Vincent Amico, Sam Boulmetis, Jr., Tony Dlugoposki, Linda Hughes, Jayme LaRocca, and Sidney Underwood.
Committee members include Barry Pearl, President; Eddie Donnally, Vice President; Maureen and Darrell Brown, Sandy Hawley, Suzie Picou-Oldham, Karou Chatfield-Tsuchiya, Kenny Katz and Michele Pearl.
Jockeys and Jeans plans to solicit and sell donated stallion seasons this fall for the PDJF with the time and place for its Select Season Sale to be announced.
