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Live Telethon to Benefit PDJF Returns to TVG Oct. 17

Hall of Fame jockeys, TVG's on-air talent and other prominent racing personalities will once again take to the phones Sunday, Oct. 17 as TVG and The Jockeys Guild host the third annual telethon to raise money for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF).

The event, canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, raised $330,000 in 2019, an increase of more than $100,000 over the inaugural event in 2018. Fan favorite jockeys of today and years past will be on hand live at call centers in California and Kentucky from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET.

“We sincerely appreciate the support of TVG and FanDuel to help raise critical funds for the PDJF through the telethon. Many jockeys will be taking part in the telethon by answering the phones when fans call in to make a donation. This telethon will help in providing the monthly monetary assistance to riders whose lives have been forever changed by a catastrophic on-track accident,” said Jockeys' Guild President and CEO Terry Meyocks.

Mike Smith will be joined by Gary Stevens, Kent Desormeaux, Chris McCarron, Pat Day, Sandy Hawley, Laffit Pincay Jr, Alex Solis, Jean Cruguet, Mike Manganello, Shane Sellers, Darrel McHargue, Mickey Solomone and others who will be on hand to participate in the 2021 Telethon.

“On behalf of the PDJF Board of Directors, we are grateful to have this opportunity as the PDJF's mission would not be possible if not for these types of fundraising efforts and the support of the racing fans,” said Nancy LaSala, PDJF President. “We want to thank TVG and FanDuel, the Jockeys Guild, horse owners, Hall of Fame jockeys, jockeys from around the country as well as our industry partners who support PDJF.”

Fans are encouraged to donate by calling 1-844-TVG-PDJF or through the PDJF website.

The post Live Telethon to Benefit PDJF Returns to TVG Oct. 17 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Retired Jockeys Share Insights In Latest Thoroughbred Owner Conference Session

Former track announcer Tom Durkin moderated a spirited panel of retired jockeys as part of the Thoroughbred Owner Conference series' sixth session, which was held Tuesday, Aug. 3. The conference series is hosted by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and presented by Bessemer Trust, Dean Dorton Equine, Stoll Keenon Ogden, and Stonestreet Farm.

Tuesday's session was sponsored by Airdrie Stud, Starlight Racing, and The Green Group. The panelists were Donna Barton Brothers, Chris McCarron, and Gary Stevens.

All three panelists acknowledged the physical and mental toll of being a professional jockey. Besides the inherent risk of injury, there are also the struggles associated with maintaining the proper weight as well as being able to accept frequent rejection.

“We put more pressure on ourselves than any one person we have ever dealt with [has],” Stevens said.

Despite the challenges, the three panelists mentioned the reward of the human and equine relationships they were able to develop and the traveling opportunities they were afforded as a result of their careers. The group also delved into riders' relationships with owners and trainers and the process of securing mounts. They all stated that the key to riding good horses was developing positive relationships with trainers.

“For the most part, owners trust the trainer's judgment,” Brothers said.

The final topic of the panel was the whip rule debate in different jurisdictions. McCarron was adamant on the importance of having the riding crop available for safety, a sentiment shared by Brothers and Stevens. McCarron also promoted the work of the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, which provides financial assistance to jockeys who have suffered catastrophic on-track injuries

The next session of the series, “Racing Clubs,” will be held on Tuesday, September 7, at 2 p.m. ET. It is sponsored by MyRacehorse, the Daily Racing Form, and Mersant International Ltd. Panelists are Michael Behrens, MyRacehorse; Mary Cage, WinStar Stablemates; and Gary Palmisano, Churchill Downs Racing Club.

All sessions will be recorded and made available to registered guests. There is no registration fee for the live or recorded virtual conference series, but registration is required.

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In addition to the virtual series, OwnerView will be hosting an in-person Thoroughbred Owner Conference in Del Mar, Calif., on November 3, to coincide with the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Registration information is available on the OwnerView website. Registration information and schedules for both the in-person and virtual conference are available at ownerview.com/event/conference or by contacting Gary Falter at gfalter@jockeyclub.com.

OwnerView is a joint effort spearheaded by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to encourage ownership of Thoroughbreds and provide accurate information on aspects of ownership such as trainers, public racing syndicates, the process of purchasing and owning a Thoroughbred, racehorse retirement, and owner licensing.

The need for a central resource to encourage Thoroughbred ownership was identified in the comprehensive economic study of the sport that was commissioned by The Jockey Club and conducted by McKinsey & Company in 2011. The OwnerView site was launched in May 2012.

The post Retired Jockeys Share Insights In Latest Thoroughbred Owner Conference Session appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘Like Old Times’: Van Dyke Excited To Be Back At Del Mar

Jockey Drayden Van Dyke wasn't gone from the Southern California racing circuit all that long. It was only a few months, from late March to early July, when the 26-year-old from Louisville went back to his Kentucky roots, plying his trade at Churchill Downs, Keeneland and Turfway Park.

Statistically, it was not a triumphant return to his old Kentucky home. Wins came at roughly a 10 percent rate for just over 100 mounts with the highlight being a victory in the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway aboard Like The King and a subsequent 12^th-place finish on the same horse in his first Kentucky Derby opportunity.

“I did miss California a lot,” Van Dyke admitted here Tuesday morning. “There's no place like it.”

California riding exploits earned Van Dyke an Eclipse Award as the top apprentice of 2014. And he had career year at Del Mar in 2018 when he won both the summer and fall titles at the seaside track north of San Diego, and, during the summer stand, won 11 stakes races – one third of his current seaside track total.

But, as Van Dyke pointed out in interviews shortly before leaving Kentucky, he has no regrets about the temporary self-transplant and expects it to have long-term benefits.

“I enjoyed my experience in Kentucky, it was a good learning experience and now it's onwards and upwards,” Van Dyke said.

“A change can be good for anybody.”

Van Dyke was represented by Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens during part of his time in the Midwest. But with Stevens back at Saratoga, N.Y., working as an expert commentator on New York Racing Association and other broadcasts, Van Dyke's book is being handled by Brandon O'Bryan, a third-generation jockey agent. Brandon's grandfather George, a legend in the business who represented five Hall of Famers at one time or another in a lengthy career, passed away in February at the age of 100. Brandon's father, Craig, came out of semi-retirement last year to work with Juan Hernandez on a highly successful transition from the Northern to Southern California circuit.

“I can't wait to get to work with Brandon and see what we can do,” Van Dyke said. “I'm excited to be back at Del Mar, excited that there's going to be fans around again. It's like old times. I'm in a really good state of mind and I want to build my business back up and get into a winning mode.”

The post ‘Like Old Times’: Van Dyke Excited To Be Back At Del Mar appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Drayden Van Dyke Returning To Southern California

Jockey Drayden Van Dyke, the 2014 Eclipse Award-winning apprentice, is making plans to move back to Southern California, reports the Daily Racing Form.

The 26-year-old rider shifted his tack to Kentucky in the spring of 2021, and was represented by retired Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens while riding at Turfway Park, Keeneland and Churchill Downs. Van Dyke also earned his first mount in the Kentucky Derby aboard the Wesley Ward-trained Like The King, who finished 12th.

“Coming out here was a great learning experience and it's only going to make me better,” Van Dyke told DRF. “It wasn't a mistake coming here. It was really good for me. Riding with different riders out here, in a room that is loaded with talent, you learn stuff and you learn how to hustle.”

Van Dyke plans to finish out this weekend at Ellis Park before heading back to California for the start of the Del Mar meeting. Brandon O'Bryan will represent Van Dyke on the West Coast.