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Von Rosen Receives Thompson Memorial Donation
Anne Von Rosen is the first recipient of funds from the Sam Thompson Memorial Foundation.

Ome Tochtli-Pachtecatl
Von Rosen Receives Thompson Memorial Donation

Q-RACING JOURNAL—MARCH 2, 2015—Jockey Anne Von Rosen, who was paralyzed in a riding accident last spring, has received a donation from the Sam Thompson Memorial Foundation for Disabled Jockeys.

The executive board of the Thompson Foundation was made aware of Von Rosen’s situation; although Von Rosen owned a vehicle, she had no way to drive without hand held controls. The board chose her to be the very first recipient of the very first foundation donation in the form of hand-held controls for her truck.

“As Anne thanked them for the support, they could hear the emotion in her voice,” noted the Foundation press release. “At that moment, it became clear that The Sam Thompson Foundation was on the right track. It's equally clear to all those involved with this young foundation that many jockeys and their families would benefit from future donations.”

Since she began riding in 2001, Von Rosen rode 56 winners from 507 starters in American Quarter Horse races, with earnings of $398,274. Among the horses she rode are stakes winners Mr Hawkins, Dakota Lane and Dashing By By. On March 11 at Turf Paradise, the horse she was riding fell, resulting in a serious spinal injury and paralysis of her legs.

The Sam Thompson Memorial Foundation for Disabled Jockeys is run in honor of Thompson, a highly respected jockey and member of the racing industry who suffered a fatal riding accident in 2008. One of the leaders in the jockeys’ room during his riding career, Thompson was a Jockeys’ Guild senator, the room representative at Los Alamitos and a council member of the Los Alamitos division of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America.

Later this month, the Sam Thompson Memorial Foundation will host a fundraising golf tournament.

The tournament will be held on March 23 at the California Country Club in Whittier, California. The tournament is $125 per golfer ($40 per individual luncheon) with sign-in at 10 a.m. The event will also host a steak luncheon, auction and raffle. The proceeds will continue to be used to benefit disabled jockeys.

Visit www.thestfoundation.org for more information on the foundation, or to sign up for the golf tournament.

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