by Jockeys and Jeans, an all-volunteer group that has raised $3.4 million for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, has named Mike Joyce its 2024 Person of the Year.
He will accept the award and speak about the need to help disabled former jockeys at the 10th annual Jockeys and Jeans event on Saturday, Jan. 11, at Gulfstream Park. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased at http://pdjf.org/purchase-. Tickets/
Joyce follows 2023 winner, stallion owner and flamboyant entrepreneur Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, and 2022 winner Joe Morris, vice president of racing for Caesars Entertainment.
“I was reluctant to accept the award because as a board member of the PDJF I feel that the work we do is our responsibility to the riders who risk their lives every day for our entertainment,” he said. “It is our duty to give back where we can. I’m looking forward to the event and am truly honored to be the Jockeys and Jeans Person of the Year.”
Joyce is a strong advocate for the 60 men and women who receive a $1,000 monthly stipend from PDJF and has been a board member since 2016. FanDuel has made three six-figure donations to the charity; It broadcasts PDJF’s annual telethon and Joyce was the master of ceremonies at one of their recent Jockey Karaoke events.
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“I think jockeys are the only group of people who risk their lives to bring joy to racing fans,” he said. “I think everyone loves to show emotion towards the horse, but not the jockeys. When there is an accident at the racetrack, people ask about the horse. I understand that, but it still bothers me a little because the jockeys are human beings.”
Joyce praises the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance’s progress in caring for retired Thoroughbreds and believes HISA’s (Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority) emphasis on horse safety also improves the safety of jockeys. Still, he believes the horse racing industry could do more to help former jockeys who suffered career-ending injuries.
“The sport has a lot of very generous people who have donated a lot of money,” he said. “But I firmly believe that permanent funding is needed so that we can expand our work and donate more to the seriously injured former jockeys. I love the Jockeys and Jeans fundraisers, but I would like to see a day where we don’t have to raise money but have ongoing funding.”
The interim president of Jockeys and Jeans, Dr. Eddie Donnally, said: “While I thank each of our many donors, I firmly believe that the jockeys who are now quadriplegic, paraplegic or have suffered serious brain injuries deserve the same systemic funding that is now in place.” But At the same time, our next event at Gulfstream Park will attract at least 19 Hall of Famers and other legendary jockeys to celebrate the overcoming of 11 of their fallen brothers and sisters in wheelchairs. The events should make everyone in racing proud and I hope they continue. “
Joyce’s father, Joe Joyce, was the longtime president of Arlington Park and founded the Arlington Million. Joyce remembers his first visit to the Directors Room when he was only five years old. He tried to convince a waiter to make a bet for him and was immediately asked to leave.
When his father bought Wyoming Downs, Joyce’s first job was to run up and down three flights of stairs eight times every night to hand out the official winning photo. At age 12, he was paid $5 a night. “I thought it was a lot of money,” he said.
Nancy LaSala, PDJF President, said: “On behalf of the PDJF, we are grateful to everyone who supports this Jockeys and Jeans event, which benefits our mission for permanently disabled jockeys. I would like to thank the Jockeys and Jeans Committee for recognizing Mike Joyce’s work. “Our injured jockeys and others in our sport who he has championed are very passionate about the causes he supports and his views are based based on a lifetime of knowledge of the racing industry acquired at a young age. Horse racing is part of the Joyce family.”
For further information contact Jockeys and Jeans President, Dr. Eddie Donnally, at (818) 653-3711 edjockeysandjeans@gmail.com or Presidential Counsel Danny Teinowitz (312) 505-5222, dannyteinwotz@yahoo.com
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