The Delaware Jockeys' Health and Welfare Fund held a jockey health day on Monday, May 24, in the Delaware Park jockeys' quarters. Premier Physical Therapy and Sports Performance (Premier PT) hosted the event. A team of four doctors and three athletic trainers offered their services for this event; Dr. Kelly Ryan, Dr. Brad Sandela, Dr. Talha Khan, Dr. Chelsea Backer, Athletic Trainers Mandy Minutola, Sam Cutrone and Paige Ezell. Just under 30 jockeys attended the event to undergo physical examinations, baseline concussion testing and onboarding onto the Headcheck Health management system
Premier PT, in partnership with Laurel Racecourse track physician Dr. Kelly Ryan of Medstar, has been utilizing HeadCheck, a web-based end-to-end solution to execute concussion protocols, mitigate risk and support recovery. HeadCheck gives participating racetracks the ability to instantly remove and return jockeys to riding by sharing possible injury alerts, baseline tests, physicals, medical clearances, jockey emergency contact information and other pertinent information. HeadCheck uses strict HIPAA compliance with multi-level access where private health information is only provided to medical personnel.
Mandy Minutola, Director of Athletic training for Premier Physical Therapy, stated: “The first Jockey Health Day at Delaware Park was a successful step towards improving the standard of care for jockeys in our area. The collaboration of our Athletic Trainers with local sports medicine physicians to put the health and safety of the jockey first and foremost was evident in this event and something we hope was abundantly evident to our jockeys & their families. Premier is honored to provide an Athletic Trainer on all race days and be able to improve the quality of life of the jockeys during and beyond their horse racing careers. Our ultimate goal is to spread this desire to improve care standards across the United States for ALL jockeys.”
Delaware Park has a licensed athletic trainer during live racing with a treatment room located in the jockeys' room. Sam Cutrone, the licensed athletic trainer for Premier PT who has been the onsite athletic trainer since the inception Premier PT program, stated: “Premier Physical Therapy and Sports Performance is thrilled to be working towards a standard of care for all jockeys and enjoys providing them with the preventative and diagnostic tools that have been long overlooked in the horse racing industry. We hope to improve the quality of life for jockeys both during and beyond their horse racing careers.”
Ed Stegemeier, Chairman of The Delaware Jockeys Health and Welfare Fund, stated: “The Delaware Jockeys Health and Benefit Board is delighted to work with Delaware Park and Premier Physical Therapy in providing services that will add another layer of protective health care for all Delaware jockeys.”
The 77-day Delaware Park meet opens on Wednesday, May 26th and concludes on Saturday, October 16th. Live racing will be conducted Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays. Thursdays will be added June 24th through September 30th. First-race daily post time is set for 1:15pm.
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