Jockeys | Horse Racing Free Tips

Jockeys And Jeans Fundraiser At Churchill Cancelled Due To COVID-19

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Churchill Downs and Jockeys and Jeans mutually agreed to cancel the fundraiser for Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund that had been planned at the historic track for Nov. 14.

“It's sad because the needs of former jockeys who suffered career ending injuries go on,” said Jockeys and Jeans President Barry Pearl. “But, given the need to battle this deadly disease, it is necessary.”

“Due to the nature of Jockey and Jeans and the way it brings people together from all over the country, we want to ensure that it can be held at Churchill Downs when it can be the biggest and best,” said Mike Ziegler, executive director of racing at Churchill. “We are saddened to postpone the 2020 event, but in full agreement with PDJF and Jockey and Jeans' choice.”

Pearl said the group will be contacting those who already purchased sponsorships and will keep the racing world posted on future fundraising events.

“We all know it has been a most difficult time for the nation as well as the sport we all know and love,” he said. “But I am convinced the family that is horse racing will continue to reach out to help support those who traded a set of stirrups for the foot stands on wheelchairs.”

Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund pays a $1,000 monthly stipend to some 60 former jockeys who suffered catastrophic racing injures. Some 40 are either pari- or quadriplegics, while others suffered severe brain injuries.

The event typically attracts 15 or more jockey Hall of Fame members who gather to honor the six permanently disabled former jockeys who attend. Jockeys and Jeans was founded in late 2014 by a group of former jockeys, which has raised over $1.5 million for the PDJF through six annual events and several stallion season sales.

“We are the ones who walked away intact,” said Pearl, a former jockey. “And our efforts to stand for our fallen brothers and sisters will go on thanks to the heart touching support of the racing community.”

The post Jockeys And Jeans Fundraiser At Churchill Cancelled Due To COVID-19 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

NYRA Sets COVID-19 Jockey Protocols for Belmont Fall Meet; Out-Of-Town Riders Not Permitted

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) on Sunday announced COVID-19 health and safety protocols for jockeys during the 27-day Belmont Park fall meet. The Elmont, N.Y., track will open on Friday, September 18, and run through Sunday, November 1.

The Belmont Park fall meet will be highlighted by 22 graded stakes, featuring seven Grade 1 events and seven Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” qualifiers to the two-day Breeders' Cup 2020 World Championships to be held November 6-7 at Keeneland Race Course.

In order to mitigate risk and reduce the spread of COVID-19, Belmont Park will be closed to out-of-town jockeys until further notice. However, members of the regular NYRA jockey colony who travel to ride at any other racetrack during the Belmont Park fall meet will be required to provide two negative COVID-19 tests taken within a 5-day window in order to return to ride at Belmont. Jockeys traveling out of state who have completed the required testing will then be physically isolated in the jockey quarters for three additional calendar days.

For example, if a NYRA jockey travels out of New York to compete on a Saturday then that jockey should be tested upon return to New York on Sunday and tested again on Thursday. Should both tests be returned negative then the jockey will be allowed to ride races at Belmont beginning Friday and will be provided an isolated area on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

NYRA jockeys who have traveled outside of New York state to compete at other racetracks beginning the week of August 31 will also be required to provide two negative COVID-19 tests taken within the 5-day window preceding that jockey's first mount at Belmont Park.

Jockeys who have remained in New York and not competed at other tracks following the conclusion of the summer meet on September 7 will be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test taken within the 7-day window preceding that jockey's first mount at Belmont Park.

All testing must be performed in New York state.

Condition Book 1 for the fall meet currently lists 17 active jockeys and two apprentice riders who will be designated members of the NYRA jockey colony. Jockeys and agents interested in being included in the NYRA jockey colony may contact NYRA Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Martin Panza for consideration by September 18.

In addition to race day safety protocols which include standard health screening and temperature checks, the jockey quarters at Belmont Park have been substantially altered to provide maximum social distancing and reduce density. All areas accessed by jockeys during the regular course of a race day are closed to outside personnel, including credentialed media, and are cleaned and disinfected throughout the day.

Jockeys are not permitted access to the barn area. In order to work a horse in the morning, the jockey must meet the horse in the paddock and may then proceed to the main track.

Jockey agents must produce a negative COVID-19 test in order to gain access to the barn area. Races will continue to be drawn via Zoom.

All valets must provide a negative COVID-19 test taken anytime after September 13 in order to access the jockey quarters on opening day, September 18. Valets working in in the jockey quarters are not permitted in the barn area.

