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Armando Rivera, A Story of Faith, 

By Jayme LaRocca. 

 

Armando Rivera’s on-track accident occurred in 1979 at the Santa Rosa County Fair. As an 18-year-old jockey, he was working a horse in the morning when the accident occurred. Armando says, “I don’t remember exactly what happened”. The horse he was on rolled over on him after colliding with another horse. He fractured his spine at the T5 level and is now paralyzed from the waist down. Armando has been a paraplegic and confined to a wheelchair for the past 39 years. He doesn’t want anyone feeling sorry for him. He’s positive on life and focused on what he wants to do. Armando says, “I understood being a jockey was dangerous, but I really loved the competition”. After his accident, he turned to family. “I was really blessed to have a good support system”.

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Armando got into racing as a young kid. His grandparents had quarter horses and he later met a jockey who helped him get into the business. After galloping horses and riding races in the bushes, he rode his first official race at Les Boise Park in Idaho.

Two years after his accident, Armando began training horses. He would go on to win 50 races as a trainer from 1983-2005. Training horses is demanding and doing it from a wheelchair is even more challenging. He ended his training career when, “it just got to be too much and I wanted to focus on myself”. He continues to stay updated on what’s going on in the quarter horse and thoroughbred racing world.

After he stopped training racehorses, Armando says, “I didn’t like it that I began to gain weight” and “It’s hard to get in shape when you’re in a wheelchair”. He turned to wheelchair races after watching others do it and that got him inspired to pursue it. “I wanted to compete and it looked like a lot of fun”. His current exercise routine is that of a long distant runner. He trains daily and participates in marathons, mainly on the west coast and is known by many of the other competitor’s. He competes against the likes of Roger Craig, former star running back for the San Francisco 49’ers and Nebraska alum. Armando says, “I would have beat Roger Craig in a race if not for the carpet near the finish line”. Armando would go on to tell Craig, “This is what we train for”.

While training and competing in marathon events, he is proud to wear his t-shirts and hats that display the PDJF logo. “I get inspired by being able to help get the PDJF name out there and raise awareness”, Armando says. “The PDJF gives me a monthly stipend so I can pay for wheelchair tires, everyday living expenses and many other things”. “They have been a blessing to me”.

Also, Armando is grateful to Jockeys and Jeans for the hard work they put in. “It’s amazing what they have done to help the PDJF”.

Armando will be another one of the honorees at the Jockeys and Jeans Charity Event to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF). This year’s event will be held at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota, on June 23rd.

For more information on the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, visit www.pdjf.org

For more information on Jockeys and Jeans, visit www.jockeysandjeans.com 

(Armando participating in the Rock & Roll Marathon in Las Vegas)