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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.”

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FanDuel Named Title Sponsor Of Breeders’ Cup Mile, Includes Charity Partners In Race Names

Officials of Breeders' Cup and FanDuel Group today announced that FanDuel, America's premier gaming destination, will become the title sponsor of the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) at this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships. In addition, two of FanDuel Group's major charity partners will be incorporated into its naming rights for this year's event — the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF and the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

The Breeders' Cup, one of Thoroughbred racing's most prestigious international events, consisting of 14 races and purses and awards totaling $35 million, is scheduled to be held on Nov. 6-7 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. The World Championships will be televised live on NBC and NBCSN.

For several years, FanDuel subsidiary TVG, America's Horse Racing network, has partnered with the Jockeys' Guild's Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF), on initiatives including an annual telethon, and with the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, to raise awareness and funding for both organizations.

“We are excited that FanDuel will become the title sponsor of the Breeders' Cup Mile and thank them for their commitment to the World Championships,” said Breeders' Cup President and CEO Drew Fleming. “Since announcing our multi-year agreement last year, we have enjoyed an outstanding relationship with FanDuel and TVG as they have expanded and strengthened their support of the Breeders' Cup and Thoroughbred racing.”

“Building off an amazing start last year, FanDuel and TVG are looking forward to this year's Breeders' Cup and to working together to create new fans for horse racing,” said Kip Levin, CEO of TVG. “We appreciate Breeders' Cup's and NBC Sports' cooperation in including our charity partners into the race names for this year. Both the PDJF and Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance do so much to help provide care and resources for our athletes and we wanted to share the spotlight with them on two of our sport's biggest days.”

In 2019, Breeders' Cup and FanDuel announced a comprehensive multi-year sponsorship agreement making TVG and FanDuel the official Wagering Partners of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. TVG will retain its title sponsorship of the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), which also was announced last year.

The collaboration also established TVG and FanDuel official partner status for four of its business units: Advanced-Deposit Wagering (TVG) as well as sports betting, daily fantasy sports and online casino, all of which operate under the FanDuel brand.

TVG and FanDuel will continue to receive official sponsor designation, commercial units and other promotional rights as part of NBC Sports' coverage of the Breeders' Cup World Championships and also will be the Presenting Partner of NBCSN's “Betting the Breeders' Cup” show, which will air multiple times during Breeders' Cup week and include complete handicapping and analysis of the World Championships. In another component of the partnership, FanDuel Group will promote the Breeders' Cup World Championships to its databases of Daily Fantasy and sports betting customers.

In January, FanDuel introduced FanDuel Racing, an advanced-deposit wagering service aimed at novice race fans, and began promoting it across its DFS platform. Prior to that, FanDuel had developed and introduced daily fantasy sports applications for horse racing.

The $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF is a Grade 1 race for 3-year-olds and older, which will be run at 1 mile on the Keeneland turf course on Saturday, Nov. 7. The Mile annually draws top flight international competition. This year, horses from South Africa, France, Great Britain, Japan and the U.S. already have qualified automatically for the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile by winning races in the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is a Grade 1 race for 2-year-olds, which will be run at 1 1/16 miles on the Keeneland main track as part of Breeders' Cup's Future Stars Friday program.

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Keeneland and Maker’s Mark Team up to Help Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund

Keeneland and Maker’s Mark have announced the 2020 Maker’s Mark commemorative bottle, with all proceeds to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF), an independent charitable organization that provides financial assistance to jockeys who have sustained debilitating on-track injuries.

Each Maker’s Mark bottle has been signed by the five leading active stakes-winning riders at Keeneland–Julien Leparoux, Robby Albarado, John Velazquez, Javier Castellano and Mike Smith–in addition to Maker’s Mark Managing Director Rob Samuels and Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason.

The bottle goes on sale July 3 in limited quantities around Kentucky.

“Jockeys are truly some of the best athletes in the world and put their lives on the line every time they mount a horse,” PDJF President Nancy LaSala said. “Because of this, we’re so thrilled that two of Kentucky’s great institutions–Keeneland and Maker’s Mark–have come together in such a creative way to help disabled jockeys who can ride no more.”

“I’ve been involved with several Keeneland and Maker’s Mark bottles that raise funds for worthy causes,” Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith said. “But this one really is where my heart is. Autographing a bottle is such a simple thing to do, and it’s great knowing that I’m playing a small role in helping other riders whose careers were cut short.”

Keeneland and Maker’s Mark formed a partnership in 1997 to create commemorative bottles each year for charitable organizations.

“We are always gratified by the enthusiastic public response to the Maker’s Mark commemorative bottle, and we are so pleased sales this year will benefit the critical work of the PDJF,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said.

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Keeneland, Maker’s Mark Team Up To Support Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund

Keeneland and Maker's Mark® have a rich history of working hand-in-hand to benefit the community and the horse industry. This year is no exception as the two iconic Kentucky brands today announced the 2020 Maker's Mark® commemorative bottle, with all proceeds to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF), an independent charitable organization that provides financial assistance to jockeys who have sustained debilitating on-track injuries.

Each Maker's Mark bottle has been signed in advance by the five leading active stakes-winning riders at Keeneland – Julien Leparoux, Robby Albarado, John Velazquez, Javier Castellano and Mike Smith – in addition to Maker's Mark Managing Director Rob Samuels and Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason.

The bottle's design features black wax on the top and neck, a green wax Keeneland seal on the front and a gold label featuring an illustration of a jockey in white and red silks aboard a Thoroughbred racehorse. The illustration is the work of Louisville artist Jeaneen Barnhart, renowned for a large portfolio of equine art that includes several posters for the Kentucky Derby Festival which she designed with her twin sister, Doreen.

Certain to become a collector's item, the bottle goes on sale July 3 in limited quantities around Kentucky.

“Jockeys are truly some of the best athletes in the world and put their lives on the line every time they mount a horse,” says PDJF President Nancy LaSala. “Because of this, we're so thrilled that two of Kentucky's great institutions – Keeneland and Maker's Mark – have come together in such a creative way to help disabled jockeys who can ride no more.”

“I've been involved with several Keeneland and Maker's Mark bottles that raise funds for worthy causes,” says Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. “But this one really is where my heart is. Autographing a bottle is such a simple thing to do, and it's great knowing that I'm playing a small role in helping other riders whose careers were cut short.”

“The people in the horse industry of Central Kentucky have played a big role in the history of Maker's Mark,” says Rob Samuels, who is an eighth-generation whisky maker. “When my grandfather started Maker's back in the 1950s, the horsemen supported him and helped spread the word that his bourbon was worth sharing. So, we're honored to share something back in a meaningful way.”

Keeneland and Maker's Mark formed a partnership in 1997 to create commemorative bottles each year for charitable organizations. Proceeds from the sales of previous commemorative bottles have raised millions to benefit everything from academic tutoring for student athletes to arts programs across the state to nonprofit organizations in the Thoroughbred industry.

“We are always gratified by the enthusiastic public response to the Maker's Mark commemorative bottle, and we are so pleased sales this year will benefit the critical work of the PDJF,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “We thank our longstanding partner, Maker's Mark, and Julien, Robby, John, Javier and Mike for their strong support.”

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