During a press conference held at Churchill Downs Tuesday morning, Jockeys’ Guild manager Dwight Manley called for support of the Disabled Jockeys’ Fund as Edgar Prado formally donated the saddle worn by Barbaro, winner of the 2006 Kentucky Derby, to the fund.


“The Disabled Jockeys’ Fund is basically operating month-to-month with support from NTRA tracks,” Manley said of the program.


Manley also said the fund was unable to make this month’s payments to all of the 58 permanently disabled riders in its care. He blamed lack of support from horsemen in the industry as the main reason for the fund’s struggles since its organization in the spring of 2006.


“I’ve seen the real tragedy of what happens to somebody whose career and life is taken away from them,” Manley said. “My understanding is that if the horsemen fulfilled their commitments, the month-to-month needs of these people would be met. From my point of view, taking care of these jockeys who have been pushed aside for a long time is a high priority

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