By Kevin Oklobzija
For race after race, years after year, they were atop powerful thoroughbreds that thundered down the stretch at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack.
On Monday afternoon, a baker’s dozen of former jockeys will be doing the running, and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund will be the beneficiary.
A full starting gate of 13 retired riders will take part in a charity 40-yard sprint after the fifth race on Monday’s racing program. First-race post time for the nine-race card is 1:10 p.m.
Rudy Rincon, who won the riding title in the inaugural season of racing at Finger Lakes in 1962, and six-time riding champ John Grabowski are among the former jockeys taking part.
Also taking part: Dennis Saul, Robert Cook, Donna Doxey, Pauline Forkhamer-Grabowski, Sal Iorio Jr., David Rivera, Pedro Carrasaquel, Paul Nicol Jr., Robert Attanasio, Carlos Dominguez and Pedro Rodriguez.
Finger Lakes will make a donation to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund for each jockey running in the race. Donations also will be accepted. The fund provides assistance to former jockeys who have suffered catastrophic on-track injuries. Since it was founded in 2006, more than $7 million has been distributed to permanently disabled riders.
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