Sisterson calls on fellow trainers to donate back to industry cause
Jack Sisterson plans to give back to the racing industry as members of it lose work during the COVID-19 pandemic, and he's urging training peers to join him.
Sisterson announced on Twitter last week that, from April 30 through the rest of the year, his barn will contribute 1 percent of its earnings to a charitable cause related to racing.
"We're currently trying to get as many people on board as possible to help join that sort of contribution, to help out," Sisterson said.
Sisterson's effort got off to a good start on Thursday, when Horse Doctor won a $61,000 allowance race at Oaklawn Park.
Sisterson hasn't determined who the funds will benefit.
"I'm open to suggestions for established charities, new charities, front-line people, backside people, trainers with horses -- 15 or less -- that are struggling," he said. "Whatever people suggest, we're open to."
Sisterson also hasn't worked out the details about how the funds will be managed, and he's trying "to get guidance from other people."
Maybe someone will set up and manage a group, he said, and he'll contribute his 1 percent. Sisterson wonders: "Can we get five or 10 or 20 other people to donate their 1 percent?"
This isn't the first time Sisterson has helped those in need. Last month, he started a GoFundMe campaign to help Keeneland hot walker Antonio Sosa Silva, whose daughter was murdered in Venezuela. That campaign has raised more than $10,000.
The coronavirus pandemic is "a big unknown for everybody," Sisterson said. "But if we're able to help, please think about let's all join together and show how strong this industry can be as a whole. For an outside person looking in, you'd like to think, from a public perspective, people can say, 'Wow, look at that racing community. Look how they bonded together and helped people out.' "