Tune into TVG on Sunday, April 10, and help support a worthy cause. The Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund (PDJF) will host one of its flagship fundraising events with the fourth annual PDJF Telethon.
PDJF is a non-profit that provides critical assistance to around 60 former jockeys who have suffered devastating on-track injuries. After it was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, the telethon returned with a vengeance last year. The 2021 event raised roughly $340,000.
Coverage begins at 9 am PST. Fans of horse racing in California and across the country can call in between 10 am and 4 pm to make their pledge.
How the event works
Both active and retired Hall of Fame jockeys will field calls and take donations from call centers at Santa Anita Park in California and Keeneland in Kentucky.
Participants can call 1-844-844-PDJF to interact with former and current stars. Hall of Famers Alex Solis, Chris McCarron, and Mike Smith are set to take part. The list of participants also includes current riders Julien Leparoux and Joe Bravo.
Donations can also be made online at the PDJF website. Anyone who donates will earn an entry into a drawing for a pair of tickets to the 2022 Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland.
Viewers and prospective donators can also learn more about disabled jockeys in need by viewing recipient stories highlighted on the PDJF website.
About PDJF
Since its founding in 2006, the PDJF has raised more than $9 million in aid for disabled jockeys.
Many injured jockeys suffer devastating injuries in their twenties and thirties. They can face decades of disability, incurring steep medical costs and struggling to maintain daily expenses.
PDJF helps provide a financial lifeline to those in need. The organization relies 100% on charitable donations.
PDJF Mission
To better understand the tangible difference donations make, the organization lists its mission statement in the form of four central pillars.
- Promote awareness about the needs of disabled jockeys through public advocacy
- Provide financial support to help disabled jockeys with daily expenses
- Provide financial assistance to help jockeys obtain the necessary medical treatment/ coverage
- Promote medical research to help treat and prevent catastrophic injuries in professional horse racing
How to watch
The event will be simulcast on TVG and FS1.
TVG will also stream the event on their website and provide viewers with additional resources and information.
