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A Day to Celebrate and Honour Jockeys

Jockey Celebration Day is held nationally on the first Saturday in August each year and celebrates the achievements of former and current jockeys, commemorates those who have lost their lives and raises awareness and funds for the National Jockeys’ Trust (NJT) to help support injured or ill jockeys and their families.

Jockey Celebration Day activities at twenty racecourses around Australia include races named in honour of Jockey Celebration Day, a Minute Silence and Blessing of the Track. NJT jockey colours will be worn by the top weight in each race at all metropolitan race meetings on Saturday 5th August.

“Jockey Celebration Day is a significant day in the racing calendar, a day to remember the fallen, and to recognise the role jockeys play in the racing industry. This year we tragically lost Darren Jones, Donna Philpot and Roger Booth on racetracks in NSW, VIC and NT, and it is important to take a moment to acknowledge and remember these riders and their commitment to the industry.” said Paul Innes, Chairman of the National Jockeys Trust and Chief Executive of the Australian Jockeys Association.

Innes continued “It is also a day to raise awareness of the important role of the National Jockeys Trust. The support from our principal partner LUCRF Super who have naming rights of the jockey’s breeches; and the support of TAB on Jockey Celebration Day each year is fundamental to the work of the National Jockeys Trust.”

The 2017 National Jockeys Trust Ambassadors for South Australia is Cheree Gask.

Cheree Gask is an inspiration, after losing her leg below the knee after a horrific fall at Cheltenham, SA in 2003. She is the manager of leading jockeys Jason Holder and Joe Bowditch, and has married raising two young boys with husband Barney Gask.

The National Jockeys Trust has provided assistance to over 300 jockeys and families of jockeys who have been killed, that assistance has now exceeded $3 million.

Donations can be made at the track at both meetings in South Australia on Saturday at Morphettville and Roxby Downs or online at www.njt.org.au

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