Jockey Celebration Day is held nationally on the first Saturday in August each year and celebrates the achievements of former and current jockeys, commemorates those who have lost their lives and raises awareness and funds for the National Jockeys’ Trust to help support injured or ill jockeys and their families.

Jockey Celebration Day activities around Australia include races named in honour of Jockey Celebration Day, a Minute Silence and Blessing of the Track.

NJT jockey colours will be worn by the top weight in each race at all metropolitan race meetings on Saturday 6th August.

This year will mark the official opening of the Morphettville Jockey Memorial Garden. 880 Australian jockeys have tragically lost their lives as a result of their occupation, and 89 of these riders in South Australia.

“The South Australian Jockey Club is pleased to be associated with the South Australian Jockeys Association, Thoroughbred Racing South Australia and UBET in the creation of the Jockey Memorial Garden at Morphettville Racecourse” said SAJC Chief Executive Officer Brenton Wilkinson.

“The Memorial is the first initiative in a long term plan to recognize those who have made a significant contribution to racing, in addition to Morphettville’s statues honouring racing legends Bart Cummings and Colin Hayes”.

Eagle Farm will conduct a Jockey Foot Race at Eagle Farm to raise money for the National Jockeys Trust.

WAJA are holding their annual jockeys reunion at Belmont, and an online auction to raise money for the National Jockeys Trust. Community TAB WA have pledged to match fundraising to the tune of $5,000 on the day.

“Jockey Celebration Day is a significant day in the racing calendar, a day to remember the fallen, and to recognise the role jockeys play in the racing industry.

“Raising awareness of the National Jockeys Trust which has provided nearly $3 million assistance to more than 290 jockeys, is an important component of the day.” said Paul Innes, Chairman of the National Jockeys Trust and Chief Executive of the Australian Jockeys Association.

“The support from our principal partner LUCRF Super who recently renewed their naming rights of the jockeys breeches; and the support of TAB and Sky Racing on Jockey Celebration Day each year is fundamental to the work of the National Jockeys Trust.”

LUCRF Super’s sponsorship with the Australian Jockeys’ Association commenced in 2013. LUCRF Super announced they will renew the partnership for a further three years, continuing their partnership with the breeches to make a financial commitment to the NJT.

“Our partnership with the AJA gives us an opportunity to build public awareness of LUCRF Super and our values,” Charlie Donnelly, CEO LUCRF Super said.

“It supports our belief that all Australians deserve a dignified retirement. Most importantly, it provides strong financial support for injured jockeys and the families of those who have had fatal falls in the course of their work. We’re proud to be the name behind every jockey”.

Tabcorp is in its second year of its principal partnership with the Trust.

“Tabcorp is proud to partner with the National Jockeys Trust in celebrating our nations jockeys," Tabcorp Chief Operating Officer Craig Nugent said.

"The Australian racing industry is one of the best in the world and our world-class jockeys play a major role in cementing that position. Tabcorp will proudly present the National Jockeys Trust with its second annual $40,000 donation at Flemington on Saturday to help support the fantastic work of the Trust.”

The National Jockeys Trust Ambassadors for 2016 in each state as follows:

Rodney Griffiths (VIC): Former VRC Derby winning rider whose career ended at Caulfield on Easter Saturday 1998, when he suffered a broken neck, vertebrae and shoulder.

Bobby El-Issa (NSW): Jockey riding in Queensland, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in June 2015. Bobby returned to riding a winner, on his first day back at Orange on April 1, 2016.

Pam O’Neill (QLD): Pam O’Neill - a pioneer for female jockeys, in 1979 she became the first female jockey to be licensed in Australia, she rode until 52 years of age. Pam has continued to fight for better conditions for jockeys over the past 20 years, as Secretary of the QLD Jockeys Association.

Leanne Campbell (TAS): Leeanne is the widow of jockey Terry McAllister. Terry McAllister lost his life in June 2016 after a battle with cancer. Terry fell in an Elwick trial in 2004 which left him a quadriplegic.

Peter and Lee-Anne Montgomerie (SA & NT): Peter and Lee-Anne lost their daughter Simone Montgomerie in a race fall on Darwin Cup Day 2013. Peter was the brainchild of Cycling for Simone, a 3000km 26-day bike ride to commemorate Simone’s life and raise money for the National Jockeys Trust

Bernie Ryan (WA): Former WA jockey who retired in 1990 after winning the Perth Cup twice, he served as President of the WA Jockeys Association for 30 years, Bernie is currently WA Thoroughbred Racing Chaplain and NJT Board Trustee.

Jockey Celebration Day race meetings around Australia on Saturday 6 August include:

• Flemington Racecourse, Bairnsdale (VIC);

• Royal Randwick, Newcastle, Kempsey, Louth (NSW);

• Eagle Farm, Mareeba, Toowomba, Gold Coast, Warwick, Bowen, Corfield,

Tambo, Ferguson Park (QLD);

• Morphettville, Roxby Downs (SA);

• Belmont (WA);

• Katherine (NT)

• Devonport (TAS) will celebrate on Sunday 7th August

• Canberra (ACT) celebrated on Friday 29th July