Coglianese /NYRA Photo

Hall of Famers Velazquez and Castellano among jockeys visiting St. Mary's Hospital for Children on Tuesday

by NYRA Press Office

Members of the NYRA jockey colony, including Hall of Famers Javier Castellano and John Velazquez visited St. Mary's Hospital for Children on Tuesday. Top jockeys Manny Franco, Eric Cancel and Dylan Davis joined them to tour the facility and celebrate the holiday season with patients, staff and volunteers.

St. Mary's mission is to improve the health and quality of life for children with special needs and life-limiting conditions and their families. They are New York's largest and most experienced provider of long-term care to children with medically complex conditions and New York City's only post-acute care facility for children.

"To be able to spend time with these courageous kids, and see firsthand the life-changing work done by the staff and volunteers at St. Mary's, was an experience none of us will forget," said four-time Eclipse Award winner Javier Castellano. "St. Mary's is a special place that changes lives, and we're proud to support them."

 "This visit from the NYRA jockey colony brought joy to both the kids and staff of St. Mary's," said Dr. Edwin Simpser, CEO of St. Mary's Hospital for Children. "During this time of giving, we're so grateful to the many groups sharing their time and resources to help St. Mary's hospital as we work to improve the health and quality of life of our patients."

St. Mary's Hospital for Children has been the primary provider of long-term and rehabilitative care for New York's most critically ill and injured children since the 1870s. St. Mary's Healthcare System is one of only a handful of organizations around the country that is dedicated to providing intensive rehabilitation, specialized care, and education to children with special needs and life-limiting conditions. For more information about St. Mary's, please visit www.stmaryskids.org.