About this project

JOCK is a feature length documentary about three generations of female athletes who followed their passion to fulfill their dreams of becoming professional jockeys. Their love for horses and never ending devotion for the sport transformed their lives as much as the face of horse racing for ever.

JOCK begins in the 60’s and 70’s when women were still considered as the weaker sex and seen by men as belonging in the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant. In pursuit of their dreams, most of them went through hell; experiencing extreme ridicule, sexual harassment, violence and even suicide. They could have given up, but collectively, they didn’t and stood strong. The thrill of winning mixed with that feeling of becoming one with their horse allowed them to overcome all obstacles. Historically, JOCK paints a stunning portrait of the emergence of american women as equal members of society. Emotionally, it’s a real life “A League of Their Own” film that once completed will hopefully leave you, not only cheering, but give you a sense of pride and accomplishment. JOCK is a story that’s never been told before. It's not just for women, it’s a classic underdog story that I believe is universal and will communicate to both men and women.

For some of you that don't know me, my name is Jason Neff. I grew up in a horse racing world; my father and uncle were jockeys, my grandfather and great grand fathers were trainers. Stories about female jockeys on the track came up all the time at our dinner table and during family gatherings. Years later when I started researching this documentary I became even more intrigued and fascinated by such people as; Barbara Jo Rubin, who overcame polio to become the first female to win a pari-mutuel race; Mary Bacon, a brash beauty who broke over 50 bones, posed nude in Playboy, and was a KKK sympathizer; Patti Barton, a single mom who raised three kids, earned a college degree and was the first female jockey to win over 1,000 races; and many other maybe less familiar jockeys whose stories are just as rich and remarkable. I was surprised that no one had ever made a film about their lives.

THE TOUR

JOCK is currently in the second stage of production that includes traveling from track-to-track and house-to-house, to meet and interview various trainers, jockeys, grooms and the people who are involved in this story. Since they are literally spread out all over the country I had to find the most economical way to visit and interview them. Flying from city to city, renting cars, hotels, etc is not only expensive but can get pretty exhausting. So I’ve decided to rent an RV and go out on the road for about two to three months. The idea of a road trip across the United States had three main advantages: It allows me the freedom and flexibility to alter my schedule as i go, it makes it more personal for me and the film to visit people at their place, and last but not least it also reminds me of when i was a kid traveling from track to track with my father. It reflects the carny lifestyle that was associated with race track life at that time and I look forward to infusing that feeling into the film.

Now that summer is almost over, the urgency to get on the road is even more crucial. Originally this trip was slated for a July departure but because of some family health issues I had to push the trip back. I don't want to be traveling cross country in snow and bad weather, so I've decided the time to go is NOW. Plus the fact that all of my subjects for this film are getting older, you just never know who will no longer be with us and be able to share their stories firsthand. By the time you'll read this i'll be out on the road. I'm hoping that you will support me along the way. I'll keep you updated on my progress and will be posting news, photos and videos on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. It's gonna be a very exciting human adventure and I look forward to bringing you along with me on the journey.

KICKSTARTER

I need your help to raise a minimum of $ 30,000 in order to complete this 2nd phase. This includes the expense of the RV, insurance, gas, supplies and equipment, etc. All this adds up quickly and I just can't do it on my own. Here with Kickstarter, it's an all or nothing deal, meaning if our fundraising goal isn't reached in the time frame set, we get nothing and you get your money back. But we truly wish to reach our goal and make this a successful campaign. If we can raise more than our goal, the extra money will go towards the expenses of editing and post production.

Making JOCK is a way for me to give these remarkable women jockeys a voice to tell their stories which will hopefully inspire you as much as they've inspired me. It's because of the love for horses and for the horse racing sport that I'm making JOCK and embarking on this cross country tour to shoot all the necessary interviews . And it's in this spirit that I reach you and ask you to donate. We have some pretty cool gifts for you and I welcome you to become part of our team. I hope to see you somewhere out on the road.    Thank you.

Jason Neff,                                                                                                              Director & Co-producer of JOCK

THE REWARDS

The JOCK Across America Tour Video will consist of more than an hour worth of select clips from interviews, behind the scenes, outtakes, and race footage shot along on the tour.  

Other items include: