A Jockey's Courage
by K. T. Donovan

In the Northwest, Kathy Mayo is known as one of the top jockeys on the circuit of small tracks in Oregon. Now she is known nationally as a spirited lady who will not let any hurdle stand in the way of her goals. As the nation's leading female rider in 1996, she beat out her idol Julie Krone by a single victory, notching 142 wins. She was eager to start another year atop the female jockey standings when, on Friday, January 2, 1998, she suffered a horrific accident at her home track of Portland Meadows.

The sixth race began as a normal mile event for maiden claimers, but soon became ugly. Just past the gate, the path to the barns looked inviting to Mayo's mount, 4-year-old Irish Kreme. He turned sharply toward the path and flipped over the metal rail. While Irish Kreme remained unhurt, Mayo was flung onto the rail and landed on her back and side. The impact separated her spine, fractured her back, several ribs, and scapula. Her pelvis was shattered on one side and broken on the other. Internal injuries included a lacerated spleen and damage to her kidneys.

Mayo's husband, Jim Sorenson, had the unenviable task of calling the race in which his wife took the spill. He ran from the booth, another announcer taking over the microphone, and has been at her side ever since.

"I've announced her winning a lot of races, but that was a hard one to get through," Sorenson told reporters that evening. Mayo was conscious when the paramedics took her from the track, and Sorenson said, "for the first time ever, she…was frightened." She arrived at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland in serious condition.

By the next day, Mayo started defying her doctors' worst prognoses. Despite a warning that she would be in intensive care for two months, unable to walk or move around much for six months, and definitely never ride again, Mayo demonstrated a resiliency that amazed even those who knew her well. She moved her arms and legs, proving there was no paralysis. Her first surgery took 12 hours to stabilize her pelvis with a metal plate and pins, then to fuse her 11th and 12th vertebrae together. She came out of the successful surgery on Monday, and even while she needed a sedative to calm an anxiety attack, she expressed gratitude at the overwhelming show of support she has received.

Friends and fans from all over the country rallied around Mayo and Sorenson, sending mail and flying to Oregon. Friends on the Internet connected concerned fans to each other and to Mayo and Sorenson, and the well wishers decided to do something to help with the incredible expenses her recovery will entail. Mayo, as a jockey who is not a member of the Jockeys' Guild, has no workers' compensation or even insurance. The hospital bills will be enormous, and that worry was not one that Mayo and Sorenson needed. Jacqui Fisher, Mayo's closest friend in Oregon, organized an auction and dinner to help defray the expenses. The auction will be held on February 15, 1998.

So many people at Portland Meadows were saddened by her accident, that the track took some heat for the kind of rail they had. A hard metal rail is extremely dangerous. The Jockeys' Guild, an organization that jockeys belong to for bargaining and lobbying power, encouraged Portland Meadows to do something about their rail. The track has now padded the rail, although many people feel that that will not be safe even then. Portland Meadows also agreed to pick up all the expenses incurred at Legacy Emanuel Hospital, which alleviated a lot of worry for the couple. The auction will cover the expenses of her disability and therapy. A donation fund has also been set up as a trust at U.S. Bank.

By the Wednesday following the accident, Mayo was moved out of ICU. She was alert enough to spend several hours with her sister, and was amazed at all the fuss made over her. But Mayo is the kind of person for whom people just want to do things. Mayo has inspired people with her will and determination. She did not wait for her first physical therapy session on January 18th to start trying to get her strength back. She used 1-lb. weights to give her arms a workout, but tired herself out a little bit. A friend reports, "She is in a brace - they don't do body casts any more - which she has to wear whenever she sits at more than a 10% angle, which means she is wearing it pretty much all the time. She is in great spirits and motivated to get well."

Mayo will not be able to bear weight for two months, but is already transferring herself from the bed to the wheelchair and back by herself. She took her first shower while seated the day before her first therapy session, and is anxious to get the muscle tone back in her arms and legs. She is amazed at the support she has been receiving, and is in awe of all the notes and mail people have sent her.

One note in particular meant more than the sender could ever know. Julie Krone, the winningest female jockey of all time, heard of Mayo's plight and sent an email message of her own. Having been in a bad accident herself, Krone knew what it would take to encourage Mayo to fight back. Little did she know that Mayo talked of Krone often, striving to do as well as the famous jockey, and watching every interview her idol gave with intensity. Krone called and spoke to Mayo, and sent an email as well. The message she sent is on the hospital wall, and when Mayo's fellow riders come in to her room to see her, they all stop and quietly read the words of encouragement. Krone also wrote an email to a friend of Mayo's in Texas, who has helped coordinate all the email Mayo has been getting. Krone told the friend that if Kathy needed any more email or another phone call, it would be no problem, and to just let her know.

Donations to the auction have so far included such items as a signed photo of Bill Mott, Cigar, and Jerry Bailey, 250 books on Princess Diana, and signed photos of Silver Charm and Bob Baffert. Horsemen from all over have gotten involved. If anyone has any items to donate, the information is listed below.

Donation Items can be sent to:

Donations to the trust fund can be sent to:

Jacqui Fisher
7316 NE 16th Ave #9
Vancouver, Washington 98665

Kathy Mayo Donation Fund
US Bank-Jantzen Beach Branch
1445 N. Hayden island Drive
Portland, Oregon 97217