Mike Joyce has been named Jockeys and Jeans 2024 Person of the Year.

© Courtesy Jockeys and Jeans

LEXINGTON, KY–OCTOBER 17, 2024–Jockeys and Jeans, an all-volunteer group that has raised $3.4 million for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, has named Mike Joyce its 2024 Person of Year.

He will accept the award and speak about the need to aid disabled former jockeys during Jockeys and Jeans' 10th annual event at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, January 11.

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Joyce follows 2023 winner, stallion owner, and flamboyant entrepreneur Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale and 2022 winner Joe Morris, Caesars Entertainment Vice President of Racing.

"I was reluctant to accept the award because, as a board member of the PDJF, I feel like the work we do is our responsibility to the riders that risk their life every day for our entertainment," he said. "It's incumbent upon all of us to give back where we can. I look forward to being at the event, and I am really honored to be the Jockeys and Jeans Person of the Year."

Joyce is a strong advocate for the 60 men and women who receive a $1,000 monthly stipend from PDJF and has been a board member since 2016. FanDuel has made three six figure donations to the charity; it telecasts PDJF's annual telethon, and Joyce was the Master of Ceremonies at one of their recent jockey karaoke events.

"I think jockeys are the only group of people risking their lives to bring racing fans enjoyment," he said. "I think everyone loves to show emotion toward the horse, but not the jockeys. When there is an accident on the track, people ask about the horse. I understand that, but it still bothers me a bit because the jockeys are human."

Joyce applauds the progress made by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance in its care for retired thoroughbreds and believes the emphasis on horse safety by HISA (Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority), also improves the safety of jockeys. Yet he feels the horse racing industry could do more to aid former jockeys who have suffered career-ending injuries.

"The sport has many very generous folks who have donated a lot of money," he said. "But I strongly feel there needs to be permanent funding so we can expand our work and give more to the severely injured former jockeys. I love the telethons and Jockeys and Jeans fundraisers, but I would like to see a day when we don't have to raise money but have ongoing funding."

Jockeys and Jeans interim President, Dr. Eddie Donnally said, "While I thank every one of our many donors, I strongly feel those jockeys, who are now quadra or paraplegics or have suffered severe brain injuries, deserve the same systemic funding now in place for horse related charities. But at the same time, our next event at Gulfstream Park will attract at least 19 Hall of Famers and other legendary jockeys, there to celebrate the overcoming spirits of 11 of their fallen brothers and sisters in wheelchairs. I think our events should make all in racing proud and I hope they continue."

Joyce's father, Joe Joyce, was the long-time president of Arlington Park and founded the Arlington Million, Joyce remembers his first visit to the Directors Room when he was only five. He tried to convince a wait person to make a bet for him and was promptly asked to leave.

When his father bought Wyoming Downs, Joyce's first job was running up and down three flights of stairs eight times each night to distribute the official winners' photograph. At 12, he was paid $5 a night. "I thought that was a lot of money," he said.

Nancy LaSala, PDJF President, said, "On behalf of the PDJF we are grateful to those who support this Jockeys and Jeans event that benefits our mission for permanently disabled jockeys.I thank the Jockeys and Jeans Committee for acknowledging the work of Mike Joyce for our injured jockeys and others in our sport that he has championed for. Mike is very passionate about the things he supports, and his perspectives are based on a lifetime of racing industry knowledge that was learned at a young age. The sport of horse racing is a part of the Joyce family fabric."