Horseracing industry helping their own.

Horseracing industry helping their own

Insight and commentary on the world of thoroughbred horse racing.

Thoughts and opinions about the fascinating sport of thoroughbred horse racing from a racing insider.

Helping Their Own

‘Tragic’ is an unfortunate adjective often applied to the game of horse racing. But the racing community just as often rises to the occasion when tragedy does strike, as it has with two of racing’s unsung participants this month.

Andrew Lakeman has overcome many obstacles in his life. He choose a particularly difficult vocation, that of an exercise rider and aspiring jockey. He fought off drug and alcohol addition. Now the 32-year-old Andrew Lakeman is facing, by far, his biggest hurdle.

On May 25 Lakeman was riding a 78-1 shot named Our Montana Dream in a turf race at Belmont Park. While in 10th place in the 12-horse field, Lakeman was caught behind a badly tiring horse and pinned between another filly to his outside and the rail to his inside. In a split second Our Montana Dream clipped heels with the horse in front of her and fell, sending Lakeman to the violently to the turf. He is now paralyzed from the waist down.

Jockey Noe Garcia has worked for California trainer Doug O’Neill for the past 11 years. In that period of time O’Neill has risen to the top echelon of American trainers with horses like Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) winner Sky Jack, Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner Great Hunter, Grade 2 winner Whilly, Grade 1 winner Sharp Lisa and, of course, Lava Man.

Garcia was entrusted to care for all of those runners in his tenure with O’Neill. But on his way to work on the morning of July 23, Garcia’s van was crushed by a drunk driver near Del Mar. Garcia, a husband and father of four, was seriously injured and his left arm had to be amputated.

The racing community has organized fundraisers for both Lakeman and Garcia who now face lengthy and painful recoveries.

On Thursday, August 9, a charity basketball game will be held at Saratoga Springs High School between jockeys and a nationally ranked fifth grade basketball team (who knew they even ranked fifth graders?). Proceeds from the event, organized by the Race Track Chaplaincy of America, will go towards the newly established Lakeman Fund. More information on the game is available at www.andrewlakeman.com.

With the fifth grade basketball powerhouse tied up back East, the folks in the California racing community have resorted to a more traditional fundraiser. Doug O’Neill’s brother and bloodstock agent Dennis, has organized a poker tournament and silent auction to be held at Del Mar (in the simulcast facility) on Thursday, August 16. It will cost around $100,000 for a prosthetic arm for Garcia and that doesn’t include his other medical costs and loss of income. More info on that event can be found at www.lavamanshero.com.

The Backstretch Employee Service Team (BEST) has set up a fund to help the Lakeman family with their growing mountain of medical expenses. Tax deductible contributions can be sent to The Andrew Lakeman Assistance Fund, c/o BEST at Belmont Park, 2150 Hempstead Turnpike, Gate 6, Cottage 28B, Elmont, NY 11003 or by calling 516-488-3434.

Matt O'Neil has been a racing enthusiast since the mid-1980's. He is a freelance writer and thoroughbred marketing consultant and editor of the breeding journal Owner-Breeder International. Contact Matt O'Neil