Riders Up! raises $50,000 for disabled jockeys

Jockeys took the stage for a good cause (Photos by Z/Keeneland) Some of the most accomplished jockeys in Thoroughbred racing took on perhaps the greatest challenge of their careers on Friday when they participated in Riders Up!, a karaoke competition at the Keeneland Entertainment Center that raised more than $50,000 for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. The event attracted a capacity crowd of some 500 people. "I want to thank all the sponsors who made it possible. This was a fabulous event, and we're thrilled to have raised this much money for such a worthy cause," Keeneland President and CEO Nick Nicholson said. "Not only was it a great cause, it was a great time, too. The jockeys, the crowd, the judges -- everyone really got into the spirit of the evening. I can see this growing into one of our signature events."

Performers included Patti Cooksey, Angel Cordero Jr., Jon Court, Pat Day,

Kent Desormeaux, Earlie Fires, Alan Garcia, James Graham, Corey Lanerie, Chris

McCarron, Dean Mernagh, Edgar Prado, Herbie Rivera Jr., Jamie Theriot, John

Velazquez, Charlie Woods, John Oldham and Jessica Oldham Stith.

Serving as judges were country singer Eddie Montgomery and his wife, Tracy;

Keeneland Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell; local media personality DeAnn

Stephens; and Todd Schrupp of TVG.

Awards went to:

Judge's Choice Award -- Albarado and Rivera for "To All the Girls I've Loved

Before."

People's Choice Award -- Cooksey, Court, Day, Fires, McCarron, John Oldham

and Woods for "Do You Think I'm Sexy."

Woods stole the show as he dressed in drag for a rendition of "Happiest Girl

in the Whole U.S.A." For his award-winning performance, Woods took on the spirit

of Rod Stewart by donning a blond spiked wig, skintight T-shirt and

leopard-print tights.

"Thank you to everybody who contributed and participated," said Velazquez,

who is chairman of the Jockeys' Guild. "It was a great time for everyone."

Sponsored by Keeneland and the Jockeys' Guild, Riders Up! was made possible

in part through various levels of sponsorships that accounted for some $30,000

of the total amount raised. Gold sponsors were Darley, Ramsey Farm and Breeders'

Cup; Silver sponsors were WinStar Farm and Vinery; and Bronze sponsors were

Denali Stud, Equibase, Meyocks and O'Hara Racing, Padua Stables and Shadwell

Farms. Another $20,000 was raised via ticket sales and donations, including a

$10,000 donation from Mark Hoffman, co-owner of Ashland S. (G1) winner Hooh Why

(Cloud Hopping).

Cornett Advertising, Thoroughbred Printing, MSI Production Services, Turf

Catering and the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance offered in-kind services.

Lexington-born Broadway star Laura Bell Bundy emceed the event.

The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund provides much-needed financial

assistance to jockeys who have suffered catastrophic injuries such as paraplegia

and head injuries while performing their services as a jockey. The fund

currently provides financial assistance to 60 jockeys, which helps with daily

living expenses, as well as medical expenses and in-home care.