Prominent Thoroughbred owner/breeder Charles E. Fipke has made a $100,000 donation to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys' Fund (PDJF), opining that “jockeys have a raw deal in the racing industry.”
“Too often jockeys suffer career-ending, life-altering injuries leaving them incapable of providing for themselves and their families,” Fipke said. “Injured riders have limited medical coverage and those who are catastrophically injured may then become eligible for PDJF assistance. The Fund is only able to provide $1,000 to per month to these men and women. For the most part, the PDJF relies on donations and has insufficient funding to increase this monthly stipend for jockeys and their families. Sure, we can continue to rely on owners and others to donate, but this is just not working.”
Fipke continued, “Racing provides entertainment for spectators as well as potential profits to bettors. The tracks that put on the show should address this issue and make every effort to find a solution to this unfortunate dilemma.”
PDJF President Nancy LaSala added, “We are extremely grateful to Mr. Fipke for his generosity and for recognizing that the PDJF does not have permanent, guaranteed funding coming from existing revenue streams within the horse racing industry.”
Fipke, a geologist, has been active in North American Thoroughbred racing since 1981. He has bred and campaigned Grade I winners such as Forever Unbridled (Unbridled's Song), Unbridled Forever (Unbridled's Song), Jersey Town (Speightstown), Tale of Ekati (Tale of the Cat).
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