Dear Supporters,

Thank you again for your recent contribution to the JOCK Documentary Tour. You were among the 145+ backers who helped us reach over 1/3 of our goal.  Your pledge was very much appreciated!!!!  Unfortunately, the Kickstarter campaign is an ALL OR NOTHING campaign.  Since we didn't reach our goal of $30,000, you received your money back and the project was not funded.

Most Kickstarter projects that are not funded, never get completed.  That's not going to happen with JOCK.  We've worked far too long and put way too much effort into this documentary to allow this fundraising setback to shut us down. 

We are NOT packing our bags and abandoning our cross country shoot. Instead, we're trying the Kickstarter campaign again with some new rewards, (yes, the signed goggles, whips, PEB posters, artist’s drawings and paintings are all included) and a more realistic goal of $12,500.   If each of you takes just a minute or two to re-donate your original pledged amount, WE WILL REACH OUR GOAL in no time.

In addition to the previous rewards, back by popular demand, we are offering a new 2012 JOCK Calendar.  This specialty calendar makes a great holiday gift.  It captures all the action, excitement, determination, and bravado of female jockeys from yesterday and today. Some of the jockeys scheduled to be featured in this year's calendar include: Julie Krone, Chantal Sutherland, Rosie Napravnik, Haley Turner, Vicky Baze, Barbara Jo Rubin, Mary Russ, PJ Cooksey, Jeannie Maxwell, and on and on.

But wait, there’s more. We are also pre-selling the JOCK documentary in Download and DVD box set formats.  Since the film is not yet completed, you will receive a voucher for a FREE Download or DVD box set (depending on reward chosen) that you can redeem when the film is finished.  The DVD box set will include the feature length documentary, JOCK, as well as extra interviews, outtakes, photos, deleted scenes...and personally signed by me, Jason Neff.

My main goal remains to get this film completed and with your help, I get a little bit closer everyday.   Here's the link to the NEW Kickstarter campaign. http://kck.st/rDMUTQ 

Your contributions and loyalty are greatly appreciated.  Thank You!

Sincerely,

Jason Neff

Follow me into the world of a successful ex-jockey converted into an Alpaca breeder somewhere near Canada. Truly exotic.

Raised in Michigan then graduated in Arizona where his family relocated, young Jeff Anderson was quickly seen as a small and physical boy whose body type could make a talented jockey. He was sent to a jockey school in California where he learned mostly everything he needed to know about horses. Shortly thereafter, Anderson started his professional riding career. He had all the required qualities to become a serial winner: a lot of confidence, a good amount of intuition, bravery, finesse, and a zest of cockiness. Anderson would use these skills along with his real motivation: the thrill to compete. Whatever would happen, his path always seemed to be inspired by an ancient proverb my grandma used to say: “When nothing goes right, go left”. He was about to remember it more than ever.

His pioneer jockey wife Mary Bacon, known for her beauty and outspoken character, went down in a race and was in a coma for over a week. After almost 20 years in the saddle and around two thousand wins, Anderson gave up his riding career to take care of her. For the next five years, they traveled from track to track to help her regain the thrill of winning again. But Mary never really recovered and took her own life in June 1991.

Devastated and in need of a real life change, Anderson made a new left turn, this time straight to Northern Michigan where he grew up and now wanted to raise a family. There he met Jennie, a beautiful young woman who soon became his fourth wife and his dear life partner. Together they bought a farm and started to breed Peruvian Alpacas, which are a smaller and more sociable version of the well-known lamas and whose warm soft fur the Native Americans have always worshiped.

In addition, Jeff and Jennie have three kids of their own, two foster kids, six dogs, two cats, a colony of pigs, chickens, turkeys and a garden full of fresh fruits and vegetables. The second best vocation of Jeff Anderson is definitely to be a daddy. As he says, he always wanted to be one. Maybe that’s why he took such good care of Jason and I, cooking every morning fresh eggs, bacon and potatoes; all farm raised and grown. I enjoyed listening to this witty and heartfelt man and spending time with his clan. Life, love and laughter were always in the air and it felt good to be treated like a member of the family. On the last day of our stay, as Jason was saying “one, two, three” before the clicking of his camera, Jeff made some cool crazy faces and played with me as a real daddy. I think he loved us too. That’s what I call a man of authenticity. Thanks Jeff.

Jimmy, your miniature correspondent

She has the elegance of a ballet dancer, the strength of a Greco-Roman wrestler, the dedication, poise and smile of a Buddhist master. Her name is Barbara Jo Rubin aka B.J., the first woman jockey to win a race on a recognized racetrack 42 years ago. Somewhere near St.Louis, last Saturday, the ex-jock opened the door of her barn & house to Jason and I and there started my weekend with a great lady whose passion for horses guided her entire life and always will.

At first, entering Barbara Jo’s world can be a little overwhelming. In the middle of a magnificent property hosting some weeping willows and a calm lake, lives an active thirty horse stable; B.J. is teaching classes in the arena, clients are tacking up and riding horses, employees are mucking stalls and vendors are delivering hay. As if all that wasn’t enough for B.J., each and all of her steps are followed by four turbulent Jack Russell’s, an old faithful German Sheppard and Bear, a duck hunting Lab who would easily transform into a caress freak when not on duty. After a few hours shared with this colorful crew, lead by natural born conductor B.J., the whole scene starts to feel like a harmonious dance instead of a run away train. On top of that she’s just recovering from a broken pelvis suffered a few weeks after riding in the second annual Lady Legends Race at Pimlico. As she saddles up her next horse she smiles and comments: “No Pain, No Gain”.

The first of many challenges on her path was her fight with polio at six years old. After a series of unsuccessful therapies, which included keeping her numb legs and feet in shoes that were nailed to the wall, doctors finally suggested that Barbara Jo try riding horses. I guess that’s how a setback can be turned into a blessing. Whether it’s polio or a broken pelvis, B.J. always maintains her inner strength and beauty. What an inspiration.

I needed something to honor this graceful attitude towards life… I just remembered I knew a classy French expression my grand dad used to say. As Jason was futzing with the camera to take photos of B.J. and I, it gave me the perfect opportunity to whisper it in her ear: “Enchante Madame”. She smiled and kissed me as the camera went click. Hmmm, if Jason only knew how he got such a nice shot.

The past two days I spent with Sandy Schleiffers, aka The Flying Nun or actually I should say The Riding Nun.  In many articles back in the day they referred to her as They Flying Nun...which was a tv show back in the late 60's starring Sally Fields.  Because she spent time in a convent a newspaper reporter gave her that nickname.  Sandy was the 4th woman to ride and win at a recognized race track and the first to be admitted into the Jockey's Guild. 

After riding for about 7 years, Sandy went back to school and got her PHD.  She was teaching Computer Science at Colorado State up until this year when she finally retired. She spends her leisure time with her two horses, Sony and Cher...and competes in competitions on the weekends.

Please help us spread the word by passing along the Kickstarter link (http://kck.st/oHNKx1) to ALL your friends. 

Thanks again for all your support. 

Jason