The Saratoga jockeys traded in their reins and silks for caps and gloves to help fight a worthy cause.
The jockeys faced the state police in nine competitive innings of softball before a crowd of about 500 people at Eastside Recreation Field in Saratoga Springs on Monday, Aug. 13. The event raised more than $4,000 for the Catie Hoch Foundation.
Catie Hoch died in 2000 at the age of 9 from neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of pediatric cancer. Since then, her parents have raised more than $600,000 for the Clifton Park foundation that bears her name.
John Steve, a forensic photographer for the state police, originally approached Gina Peca, Catie’s mother and the foundation’s president, about setting up the game five years ago.
We read through what the material was about the Catie Hoch Foundation, what they stood for, their goals and mission. We loved it, so I called Gina, Steve said. `This is a local charity. It’s a great cause. It doesn’t just help kids in the area, it helps kids all around the state.`
About 12 jockeys came directly from Saratoga’s 10-race card to Monday’s event, including Edgar Prado, John Velazquez, and Kent Desormeaux.
Sam the Bugler, famous to New York horseracing fans, was on hand to play the national anthem at the event. He has performed at 15 Belmont Stakes.
Following the sixth inning, Prado said the crowd was enjoying the game and the jockeys offered to play nine innings instead of the planned seven. After the event, jockeys signed autographs and took pictures with fans that came onto the field.
`I give them so much credit for being so compassionate and being willing to help, coming out when they could just as easily go home,` Peca said. `They’re amazing.`
The troopers had won the previous three years, but the jockeys won on Monday, 9-8.
`It’s a great cause. The guys try to raise money for it, and I think it’s good because we’re here; it’s a top-of-the-line reason,` Prado said. `Jockeys always take the time to help people that are in need; it’s very important.`
Prado gained fame outside the sports world after he rode Barbaro to a commanding victory in the 2006 Kentucky Derby. Barbaro was injured in the Preakness, and was euthanized earlier this year.
Col. Deborah Campbell, who hit lead-off for the troopers, has been with the state police for 24 years and is the highest ranking female trooper in the state.
`One thing that the state police is all about is service to the community.
Besides police work, this is a way to give to the community, so it means a lot,` Campbell said. `It’s a great event. It’s always a close game.`
Hoch family friend Fran Godgart won the event’s 50-50 raffle, which was $268. In what has come to characterize the grassroots charity, Godgart donated $200 of her winnings back to the foundation.
Ashley Clemens, 17, was a good friend of Catie’s. Clemens volunteered at this year’s softball game, and runs in the group’s annual `Catiebug Run.`
`For me to finish a race for her, even if it might be hard, it makes me think of how much she went through. All the people that are there, supporting all the pain she must have gone through makes me feel good,` Clemens said after the event. `It’s hard for me at the events; it brings memories of Catie back.`
Peca said that Catie was a big baseball fan and would have loved the softball game.
She recalled a time when the family was in New York City for Catie’s treatment and were at the Ronald McDonald house. The staff there told Catie they needed someone to throw out the first pitch at a Mets game and ring the stock exchange bell that day.
`She goes, ‘No thanks, I’m a Yankees fan,’` Peca said. `I’m like, ‘Honey, this is a national game’. [Catie replied,] ‘I’m a Yankees fan mom; I’m not going to throw out the first pitch at a Mets game.’`
The Catie Hoch Foundation is auctioning off a full set of the `Harry Potter` books, signed by author J.K. Rowling. Bidding starts later this month. For information, visit the auction’s Web site at www.whenharrymetcatie.com or call 877-7539.
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