THE LIFE AND TIMES OF
TONY.J
A TRUE STORY:
This is not about winning a homepage or banner contest.This is To make some of you realize what life is all about.in the eyes of someone thats sick,an done it all.Fame,Glory,Winning,Looseing,Money.I hope when you are thru reading this.That your life in someway.will be touched.May the lite of god or someone touch your heart.Enjoy the reading,And think about your family and your life.while you read this.thankyou.
My Life"My Way"An You Can Say This Is A Trajedy.But Its Not.There Are No Regrets,Like The Song Says.
By Tony.J"A True Story.Written By Tony.J
THE YEAR WAS 1957 A WINTERY BLUSTERY DAY.A FREIND OF MINE AND MY SELF DECIDED 1 DAY TO SKIP SCHOOL.WE WALKED 4 MILES TO GET TO A PLACE NAMED MONMOUTH PARK.A THROUGHBRED RACE TRACK.WE JUMPED A FENCE.TO GET INTO A RACETRACK.NO ONE SEEN US GET INTO THE TRACK.WE TOOK A SEAT.AND WAGERED AND WATCHED THE JOCKEYS AND THERE HORSES RUN AROUND A LARGE 1 MILE OVAL RACETRACK.I LOOKED AT MY FREIND,AND SAID,HELL THERE MUST BE A WAY TO GET INTO THIS BUSINESS.A MAN ABOUT 61 SAID TO US.HERES MY BUSINESS CARD.COME OUT TO MY FARM TOMORROW AT 4AM.SO WE DID,THE NEXT DAY WE WALKED AT 3AM AN GOT TO HIS FARM AT APPROX.6AM.HE ASKED US IF WE WANTED TO BECOME JOCKEYS.WE SAID YES.SO THE FIRST THING HE HAD US DUE WAS RIDE A JACKASS,I GOT DUMPED ABOUT 4 TIMES.MY FREIND WAS DUMPED 4 TIMES.THE MAN SAID YOU STILL WANT TO RIDE.WE SAID YES.SO ME AND CURRY ABBOTT(MY FREIND)STARTED ARE TRAINING ON THE WAY TO A INTERESTING LIFE.THE WORLD OF THROUGHBRED RACING.THE NUMBER 1 DEATH IN ALL SPORT.60 JOCKEYS A YEAR DIE.IN THIS STORY YOU WILL FIND OUT MY LIFE WAS LAUGHTER,JOY,HAPPINESS,SADNESS,TRAGEDY,DEATH,AND MANY SPILLS TO THIS BUSINESS,FAME,GLORY,IN THIS STORY,YOULL MEET MY WIFE, MY SON AND ABOVE ALL MY FREINDS THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED IN ROUGH TIMES.I HOPE YOU TAKE THE TIME TO SHARE IN MY LIFE,AND READ ALL OF THIS,
Carol, Tony.J,Wayne A Day Of Memerioes For Tony.j At Tampa Bay Downs
1958
i was at the age now of 14.for 3 years i worked an trained hard 7 days a week. the training consisted of from riding a bike 1 mile aday to running,lifting many bales of hay,mucking stables,washing an bathing of some 60 horses aday,walking an feeding 60 horses aday. lifitng leg weights an bicept weights,building mentally an phyiclly my body,this was a dangerous job.there wasnt time for mistakes.mistakes in this business.meant your life,another words, 1 mistake would either brake your bones,or even kill you.see folks.this is the number 1 death in all sport.60 jockeys a year die in this sport.there is no padding.no protection.but your mind.and a 1 ton horse.
Meet Yankee Owner George M Steinbrenner.A Good Friend,An A 1 Time Boss.
The Year 1962.
I won my first mount on a rainy muggy day at a track called Monmouth Park,it was a fun day. the horse paid a mere 162 dollras on a 2 dollar wager.the horse was called Tooglo.owned by sheperard and bp downey.in my 30 years riding,ive rode by airplane some 2 million miles,rode at some 48 states an 6 forgein countries.also i had won some 2036 lifetime winners in a span of 30 years.
on a bleak day in the year of 1981.i was riding at a track called delaware park.that day i was scheduled to ride 9 races,at or about the 5th or 6th race,.i got a phone call in the stewards office.my sister at the age of 16.lost her life over the potomac in 1 of the worst diasaters in plane accident history.i flew by helipcopter from the track.but it was to late.my sisters body was bought up from the potomac in pieces.
the following day i had to still ride because of contracts rich i had.when you are under contracts to ride for different people there is no way to get out of your commitent.so i rode.
the year now is 82.in 82 i lost my other sister to cancer,she was only 12.that same year i lost my mother with cancer an my wifes mother an dad on christmas day.
in twenty years of riding.i was paralized 4 times. broke both arms.both legs.both knee caps.was ran over by 6 horses one time.had my chest caved in.an my back 3 times,had all my fingers broke.but i still loved what i did.
The Year 1990.
im forced to hang my tack up.now im retired. in 90 i was ran over at the far turn coming into a late stretch drive at the monmouth park oval.the horse went down.8 horses from the back of me.ran over me,6 of us went to the hospital.as a result from 1 of the worst accidents in history at monmouth park i was paralized.
The year 92.the battle of my life. cancer set in my bones.they said i had no chance. so i decided to get a computer.here i was introduced to many nice people of the internet.they really kept me busy.the pain was bad at times.but this little toy.known as a keyboard and its own brain helped me out in many away.
a good freind of mine is my wife carol.a companion for life whats to say about my wife,a woman that i love cherish.and i would do anything for her.
a real good freind to me was my exboss george m steinbrenner from the new york yankees.i also rode for him.
i hope you enjoyed my story. just remember 1 thing.everyone needs someone. ive been fortunate.To Be Married 32 Years To My Wife.
P/S..My New Battle Is Mantel Limphoma Cancer.Uncureable.I Woke Up This Year(1999)Thanksgiving Morning With A Lump Under My Chin. That Was The Signs.Write Now Im In Stage-3.But I Wont Just Sit Back An Quit.On This Day Of July 4th,2000.So Remember This.Everyday You Wake Up.Enjoy The Things That Surround You.Do The Things In Your Life You Want To Do.Thankyou For Letting Me In Your Life Each Day.Thankyou From Tony.J
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