Riders Up! Jockey Karaoke Contest at Saratoga Kicks Off East vs. West Battle

[Wandering Eyes]

The 13th edition of the Riders Up! East vs. West Jockey Karaoke contest kicked off to great success in Saratoga, and raised over $100,000 at the conclusion of the festivities, announced the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF).

Leading a competition reportedly as fierce as anything on the track, Michael and Matthew Straight commanded the crowd with their performance of “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers. They had the crowd on their feet and singing along, and the brothers left their competition in their wake as they secured a double by winning both the Judges' Choice and the People's Choice Award. The event was judged by LSU Racing's Randy Sarf; trainers Cherie DeVaux and Graham Motion; and by Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero.

Held at the Vapor Night Club, an at-capacity crowd was treated to vocal talents and eye-popping costumes as well as a live auction. Tom Durkin served as emcee through the program and conducted the sale, which included a baseball bat signed by the Yankees' Aaron Judge. The item brought the evening's top bid of $9,500.

The contest will shift west to the Del Mar jockeys, who will try to best their eastern counterparts Sunday Aug. 10. The festivities will be posted throughout the evening on all PDJF social media platforms, and after the judges name their favorite performance, the public will vote online for their favorite via Facebook and Twitter (X). Fans will also vote on the winners of both events to decide the 'Coast with the Most'.

“General admission tickets (including one drink coupon) for each person are $75 with 7:45 p.m. entry to Belly Up in Solana Beach. A limited number of VIP tickets are available for $175, which includes early entry 6:00 p.m. local time, open reserved seats, two drink coupons, and a buffet dinner with the jockeys. Performances are scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. local time and will feature live and silent auctions and a cash bar. Patrons must be 21 years of age or older to enter the premises. Tickets may be purchased here and registration to bid on the silent auction is also available on the page.

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