Hall of Fame Jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr., will sign limited edition collectible jerseys benefiting the Jockeys’ Guild on July 10, 2010 at Hollywood Park.
In addition to the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) being run that day, it is also the day when the Laffit Pincay Jr. Award, given annually by Hollywood Park Racetrack to someone who has served the horse racing industry with integrity, dedication, determination and distinction, will be given.
According to a press release, the wearable/collectible jerseys "feature achievements, matching silks, logos of sponsors and designated charities provided by the trainer, jockey, or owner of the horse on a sublimated or fully embroidered baseball jersey." The jerseys are manufactured by MVP Champions, of Santa Clara, California, which previously produced jerseys in honor of trainer Bob Baffert and the race mare Zenyatta.
The Pincay jerseys will be available for purchase at the Hollywood Park gift shop beginning July 3 and are also available online at www.mvpchampions.com. One-third of the proceeds from each jersey purchased will go directly to the Jockeys’ Guild, according to the release.
"We were looking at new and exciting ways to raise Thoroughbred awareness, and this is miraculously working.," Jack Mutz, owner of MVP Champions, said in a statement. "Laffit Pincay, Jr. invited us to his beautiful home in Arcadia and was very helpful providing the details we needed to make the jersey. The prestigious George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award he received in 1970 was one of his most treasured moments in horse racing. He chose the red, white and blue colors matching for the Hall of Fame jersey commemorating his achievements. These colors were selected in honor of the silks of legendary thoroughbred racehorse owner Fred W. Hooper and are also the colors of the flag of his native country, Panama."
According to the release, Eduardo Arango, the Panamanian consulate general for the West Coast of United States and Canada, will be among those attending the races that day to honor Pincay.
