Injured Jockey Joy Scott Fund
Donation protected
I’m starting this campaign to help my dear friend, Jockey Joy Scott.
For those of you lucky enough to share her acquaintance, or better yet to be a friend, know her to be unfalteringly true. True. True to herself, true to her son, true in kindness, friendship, healing. Truth in everything she does, touches. She esteems such quality in human form I find myself always in awe when in her company. Her love of horses took her to the pinnacle of horse racing but, left her body broken & crippled. She lives with devastating pain & anguish every day.
Joy’s childhood led her to training ponies & horses for people in her Los Angeles area. This led to exercising racehorses & later to riding in races.
Joy rode with the big boys! Santa Anita, Del Mar, Hollywood Park. She worked with the toughest jockey colony in the country ; with success. During her career, which began in 1981, she has won 466 races from 6,600 in Thoroughbred starts.
After a 2001 injury, she moved to racing Arabians and became California’s leading rider for numerous years.
A devastating training accident at Santa Anita on March 12, 2013 ended her racing career. She suffered a severely broken right femur, head, and back injuries. Bacterial & fungal infections, due to the compound fracture being exposed to the track dirt, almost cost her the loss of that leg.
A brief quote from Joy to a journalist while in the hospital:
"The trauma doctor said my leg is shattered and dirt through and through. And I would have to have surgery every 3 days for a long time and be on 6 antibiotics, this is really bad! I didn't believe what he said. Well sure enough 10 different infections fungal, yeast, bacterial, every 3 days surgery, 7 in 23 days a pick line with 4 antibiotics on anti fungal that is a real killer! 60 days in the Hospital and just stopped antibiotics this week! I hope forever but that's a gamble."
Jay Hovdey: Joy Scott's life a story worth telling
Her recovery was long and arduous. Her leg ended up shorter than the other. Her back is her worst problem. She continues to deal with severe pain and limited motion. She has chosen not to take any pain medications but strives to rehabilitate her broken body by fueling her body properly through nutrition and exercise.
She also suffers some mental deficits from a lifetime of head concussions. This, I know about being married to post traumatic brain injury victim.
Joy has no income. Is currently homeless, staying with friends who can spare some room.
She is no longer helped by any Jockey Fund, believe me she’s tried. She expects in 18 months a disability settlement but needs immediate help till that time.
Her monthly expenses include chiropractic visits, car insurance, and living expenses. She needs a Therapeutic mattress for her back.
She needs a place to live! She also needs funds for a car to replace her VW that doesn’t cause her excruciating back pain to drive.
Yes, this is a big campaign. I am fully aware of what I ask of all of you. It took a long time to receive Joy’s consent to start this campaign because she does not relish the thought of asking for help. The last thing Joy wants is a hand-out but, she lacks the understanding that there are many loving, compassionate people in this world like herself who will happily help!
I know if I could reach her racing fans across this nation Joy would be safe!
Please contribute any amount to help Joy survive the next year or two without wondering where she will sleep tomorrow.
Thank you all, very kindly and sincerely,
Laurie Wetzler (friend & former exercise rider)
Quote from Mrs. K. Denoval (So. CA Paddock Judge)
"Joy could very well be the hardest working female on the California Circuit. I've known her for over 25 years. She tried on every mount she ever rode, didn't matter if the odds were 50 to 1. She always gave her all. She's as tough as any male rider. As a Paddock Judge, she was always the first out of the girl's Jock's room ready to ride as many as she could.
She's a tough, hard working, one of a kind type of friend. I wish her well."
For those of you lucky enough to share her acquaintance, or better yet to be a friend, know her to be unfalteringly true. True. True to herself, true to her son, true in kindness, friendship, healing. Truth in everything she does, touches. She esteems such quality in human form I find myself always in awe when in her company. Her love of horses took her to the pinnacle of horse racing but, left her body broken & crippled. She lives with devastating pain & anguish every day.
Joy’s childhood led her to training ponies & horses for people in her Los Angeles area. This led to exercising racehorses & later to riding in races.
Joy rode with the big boys! Santa Anita, Del Mar, Hollywood Park. She worked with the toughest jockey colony in the country ; with success. During her career, which began in 1981, she has won 466 races from 6,600 in Thoroughbred starts.
After a 2001 injury, she moved to racing Arabians and became California’s leading rider for numerous years.
A devastating training accident at Santa Anita on March 12, 2013 ended her racing career. She suffered a severely broken right femur, head, and back injuries. Bacterial & fungal infections, due to the compound fracture being exposed to the track dirt, almost cost her the loss of that leg.
A brief quote from Joy to a journalist while in the hospital:
"The trauma doctor said my leg is shattered and dirt through and through. And I would have to have surgery every 3 days for a long time and be on 6 antibiotics, this is really bad! I didn't believe what he said. Well sure enough 10 different infections fungal, yeast, bacterial, every 3 days surgery, 7 in 23 days a pick line with 4 antibiotics on anti fungal that is a real killer! 60 days in the Hospital and just stopped antibiotics this week! I hope forever but that's a gamble."
Jay Hovdey: Joy Scott's life a story worth telling
Her recovery was long and arduous. Her leg ended up shorter than the other. Her back is her worst problem. She continues to deal with severe pain and limited motion. She has chosen not to take any pain medications but strives to rehabilitate her broken body by fueling her body properly through nutrition and exercise.
She also suffers some mental deficits from a lifetime of head concussions. This, I know about being married to post traumatic brain injury victim.
Joy has no income. Is currently homeless, staying with friends who can spare some room.
She is no longer helped by any Jockey Fund, believe me she’s tried. She expects in 18 months a disability settlement but needs immediate help till that time.
Her monthly expenses include chiropractic visits, car insurance, and living expenses. She needs a Therapeutic mattress for her back.
She needs a place to live! She also needs funds for a car to replace her VW that doesn’t cause her excruciating back pain to drive.
Yes, this is a big campaign. I am fully aware of what I ask of all of you. It took a long time to receive Joy’s consent to start this campaign because she does not relish the thought of asking for help. The last thing Joy wants is a hand-out but, she lacks the understanding that there are many loving, compassionate people in this world like herself who will happily help!
I know if I could reach her racing fans across this nation Joy would be safe!
Please contribute any amount to help Joy survive the next year or two without wondering where she will sleep tomorrow.
Thank you all, very kindly and sincerely,
Laurie Wetzler (friend & former exercise rider)
Quote from Mrs. K. Denoval (So. CA Paddock Judge)
"Joy could very well be the hardest working female on the California Circuit. I've known her for over 25 years. She tried on every mount she ever rode, didn't matter if the odds were 50 to 1. She always gave her all. She's as tough as any male rider. As a Paddock Judge, she was always the first out of the girl's Jock's room ready to ride as many as she could.
She's a tough, hard working, one of a kind type of friend. I wish her well."
Organizer and beneficiary
Laurie Wetzler
Organizer
Whittier, CA
Joy Scott
Beneficiary
