Former Jockey Aaron Gryder will be Master of Ceremonies at the Upcoming Jockeys and Jeans Fundraiser.
Gryder, a highly successful former jockey, is Senior Vice President of Racing Operations for 1/ST Racing, the owner of Gulfstream Park, which hosts the 10th Annual Jockeys and Jeans event on January 11th, which funds the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. Seating is limited, but tickets can still be purchased at http://pdjf.org/purchase-tickets/.
In his 30-year career, Gryder was a multiple graded stakes race winner of over 4,000 races worldwide with over $123 Million in purses. In 2009, he won the $6 Million Dubai World Cup on Well Armed by a record 14 lengths, the largest margin in the race’s history. Gryder also won the 2012 G1 Breeders’ Cup Marathon on long shot Calidoscopio.
“It’s a great cause, and I’m excited about hosting the event,” said Gryder. “We all go out and compete against each other, and we all understand what happened to those disabled former jockeys can happen to us. And when something tragic happens on the track, we all come together to help.”
The event’s audience of several hundred peoplewill not intimidate Gryder. He appeared in episodes of “Dellaventura” as well as the acclaimed series “The Sopranos.”Gryder was one of the six jockeys featured on Animal Planet’s 2009 reality documentary series “Jockeys,” which gave an inside look into the lives of professional California jockeys. He was also an on-air horse racing analyst for ESPN, NBC Sports, Fox Sports, TVG Network, and HRTV, covering events such as the Dubai World Cup and the Breeders’ Cup.
Gryder, a celebrity in his own right, will have two other celebrities at the event: “The Soprano” series actor and noted chef, Joseph Gannascoli and Anthony “Little Anthony” Gourdine of “Little Anthony and The Imperials.” Gourdine is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Gryder’s race riding chops will also put him in excellent company with the 17 Hall of Fame riders and legendary jockeys Jean Cruguet and Mike Manganello set to attend. Cruguet and Steve Cauthen are two of the five living Triple Crown winning jockeys. Sandy Hawley, Chris McCarron and Edgar Prado are three of the four riders who won over 500 races in a single year. McCarron is the only jockey to win back-to-back Breeders’ Cup Classics, and on the same horse, Tiznow. The group has won 18 Florida Derbies, with Edgar Prado leading with three, including Barbaro, who went on to win the 2006 Kentucky Derby
Collectively, they have won over 97,000 races, including 16 Kentucky Derbies, with Angel Cordero, Jr. leading with three. They garnered 20 Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Jockey with Jerry Bailey winning a record seven. Laffit Pincay, Jr. leads the group in races won with 9,530. Eight of the lot led in yearly purse money won, with Pincay, Jr. topping the list seven years, one more than Bailey. Pat Day tops the group in career purse earnings with $298 Million, edging out Bailey’s $296 Million
Pincay, Jr. and Day are the only two American Jockeys to have graded stakes races named in their honor: Pincay Jr, the Grade II Laffit Pincay,Jr.Stakes at Santa Anita Park, and Day, the Grade II Pat Day Mile run on Kentucky Derby day at Churchill Downs..
Churchill Downs hosted the Jockeys and Jeans event in 2022and is making its presence felt at the Gulfstream Park event by donating a package that includes box seating for six at both the 2025 Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby.
“I know virtually all the jockeys there and I’m looking forward to the event,” said Gryder. “I think it is a wonderful thing when Hall of Fame riders from all over the country come together to honor severely injured jockeys and let them know they care.”
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