Delaware Park Casino, the Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, the Delaware Jockeys' Health and Welfare Benefit Fund and the Delaware Park Jockeys Association teamed up to donate $20,000 to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF), the organizations announced in a joint statement Saturday.
Delaware Park has developed a unique funding mechanism for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund donation as, over the course of the live racing season, each jockey donates a dollar from each mount fee. Delaware Park Casino, the Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and the Delaware Jockeys' Health and Welfare Benefit Fund each match the dollar.
“Through the years, Delaware Park has been very fortunate to have an incredible jockey colony,” said Kevin DeLucia, Chief Financial Officer at Delaware Park. “We are very thankful for the risks and sacrifices they make every day so we can enjoy great racing. We are proud to gather today together to make this small gesture of generosity to the PDJF.”
Additionally, the Delaware Park Casino and the Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (DTHA) teamed up to donate a further $20,000 to Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue (MAHR) and Canter Delaware.
“We have one of the best aftercare teams at Delaware Park,” said DTHA Executive Director Bessie Gruwell. “We are very grateful for the dedication and detail they bring every day to finding second careers for our equine athletes. We are tremendously proud of the accomplishments we have made at Delaware Park ensuring so many find careers and homes beyond the racetrack. The aftercare team are the boots on the ground in the stable area and without them, many of these accomplishments would not be possible.”
For more information on the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund or to donate, click here.
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