Jockeys open 'purse' for injured colleague
Some big name time jockeys are coming out to help out a colleague.
The winner of Saturday's $1 million Travers Stakes, Kent Desormeaux, says he's glad to donate 10 percent of his purse winnings to help fellow jockey pay for healthcare.
"We just wanted to step up and help this guy out," he said.
24 year old Michael Straight was injured when the horse he was riding collapsed at a track in Chicago last week. Straight suferred serious injuries, including four broken vertibre according to friends.
The seven jockeys who ran Saturday's Travers Stakes all pledged to donate 10 percent of their purse winnings to help pay for Michael's healthcare.
It's unclear exactly how much they'll pay. Desormeaux says he gets 5.5 percent of the winning purse. The second and third place winners will also be helping out.
Jockey Calvin Borel says he's spoken to Michael's family. He says he's hoping for the best but says it's too soon to know about the details of his recovery.
