Originally reported by | Kevin Kerstein,Churchill Downs Communications
Churchill Downs partnered with Jockeys & Jeans for a public benefit toward the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund on July 2 as part of Stephen Foster Day.
Jockeys & Jeans hosted more than 25 retired jockeys for their event including Hall of Famers Braulio Baeza, Bill Boland, Don Brumfield, Steve Cauthen, Pat Day, Earlie Fires, Sandy Hawley, Julie Krone, Chris McCarron, Craig Perret, Laffit Pincay Jr., Edgar Prado, Jose Santos and Gary Stevens.
Fans were able to meet those riders and more with an autograph session in the Plaza from 3-4:15 p.m. There was also a silent auction in the second floor of the Clubhouse beginning at 11:45 a.m. Admission gates will open at 11:30 a.m. and first post is 12:45 p.m.
Guests were able to purchase a ticket to the Jockeys & Jeans private event in the Triple Crown Room that includes a buffet lunch, autographed Jockeys & Jeans poster and a meet and greet with Hall of Fame jockeys and fallen riders. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased online at https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/16005B5CAD1637A6?did=jockey.
Jockeys & Jeans was founded by a group of former jockeys who wanted to honor the courage of those who suffered catastrophic injuries on the racetrack. The event will host several riders who were permanently injured on the racetrack such as Gary Birzer, Stacy Burton, Jack Fires, Armando Rivera and Mike Straight.
For more information about Jockeys & Jeans, visit www.jockeysandjeans.com.
Peter Sacopulos with Retired Jockey, Edgar Prado
Edgar S. Prado (Lima, June 12, 1967) is a Peruvian-born American jockey, a U.S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey in thoroughbred horse racing.
His big break came in 1997 when he won 536 races, making him the fourth rider in history to win 500 races in one year. Much of that success was gained in Maryland, where he ruled that circuit for several years.
Peter Sacopulos with Retired Jockey, Pat Day
Patrick Alan Day (born October 13, 1953, in Brush, Colorado) is a retired American jockey. He is a four-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.[2] Day won nine Triple Crown races and 12 Breeders’ Cup races. He was once the leader for career Breeders’ Cup wins though he was later surpassed as the events were expanded after he retired.
Peter Sacopulos with Retired Jockey, Bill Boland
William Norris “Bill” Boland (born July 16, 1933 at Corpus Christi, Texas) is a retired American Hall of Fame jockey and trainer in Thoroughbred horse racing.[1] Bill Boland retired from racing in 1969 and turned to training horses for a time. He was inducted into the United States Racing Hall of Fame in 2006.
