Rider welfare remains the central challenge for the Jockeys Guild Education Foundation

Driven by Ramón Domínguez (photo), Glen Hill Farm, and the Jockeys’ Guild, the initiative will seek to provide education, scholarships, and career-development tools for active, retired, and disabled riders

By Diego H. Mitagstein

For decades, jockeys have been admired for their courage, discipline, and athletic ability. But behind every victory and every winner’s circle photograph lies a far more complex reality: extraordinarily demanding careers, limited educational opportunities, and few tools to build a future beyond the racetrack.

With the goal of changing that reality, the Jockeys’ Guild Educational Foundation (JGEF) was officially launched through a partnership among The Lavin Family Foundation, Glen Hill Farm, and the Jockeys’ Guild.

The initiative, which will operate under pending 501(c)(3) status within the Guild structure, directly addresses one of the sport’s great longstanding debts: providing structured educational support for jockeys.

“Empowering jockeys through education” will serve as the guiding motto of a project designed to offer personalized guidance, scholarships, and practical training so riders can build more stable lives both within and beyond racing.

The foundation will be led by Ramón Domínguez, the three-time Eclipse Award winner and Hall of Fame rider whose career ended abruptly in 2013 after suffering a traumatic brain injury.

Since then, the Venezuelan jockey has remained deeply connected to the sport through initiatives such as the humanitarian 360 GT whip, his podcast Among Champions, and multiple charitable efforts tied to the racing community.

“The challenges jockeys face can be addressed with the right resources, the proper structure, and genuine commitment. That is exactly what JGEF aims to provide,” states the organization’s founding document.

The project will also feature leadership figures of enormous influence within the industry.

Serving as chairman will be Craig Bernick, CEO of Glen Hill Farm and The Lavin Foundation, while longtime Jockeys’ Guild president and CEO Terry Meyocks will act as treasurer.

The board will additionally include Hall of Fame legend Johnny Velazquez, former Guild president; Rachel Jacobson, with extensive NBA and sports media experience; and Jack Wolf, founder of Starlight Stables and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

The JGEF specifically targets a silent but deeply rooted issue within racing: many jockeys begin their careers as teenagers, quickly prioritizing competition while leaving formal education behind.

The result is often severe financial vulnerability once their riding careers come to an end.

Many continue riding into advanced age simply because they lack alternative professional skills.

The program seeks to directly confront that reality through three core pillars: accessibility, primarily via online programs; personalization, offering guidance tailored to each individual; and engagement, encouraging meaningful professional development.

Educational offerings will range from financial literacy, résumé writing, and digital skills to technical certifications and university-level studies.

Planned opportunities include GED programs, English as a second language, real estate licensing, veterinary training, farriery, racetrack maintenance, construction trades, computer programming, and even two- or four-year college degrees.

The foundation will also provide individualized academic counseling and scholarships administered through the Guild’s existing channels.

The initiative also coincides with the 60th anniversary of Glen Hill Farm as a Thoroughbred owner, reinforcing a longstanding history of support for jockey welfare.

The Lavin family has spent decades contributing to causes connected to rider safety and well-being, including support for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF), Virginia Tech’s Helmet Lab, and equine programs at the University of Kentucky.

According to the organization, the educational and charitable programs supported by the foundation have already impacted more than 200,000 people, offering a sense of the initiative’s scale.

Now, however, the goal is even more ambitious: to transform the lives of jockeys.

Because behind the glamour of major races and trophy presentations exists a reality that is rarely seen. And this time, the industry appears determined to confront it directly.