Santa Anita Park, Sheikh Mansoor Racing Festival Donate $100,000 Jockeys Fund

Santa Anita Park and the Sheikh Mansoor Festival presented a check for $100,000 to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) Saturday in a Winner’s Circle ceremony prior to the $100,000 HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Award Stakes at Santa Anita.

In addition to promoting the Arabian breed throughout the world, the Sheikh Mansoor Festival is dedicated to celebrating jockeys as some of the finest professional athletes in any sport.

“Santa Anita Park is delighted to partner with the Sheikh Mansoor Festival in making this donation to such a worthy cause,” said Keith Brackpool, Chairman, Santa Anita Park. “We’re hopeful this is the beginning of a relationship that will help to bring international focus to Santa Anita and to benefit the world class athletes that make our sport unlike any other.”

Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens accepted the check with a number of Santa Anita jockeys looking on, from Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the Sheikh Mansoor Festival and Santa Anita Chairman Keith Brackpool on behalf of the PDJF. Founded in 2006, the PDJF currently provides financial assistance to 60 former jockeys who are permanently disabled as a result of on-track injuries. Since its founding, the PDJF has disbursed over $7 million to disabled riders.

“This is a huge development for us,” said Stevens. “Everybody knows how much risk we take every day and to get a $100,000 check is fantastic. We’re just so appreciative to Santa Anita and everyone involved with the Sheikh Monsoor Festival for making this happen.”

For more information, please contact Mike Willman at mike.willman@santaanita.com or call 626-574-6417.