Disabled wheelchair racing jockey Rivera continues his journey in Lexington

Rivera hands out PDJF bracelets before the race on Saturday.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW)- Armando Rivera tackled another tough challenge on his journey to bring awareness to the needs of disabled horse racing jockeys on Saturday; the steep, sloping roads of southern Fayette County.

America’s Prettiest Half Marathon

“That’s why I keep coming back,” said Rivera speaking about the beauty of Lexington and toughness of the course. “I just love raising awareness in the best horse racing country in the world.”

He finished America’s Prettiest Half Marathon in two hours and fifty minutes after fighting through the arduous course that started and ended at Talon Winery. Rivera races in the chair he uses everyday, but with an interchangeable third wheel on the front.

“I’m really humbled by the support every time I come out to Lexington,” said Rivera, who lives in San Jose, California. “It’s special.”

Rivera’s Ride

The mission of the former jockey’s journey has been in the making since 1979, when was permanently injured after an accident during morning training. His life took another turn when he began to use drugs and alcohol.

“I got clean and sober. I’m going on 18 years now,” said Rivera. “But, since then everything has changed. I have a purpose in this life. It’s really special to do something in my life.”

“Something” is everything for Rivera, who started his second racing career in 2013 entering marathons as a wheelchair racer. From the start to finish of every race, Rivera shines a light on the risk of being a professional jockey, what his disabled colleagues need to survive and the gift of sobriety.

“It’s giving back to the horse racing community and all my fellow riders that are in wheelchairs. That’s what makes it so gratifying and humbling,” said Rivera. “I have a big schedule ahead of me.”

Helping his Brothers and Sisters

Visibility is what Rivera is aiming for when he races across the country. Armed with free Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) bracelets and hats for racers, he puts a face to a cohort that the fund has been helping since 2006.

50 former jockeys are currently receiving aid from the PDJF to live with their catastrophic injury, obtain medical coverage for care and advocate for medical research to try and reduce life-changing injuries in the racing industry.

The bottom line for Rivera and his fellow riders is to educate people of the risks they see each jockey take every day in every race.

“When you go down you don’t know if you’re going to get back up,” said Rivera. “It’s the only sport where you have an ambulance chasing you.”