Injured Riders Note Importance of PDJF

Make no mistake, despite suffering brain damage following a spill 16 years ago at Prescott Downs, jockey Stacy Burton still loves horse racing and the time she spent competing.

"I would do it all again," Burton said Dec. 12 at the Jockeys' Guild Assembly in Las Vegas during a panel discussion featuring four riders who receive support from the Permanently Disabled Jockeys' Fund that provides financial assistance to injured riders.

Panelists Burton, her partner Jan Hortyk, along with Michael Straight, Jackie Fires, and Anne Von Rosen discussed their everyday needs and how the PDJF assists them.

From the time she was a child, Burton wanted to be a jockey. Because her parents wanted her to get an education, she first completed a master's degree and she would become a teacher but in her 30s she pursued her dream of competitive riding.

"Like many of you," Hortyk said to the room filled with riders, "Stacy knew at a young age she wanted to be a rider. But her family wouldn't allow her to do it. So after getting that education, she spent about four years training to be a rider. 

"I have all of her win pictures up in her therapy room. She's probably the most motivated person I've ever seen in my life. She does therapy seven days a week."

Hortyk noted such life-changing injuries also impact the family around the rider. Hortyk moved from her full-time teaching job to a substitute role in order to assist Burton, who is in therapy five hours a day.

"Three years after her accident, she could still not walk, talk, or feed herself. She was in diapers and had to be turned every two hours. The first three years were hell," Hortyk said. "I'm very thankful for the PDJF; we wouldn't be able to survive without them."

Burton, who played guitar before her injuries, enjoys music therapy. She writes about one song a week with her therapist.

"Music therapy has been wonderful for me," Burton said. "It's allowing me to experience myself."

Fires, brother of Racing Hall of Fame rider Earlie Fires, was paralyzed from the waist down after a 1977 spill at River Downs. He said it's a long period of adjustment.

"It took me about five years to figure out what I could do and what I could not do. You have to learn how to live all over again. Your whole life is changed completely. Fortunately I had family that helped and supported me through all that," Fires said. "It took two years for my body to heal to where it is and I could take care of myself. And it took about five years to figure out what I could do and couldn't do."

Straight has been walking with an exoskeleton, including a trip this year into the Gulfstream Park winner’s circle. He was paralyzed in a 2009 fall at Arlington International Racecourse. Straight said the PDJF and support of the Guild helped make it possible for him to work with the exoskeleton.

"I walk with it every other day," Straight said. "So the PDJF has supported us financially and the Jockeys' Guild has taken care of doctor bills; basically our expenses are helped out. It's helped me a ton. I didn't have too much of anything, just the support of my family and fellow jockeys."

Von Rosen, who suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury at Turf Paradise in 2014, said every fundraiser means a lot to her, beyond the dollars it may generate.

"It means a lot, to see people contributing items for silent auctions, signing autographs, participating in events," Von Rosen said. 

Nancy LaSala, president of the industry-represented PDJF board, emphasized that there is no permanent funding for the PDJF. Donations have to constantly be generated to support the $1,000 a month paid to the 60 riders participating in the program.

The Hope & Help commemorative magazine, produced by BloodHorse, is a collection of engaging and inspiring stories from those helped by the PDJF. All proceeds go to the PDJF. 

LaSala would like to increase the $1,000 payments, which have been the same since the program launched 10 years ago. Of course, expenses for injured riders have gone up during that time. She said panel discussions like the one Monday, which was moderated by TVG's Mike Joyce—a PDJF board member, are needed.

"It gives you perspective as to why it's needed," LaSala said. "I think this is a really important message."

Earlier in the afternoon Kentucky Downs president Corey Johnsen said progress is being made on the Jockey 7 wager which would allow horseplayers to essentially bet on riders. He hopes to launch the wager, which would generate a percentage of revenue for the PDJF, at Kentucky Downs. Johnsen said if the wager were to catch on at other tracks, it could provide a more steady source of revenue.