Retired jockey Aaron Gryder, who currently serves as senior vice president of racing operations for 1/ST Racing, will be master of ceremonies at the upcoming Jockeys and Jeans Fundraiser to be held at Gulfstream Park Jan. 11. Tickets for the event, which benefits the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, can be purchased at http://pdjf.org/purchase-tickets/.
“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 fundraiser will include appearances by 17 Hall of Fame jockeys. Among the riders in attendance will be Jean Cruguet and Steve Cauthen, two of the five living Triple Crown-winning jockeys, as well as Sandy Hawley, Chris McCarron and Edgar Prado–three of the four riders who have won over 500 races in a single year.
Also on hand for the day will be “The Soprano” series actor and noted chef Joseph Gannascoli and Anthony “Little Anthony” Gourdine of “Little Anthony and The Imperials” and a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Churchill Downs, which hosted the Jockeys and Jeans event in 2022, has donated a package that includes box seating for six at both the 2025 Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby.
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