The 2020 Belmont Park fall meet will begin on Friday, September 18 and run through Sunday, November 1. Following opening weekend at Belmont, live racing will be conducted Thursday through Sunday with the exception of Columbus Day weekend, when live racing will be offered on Monday, October 12 and will resume on Friday, October 16.

America's Day at the Races will present daily television coverage of the Belmont Park fall meet with coverage to air on FOX Sports and MSG Networks.

The post NYRA Sets COVID-19 Jockey Protocols for Belmont Fall Meet; Out-Of-Town Riders Not Permitted appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Five Derby Riders Pledge Percentage Of Earnings To Help Injured Jock Bednar

Hall of Fame jockeys Javier Castellano, Mike Smith, John Velazquez, and the sport's rising stars Manuel Franco and Tyler Gaffalione have joined in solidarity to pledge a percentage of their earnings from the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby race cards to help rider Vinnie Bednar with continued expenses resulting from a catastrophic fall at Los Alamitos Racetrack on August 22nd.

Bednar, 28, is experiencing what his family hopes is a temporary lower-limb paralysis following initial surgery at USC Medical Center in Los Angeles. He remains hospitalized while awaiting transfer to the Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado, a world-renowned, premier center for spinal and brain injury. The accident occurred in the seventh race when Peek It Up, the horse Bednar was riding, broke down 100 yards from the finish line in the 300-yard race.

“Vinnie was overcome with emotion when I told him that some of the country's top jockeys had reached out and wanted to help. He couldn't believe that they were thinking about him while they are amid their big race weekend at Churchill Downs,” said Karen Bednar, Vinnie's mother.

“The support our family has received is unbelievable and it's been so inspiring to Vinnie. He wants to use the attention and the generosity to help other paralyzed jockeys who don't have the exposure and need help,” Bednar continued.

Castellano who is third on the all-time North American earnings leaderboard will be aboard Money Moves for seven-time Eclipse Award winning trainer Todd Pletcher in the 146th running of the Derby today. Franco will ride the heavy favorite and sole Triple Crown contender Tiz the Law who won the Belmont Stakes and the Travers Stakes for trainer Barclay Tagg. Tyler Gaffalione who is third in earnings on the North American Leaderboard will have the mount on South Bend for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Mike Smith, who piloted Justify to a Triple Crown title in 2018 will be in the irons for trainer John Sherriffs on Honor A.P. who is the morning line second favorite in the race. Velazquez will ride Authentic for two-time Triple Crown winner Bob Baffert who is the third favorite in the year's 146^th edition of the Run for the Roses.

“This could have been any one of us,” said North America's all-time leading money earner Velazquez. “The injuries Vinnie sustained are going to require a tremendous amount of financial support for his medical bills and rehabilitation. We will be riding with Vinnie and his family in our thoughts and prayers today.”

Fellow Hall of Famer Mike Smith echoed the sentiment, adding, “I know Vinnie well. He's a great young rider and an even better person. He has a wonderful family and we will all help him get through this.”

Vinnie Bednar is a former motocross rider who began riding thoroughbred and quarter horses in 2011. He has enjoyed a successful career and at the time of his last race ranked second in the jockey standings at Los Alamitos. Since mid-December, Bednar has won four major stakes – the Champion of Champions last December with 2019 World Champion He Looks Hot, the Vessels Maturity on Chocolatito on July 5, the Governor's Cup Derby with Nomadic on July 26, and the Golden State Derby on Aug. 16 aboard Circle City. This season Bednar had 41 Quarter Horse victories from 201 starts with earnings of $635,959 and is ranked 23^rd in the country. He also rode Thoroughbreds this year, garnering 18 wins from 94 mounts.

Close friends of the Bednar family have created a GoFundMe campaign for continued medical support: https://gf.me/u/yvsusr

The post Five Derby Riders Pledge Percentage Of Earnings To Help Injured Jock Bednar appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Jockey Bednar Left Paralyzed After Spill At Los Al

Rider Vinnie Bednar is suffering from lower-limb paralysis after a spill at Los Alamitos on Aug. 22, according to a report from the Daily Racing Form Wednesday. Bednar was aboard 3-year-old Quarter Horse Peek It Up when the filly suffered a catastrophic injury near the end of the 300-yard contest.

Bednar, 28, underwent surgery at USC Medical Center in Los Angeles after the spill and is expected to be transported to a Colorado facility that specializes in spinal cord injuries.

Bednar has ridden both Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses during his career, which launched in 2011. He had his best season last year with 115 wins across all breeds and was second in the Quarter Horse standings at the time of his fall.

Friends of the Bednar family have launched a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe to help defray projected costs of Bednar's recovery.