Jockeys in the news
Jockeys to contribute to Julia Brimo Fund
On November 28, Jockeys in North America will be asked to donate one mount fee to the Julia Brimo Fund, which was set up to help the injured rider with rehabilitation expenses.
Jockeys also will wear two patches on their boots that day, one that reads “Julia” and the other reading “PDJF” for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
Brimo, the 2003 Sovereign Award winner as Canada’s outstanding apprentice jockey, suffered head and back injuries in a spill at Keeneland Race Course on October 30. She is undergoing rehabilitation in Toronto at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and is expected to be transferred to the Lyndhurst Centre, a spinal cord rehabilitation facility.
The Julia Brimo Fund was established at Fifth Third Bank by Cindy Werner, wife of trainer Ronny Werner. Donations can be made by sending a check made out to the Julia Brimo Fund to Cindy Werner at 1116 Flat Rock Road, Louisville, KY, 40245.
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Jockey Garrett Gomez (pictured at left) avoided serious injuries after the horse he was riding in the ninth race Saturday at Hollywood Park broke down in the stretch, sending him to the ground.
Gomez was transported to Centinela Hospital in Inglewood but X-rays on his shoulder and elbow were negative.
The horse Gomez was riding, Bonnie Brown Eyes, a 2-year-old filly, broke her right front leg, fell, hit her neck and died instantly, according to the Daily Racing Form.
– Eric Sondheimer
Photo credit: Jonathan Alcorn / AFP / Getty Images
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Team Zenyatta to be honored with award
TUCSON, Ariz. — Undefeated Zenyatta and her owners, trainer and jockey will be honored with the Big Sport of Turfdom award from the Turf Publicists of America.
The winning group consists of undefeated champion mare Zenyatta’s jockey, Mike Smith, trainer John Shirreffs and his wife, Dottie, and owners Jerry and Ann Moss. Owners Jerry and Ann Moss, trainer John Shirreffs and his wife, Dottie, and Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith will receive the 44th annual award on Dec. 8 at the Race Track Industry Program Symposium on Racing & Gaming in Tucson, Ariz.
The award is given to someone who enhances coverage of thoroughbred racing through cooperation with the media and the sport’s racing publicists.
Turf Publicists president John Engelhardt said Zenyatta’s connections have exuded class and made themselves readily available to the media throughout her undefeated career.
Zenyatta capped her 14-0 career with a victory over the boys in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 7.
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