This year's Jockeys and Jeans PDJF fundraiser, held Feb. 28 at Gulfstream Park, set records for donations to the charity, according to the event's organizers.
“While final numbers are still being tallied, it's safe to say total revenues will top the record $204,000 raised by Jockeys and Jeans at last year's event at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino,” said PDJF Director, Nancy LaSala.
The event's live auction featured three stallion seasons donated by Lane's End and syndicate owners of stallions based at the farm, as well as one season from Claiborne Farm. Another 15 donated stallion seasons were sold at auction on the Starquine website.
Over 200 people attended the event, including 14 Hall of Fame jockeys, six severely injured jockeys as honored guests, former Ambassador to England and founder of Lane's End Farm Will Farish, and Academy Award winner Robert Duvall, a friend of attendee and famed equestrian rider Kathy Kusner.
Jockeys and Jeans president and former jockey Barry Pearl announced that the event's fourth edition will be held at Parx Casino & Racing in the spring of 2017.
“I always thought of racing as an extended family,” said Pearl. “And once again they proved to the world they care about the sport's severely injured jockeys by honoring their accomplishments in rebuilding their lives and providing sorely needed financial assistance.”
The PDJF supports over 60 riders who suffered on-track, career-ending injuries, including about half who are either para- or quadriplegic.
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