The inaugural Mystic Lake Northern Stars Racing Festival, featuring five stakes races worth a total of $500,000, will be held June 23 at Canterbury Park in conjunction with the fifth annual Jockeys and Jeans fundraiser to benefit the Permantly Disabled Jockeys Fund. At least 15 Hall of Fame riders are expected to be on hand to honor six of their fallen comrades, including Pat Day and Chris McCarron. Triple Crown winner Steve Cauthen is also committed to attending.
“Combining Canterbury's richest races with Jockeys and Jeans makes for a great evening of racing that will draw attention both locally and nationally,” said Canterbury President Randy Sampson. “Not only will we have some of the greatest jockeys from the past at the racetrack, but with $500,000 in purses, we will also attract some of the best active jockeys in the sport. Jockeys and Jeans is an important industry event supporting the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and I know race fans will turn out to show their support.”
Since its founding in 2014 by five former jockeys the all-volunteer group has raised nearly $750,000 for the PDJF which makes monthly payments of $1,000 to 63 severely injured former jockeys, including some 40 who are pari or quadriplegics. The group hopes to go over the $1 million mark this year.
The day will also include a poker tournament and on Sunday, a half-dozen Hall of Fame jockeys will be part of foursomes playing in a golf tournament at Meadows at Mystic Lake Golf Course, all to benefit the PDJF.
“If I used ten thousand words, I couldn't thank our individual donors or Canterbury Park management enough,” said Jockeys and Jeans President Barry Pearl. “So many from all facets of racing have shown the same grit and determination to aid fallen riders those injured riders have shown in rebuilding their lives and Canterbury Park has not only opened its doors, but led us into new ways to raise funds for fallen riders. They have not walked but have run the extra mile.”
Event tickets are $50 with seating limited, and can be purchased at canterburypark.com starting May 16. Those who cannot attend can donate to the PDJF on behalf of the Jockeys and Jeans Fundraiser at https://pdjf.org/donate/. For more information, contact Eddie Donnally at 818-653-3711 or [email protected] or Jeff Maday at 952-496-6408.
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