Rags to Riches Breyer model to benefit disabled jockeys

Royalties from the sales of a Breyer model horse of recently retired Belmont

S. (G1) queen and champion RAGS TO RICHES (A.P. Indy) will be donated to the

NTRA Charities -- Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF), the National

Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced on Wednesday. Rags to Riches'

owners, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, agreed to donate their royalties to

benefit jockeys in need.

"We are extremely grateful to Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, who agreed to

the deal with Breyer chiefly due to its potential to raise funds for the PDJF,"

said Alex Waldrop, president and CEO of the NTRA. "We are also very appreciative

of Breyer's continued support of worthy, racing-related causes."

Introduced last November, sales of the Rags to Riches Breyer

horse have generated more than $10,000 for the PDJF. The fund was established

to receive contributions to aid the nation's 60 permanently disabled jockeys

with their health care and daily living expenses.

"Rags to Riches' win at the 2007 Belmont made her a champion, but her Breyer

portrait model makes her a hero to the disabled jockeys supported by the PDJF,"

said Stephanie Macejko, vice president of marketing and

product development for Breyer. "We were very pleased that her owners agreed and

created the opportunity for everyone to have a keepsake model of this great

filly and support this worthy cause at the same time."

Since 2007, Breyer has contributed $10 per sale of its Barbaro model

horse to the Laminitis Fund at the University of Pennsylvania's School of

Veterinary Medicine. The 2006 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner succumbed to the

complications of laminitis, a degenerative hoof disease, during his attempted

recovery from injuries suffered at the 2006 Preakness S. (G1).