by Steve Bailey

Lane’s End Farm owner William S. Farish has committed $1-million to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, which supports about 60 former riders who were permanently disabled after suffering on-track catastrophic injuries.

The gift will be annualized in four equal contributions beginning this year.

“Advanced medical technologies, better training, and improved racetrack safety measures have made horse racing much safer for riders, but no sport is ever risk-free,” said Farish, president of the Houston, Texas-based William Stamps Farish Fund. “It is my hope that members of the racing community will join me in supporting the [fund], not only to help meet the day-to-day needs of our disabled athletes but to build an endowment that will provide a permanent funding source for their long-term care.”  

Racetracks, corporate sponsors, horse owners, jockeys, horsemen’s groups, and industry businesses and organizations have contributed to the fund since its inception, and more than $2-million has been disbursed to disabled jockeys since 2006. 

“We are deeply grateful to Mr. Farish for his commitment to the [fund] and the disabled athletes it supports,” said Nancy LaSala, executive director of the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. “It is wonderful that Mr. Farish understands the value of this. This funding will help to ensure that we will be able to build an endowment so financial assistance for our disabled riders will always be available.

“The lives of these disabled jockeys and the lives of their families have been forever changed, and the financial circumstances that some of these riders now face are frightening to me. I’m hoping people will see what Mr. Farish has done, understand the need for it, and do what they can to help ensure that funding is always there for those who need it the most.”

Terry Meyocks, national manager of the Jockeys' Guild, said the pledge will bring much-needed publicity to a cause that is of utmost importance to jockeys throughout the country.

“I think it’s outstanding,” Meyocks said. “One of the things we’ve tried to do with the Guild is to raise a lot of money for the fund because that is the number one cause and concern among our riders.

"It’s really fantastic that someone like Mr. Farish realizes how important this is and has done something that will benefit our riders and the industry for years to come.”

Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times