OCEANPORT, NJ—JULY 23, 2021—A record 17 Thoroughbred hall of fame jockeys will honor their fallen brothers and sisters, as well as first responders, at the Annual Jockeys and Jeans Fundraiser at Monmouth Park on September 11.

In addition to honoring seven riders who suffered catastrophic, career-ending injuries, this year's fundraiser will also honor firemen and police officers on the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. All of the proceeds from the event go directly to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.

Last year's Jockeys and Jeans Fundraiser, scheduled for Churchill Downs, was canceled due to COVID-19.

"This year's event will be special for several reasons," said Barry Pearl, president of Jockeys and Jeans. "This promises to be a year of recovery for our nation, horse racing and its permanently disabled jockeys.

"Our event will present a unique opportunity to pay homage to racing's fallen heroes as well as our nation's 9/11 heroes. To do both at a single racing-related event is personally humbling and should make all in racing proud."

Pearl said the organizing committee is working with several New York-based 9/11 organizations and charities to have first responders attend and be honored.

"We plan to make a donation to an appropriate charity that helps these brave men and women and the families of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice," said Pearl.

Scheduled to attend from the Hall of Fame jockey ranks are: Braulio Baeza, Bill Boland, Angel Cordero, Jr., Pat Day, Ramon Dominguez, Earlie Fires, Eddie Maple, Chris McCarron, Craig Perret, Don Pierce, Laffit Pincay, Jr., Jose Santos, Alex Solis, Jacinto Vasquez, Jorge Velasquez, Bobby Ussery and committee member and Hall of Famer, Sandy Hawley. Several others are possible. This number breaks the record 16 who attended at Gulfstream Park in 2017.

Also scheduled to attend are jockeys who suffered career-ending injuries, among them Dennis Collins, Joe Hayes, Armando Rivera, Mike Straight, Ann Van Rosen, Sidney Underwood and committee member Roger Blanco.

The event begins in Monmouth Park's Turf Club at 11:30 a.m. Tickets cost $75 and may be purchased at seatgeek.com/Monmouth. There will be silent auctions of racing-related memorabilia and autograph sessions throughout the course of the event.

Founded in 2014 by five former jockeys, this year's Jockeys and Jeans event marks the seventh fundraiser held at various tracks across the country. This will be Monmouth Park's first time hosting the event.

The all-volunteer association has raised more than $1.6 million to date for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.

"While we had to cancel last year's fundraiser, the PDJF payments and the needs by this special group of former jockeys continued," said Pearl. "We are hoping and praying we can make up some ground and break the record $312,000 we raised at Canterbury Park in 2018."

For more information, contact Pearl at Edjockeysandjeans@gmail.com, or by calling (818) 653-3711.