WINNIPEG — Donations have poured in from around North American to help injured jockey, Alyssa Selman.
Selman was seriously injured at Assiniboia Downs when she was brutally thrown from her horse, Lord Jasmond over three weeks ago.
The horse clipped the heels of the horse in front of him near the finish line, violently throwing Selman to the ground.
The young mother of two fractured her vertebrae in the incident. She has no feeling from her chest down and it’s still unknown if she will walk again.
READ MORE: Assiniboia Downs Jockey recovering after being tossed from horse
A benefit social will take place Sunday night at Assiniboia Downs starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and available at the door.
“The insurance only covers so much and we want to make sure she gets everything she needs,” said Sammi Goulet, who works for Assiniboia Downs and has helped organize the fundraiser.
The social aims to bring in $50,000 that will help Selman come closer to affording a wheelchair accessible home with land for her horses near Carman.
“Though she is unable to ride right now she can still feel the love from the horses,” said Goulet.
WATCH: Manitoba jockey may never walk again after horse race accident
Get breaking National news
Word of Selman’s injury spread through the horse racing community.
Bob Baffert, who trains American Pharoah, donated one of the horse’s halters and sent a message wishing Selman the best in her recover and hoping the halter helps her family.
This year American Pharoah won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes making it the first Triple Crown winner since 1978.
A program from the 1973 Kentucky Derby won by Secretariat was also donated. It is signed by the Secretariat’s jockey, Ron Turcotte, and owner Penny Chenery.
The racing memorabilia will be on display at the social then auctioned off online in an effort to bring in as much money as possible for Selman.
Once the auction is on eBay, a link will be posted on the Assiniboia Downs’ website.
“It really touches my heart to see how many people reach out when someone has something life altering happens to them,” said Goulet.
Money is also being donated by online wagering site XpressBet. The website will be giving all proceeds from wagering on Assiniboia Downs on the Saturday July 18 card to a trust fund set up for Selman.
If you would like to contribute to the trust fund, you can visit any TD Bank in Canada or any Assiniboine Credit Union or Access Credit Union.
There is also a GoFundMe page in Selman’s name and so far over $10,500 has been raised.
Comments