Vinnie Bednar
“Thanks to all of the love and support.
Fan favorite, Vinnie Bednar, a SoCal jockey, was involved in a terrible spill which left him paralyzed. The accident happened at Los Alamitos on August 22nd in a 300 yard Quarter Horse race. Vinnie was dismounted near the finish line, resulting in major injuries. He underwent surgery at USC Medical Center, and his long rehab journey will start when he arrives at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado, which specializes in spinal cord injuries. His recovery costs are tremendous, so assistance was greatly appreciated.
“Thanks to all the love and support It’s going to be a tough and long road ahead of me but with the fantastic team I have backing me I’ll without a doubt reach my fullest potential “ Vinne Bednar
Erin Anderson
“THANK YOU, for reaching out and helping me out during this time.
Sam has a special place in not only mine but my family’s heart too. Wether it was ponying him in the last race on a Friday night or just kicking it at Cowboy Christmas at the NFR in Las Vegas, Sam was a professional His unforgettable smile and simply being there, has come through to shine on his foundation and all of it’s members.
So again, THANK YOU, for reaching out and helping me out during this time. I hope someday I can “pass it on,” to another individual in the racing industry, who is in need of help. Sam would like that idea, and so do I. and simply being there, has come through to shine on his foundation and all of it’s members.
Ralph Seville
“About Ralph
Recipient
Fernando Rojas
“About Fernando
Recipient
Pam Iles
About Pam
Recipient
J Martin Bourdieu
J. Martin Bourdieu being presented a check from The Sam Thompson Memorial Foundation
Martin suffered severe injuries in a spill on November 24th during a race. Broken femur, multiple broke ribs (in front and back, right and left) and punctured lungs, requiring ventilation during his surgery. While the surgery was a success, and he is doing as well as can be expected, the process is a long one, with some obstacles, in which will tell when and if, he returns to the saddle. (Martin suffered a similar femur break last spring and was off until October.)
Martin and his wife Krystal are raising four children, and no matter how successful of a rider you may be, bills are still present even when there is no income.
Pedro Flores
Pedro Flores Recipient of a Check From The Sam Thompson Memorial Foundation
Pedro Flores was severely injured at Golden Gate Fields a few weeks ago, he was left with a fractured vertebrae that has prevented him from returning to the saddle immediately after the accident. The Sam Thompson Foundation has stepped up to help ease the financial burden while he has been sidelined recovering.
Rider Adrian Valenzuela
The Sam Thompson Foundation Helps To Make a Disabled Rider’s Dreams Come True
Together with our sponsor, Montana Silversmiths, The Sam Thompson Foundation helped make a disabled riders dreams come true. Adrian Valenzuela, together with his father (Martin Valenzuela) got backstage passes to the PBR Iron Cowboy at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Adrian got to meet many of his idols backstage and then have front row seats for the performance. Without the help of dedicated board members, Jim Anderson and Steve Miller, and our sponsors we wouldn’t be able to make these special moments.
Jockey Oscar Andrade
3rd recipient of the Sam Thompson Memorial Foundation
Jockey Oscar Andrade was involved in a spill in 2001 that left him a T-4 paraplegic. Oscar’s only request during his rehab was to be able to ride a horse again. 2 months after his accident he was enrolled in a rehab program that allowed him to get back on a horse. It was the only thing he had ever known since he started riding at age 8.
Oscar and his wife Elena contacted the Foundation asking for a saddle that would allow Oscar to return to doing what he loved. The Foundation together with Hickman Saddlery had a custom saddled designed and made just for Oscar that would allow him to start riding again. Now he will be able to return to doing what he loves.
Jockey Alyssa Selman
2nd recipient of the Sam Thompson Memorial Foundation
Jockey Alyssa Selman was thrown to the ground and seriously injured when the horse she was riding clipped hooves with the horse in front of her. That night, she underwent surgery for a fractured verebrae and badly damaged spinal cord. At the time of the surgery, the doctors were unsure if Alyssa would be able to ever walk again.
Shortly after Alyssa’s accident, the Sam Thompson Memorial Foundation for Disabled Jockeys heard about her story. The Foundation contacted Alyssa and her physical therapist in order to offer assistance. Alyssa asked the Foundation if she could possibly get a wheelchair that was not specifically covered by her insurance. The Foundation’s response was a resounding “yes!”
Anne Von Rosen
1st recipient of funds from the Sam Thompson Memorial Foundation
Q-RACING JOURNAL—MARCH 2, 2015—Jockey Anne Von Rosen, who was paralyzed in a riding accident last spring, has received a donation from the Sam Thompson Memorial Foundation for Disabled Jockeys.
The executive board of the Thompson Foundation was made aware of Von Rosen’s situation; although Von Rosen owned a vehicle, she had no way to drive without hand held controls. The board chose her to be the very first recipient of the very first foundation donation in the form of hand-held controls for her truck.
“As Anne thanked them for the support, they could hear the emotion in her voice,” noted the Foundation press release. “At that moment, it became clear that The Sam Thompson Foundation was on the right track. It’s equally clear to all those involved with this young foundation that many jockeys and their families would benefit from future donations.”
Since she began riding in 2001, Von Rosen rode 56 winners from 507 starters in American Quarter Horse races, with earnings of $398,274. Among the horses she rode are stakes winners Mr Hawkins, Dakota Lane and Dashing By By. On March 11 at Turf Paradise, the horse she was riding fell, resulting in a serious spinal injury and paralysis of her legs.
AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHARacing on Twitter, watch the AQHA Racing Newscast and visit www.aqharacing.com.
Patrick Watson
Joe Badilla Jr
Cody Wainscot
Larry Gamez
Chase Clark
Additional Recipients
Sal Martinez
Joy Scott
