Lintner: ‘Christmas Angels’ provide for racing’s barn workers

At 28, I’m not too far separated from the the thrill of a childhood Christmas and the feeling La Grange, Ky., eighth grader Riley Jones could focus on inside of a week out from the big day. But I was struck upon learning this week that Jones isn’t weighing her own holiday haul, but rather what may await other children Tuesday at the HighPointe Farm and Training Center near her home outside of Louisville.

Jones launched a GoFundMe this week, “Backside Christmas Angels,” acknowledging that at the foundation of Kentucky’s signature industry are a number of employees, often immigrants looking for a new start in the U.S., who log long hours for short returns to make horse racing happen.

“It’s worth all the work we have to put in to get these kids presents because their parents work so hard to support them,” Jones said. “This year, they’ll get a little bit extra for Christmas.”

Jones plans to do the shopping and deliver gifts with the help of her parents. Her mother, Allison, is a judge and father, Larry, a lawyer. Photos will be posted to the GoFundMe page as proof of purchase.

RELATED: View the Christas Angels GoFundMe

Larry Jones said HighPointe is a “huge facility” with on-site dormitories similar to those on the backside of Churchill Downs and other large tracks across the country.

“These folks are part of our community,” said Larry Jones — not to be confused with the Kentucky Oaks-winning trainer. “We’re all at the Dollar General store together. We’re all at Walmart together. The kids play together.”

Riley Jones’ fundraising goal is $1,500 and, as of Thursday morning, she’d reached $1,000. The full amount would allow her to deliver to HighPointe, but anything short of it could be better suited for families at the smaller Skylight Training Center in Goshen, Ky.

This cause is close to the Jones’ hearts. They breed horses, raise them on their farm, and send them to South Carolina to be broken as yearlings. Those prospects return to race under the Bluegrass Bred Racing and Breeding Farm banner.

“I grew up very poor, and I lived near Churchill Downs,” said Larry Jones. “My brother and I, we used to get up when we were in our early teens, we’d ride our bikes over to Churchill Downs in the morning and hotwalk horses. My brother did it a lot more than I did — I had a paper route, too — but that’s what got me into horses. It’s all come full circle.”

Now Riley Jones lives on a working horse farm, and she also spends time at HighPointe.

“There’s this huge community, and the kids are so great,” she said. “I really wanted to do something for them, because one of my happiest memories is spending Christmas with my family — waking up on Christmas morning and getting presents like this. I wish I could buy every kid in the world a present and make them feel as happy as I’ve felt.”

Warned the Internet can be a much kinder place this time of year, Larry Jones said, “There’s no overwhelming us.”

Jonathan Lintner is the editor of HorseRacingNation.com.