Fundraiser Held Saturday For Injured Fair Meadows Jockey

By Dan Bewley, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- A Fair Meadows jockey who suffered a debilitating neck injury last month will soon be transferred to a special hospital in Colorado.

Tad Leggett's neck was crushed after a race on June 30th. Now his friends are helping the lifelong jockey get the care he needs. A fundraiser and silent auction is this Saturday at Fair Meadows from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The day will also feature a special race with a portion of the purse going to Leggett's recovery.

His last race was in a field of ten at Fair Meadows in late June.

Photos Of Tad Leggett

Leggett's ride was on the inside, next to the rail, and didn't finish in the money. After the race and after the camera turned away, Leggett's horse broke down. The 45-year-old father of three was thrown from the saddle, his neck was crushed.

"Cervical up in the neck and they, mainly, had to rebuild a lot of his cervical spine," Tina Leggett, Tad's wife, said.

Tina Leggett has been by Tad's side since the day of the accident.

"He goes sometimes, I think, from feeling pretty down and other times I see a lot of fight in him, in his eyes," she said.

Leggett began as a jockey at 16-years-old. He recently won the Remington Park Championship in Oklahoma City. He even rode an ostrich in a benefit race in April for the Permanently Disabled Jockey's Fund.

His wife says he thrives off competition and knew, very well, the danger that comes with being a professional jockey.

"I don't think he would redo anything if he had the chance," Tina Leggett said. "I think that he did what he loved and he did it 100% and we've always been proud of that."

Tina says the support the family has received has been unbelievable. A silent auction and fundraiser will be held this Saturday at Fair Meadows to help with Tad's recovery.

In the meantime, Tina is holding on that someday her husband will walk again.

"Spinal cord's not severed. Although they're not telling me for sure that he will, I'm going to hold out hope that he will," Tina said. "I'm not going to limit that at this time."

Again the fundraiser and silent auction is this Saturday at Fair Meadows from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The day will also feature a special race with a portion of the purse going to Leggett's recovery.

To read Tina Leggett's blog about Tad's recovery, click here.