Backside Christmas Angels
Donation protected
My name is Riley Jones. I am an eighth grader who lives in La Grange, Kentucky. I am raising money to help provide Christmas gifts for the children of barn workers in the thoroughbred industry, often known as the “backside” workers.
Because I live on a working horse farm, I know first hand that caring for horses, especially racehorses, is a tiring and thankless job. Horses have to be fed and watered 365 days a year. Their stalls have to be mucked and readied for another day. They have to groomed, walked, galloped, jogged and breezed. And they have to be loved.
The horse industry is a vital part of Kentucky’s economy, generating many millions of dollars each year, but the men and women who do the brunt of the work –the really hard work-- are often not well paid. The “backside” workers are one of the essential pieces of the foundation upon which the entire industry rests. When most people watch the big Triple Crown races on television, they don’t realize that there are many unsung workers who toil seven days a week (often starting around 5:00 a.m.) to keep the horses healthy and happy.
Many are immigrants, who speak little English, and are new to our country, but many are not. Most travel wherever the horses will be running in the next meet, leaving their families for months at a time to work at a track located in another state. They do the best they can to provide for their families with their paychecks, but nearly all could use a little extra help at this time of the year.
I want to raise as much money as I can this year to provide Christmas gifts to as many kids as possible. Join me in being a “Backside Angel” this year.
If you donate money for gifts, I’ll do all of the shopping and delivery of the gifts with the help of my parents. I’ll also post pictures of the gifts purchased so you can see what we were able to buy because of your generosity.
Thanks and Happy Holidays!
Riley
Because I live on a working horse farm, I know first hand that caring for horses, especially racehorses, is a tiring and thankless job. Horses have to be fed and watered 365 days a year. Their stalls have to be mucked and readied for another day. They have to groomed, walked, galloped, jogged and breezed. And they have to be loved.
The horse industry is a vital part of Kentucky’s economy, generating many millions of dollars each year, but the men and women who do the brunt of the work –the really hard work-- are often not well paid. The “backside” workers are one of the essential pieces of the foundation upon which the entire industry rests. When most people watch the big Triple Crown races on television, they don’t realize that there are many unsung workers who toil seven days a week (often starting around 5:00 a.m.) to keep the horses healthy and happy.
Many are immigrants, who speak little English, and are new to our country, but many are not. Most travel wherever the horses will be running in the next meet, leaving their families for months at a time to work at a track located in another state. They do the best they can to provide for their families with their paychecks, but nearly all could use a little extra help at this time of the year.
I want to raise as much money as I can this year to provide Christmas gifts to as many kids as possible. Join me in being a “Backside Angel” this year.
If you donate money for gifts, I’ll do all of the shopping and delivery of the gifts with the help of my parents. I’ll also post pictures of the gifts purchased so you can see what we were able to buy because of your generosity.
Thanks and Happy Holidays!
Riley
Organizer and beneficiary
Riley Jones
Organizer
La Grange, KY
Allison Jones
Beneficiary