Ross is known for being ranked among the all-time leaders in training wins at The Meadowlands, capturing Big M training titles in 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Ross was on top of the world at one point and time during his racing career.
Even though he was on top he always helped the man next to him, always giving to whoever asked or needed it. Well now it is time for the horsemen family to come together and give back to Ross Croghan.
On June 1, 2020, Ross’ life changed. A simple back procedure that was supposed to fix a broken vertebrae went wrong. After this “simple procedure” Ross could not train and owners pulled their horses leaving him with one out of 28.
Since June 1, 2020, Ross has been through eight surgeries (number nine is being scheduled in the next month or two), five skin graphs, staples that were removed premature causing the incision to reopen and an infection started that traveled throughout his entire body. This infection caused fluid to build up in his body and has to be drained twice a month. Ross went from one broken vertebrae to two because of a botched procedure.
Since then Ross has traveled from JFK Medical Center, Central State Freehold, Jersey Shore Medical Center and NYU, which he is currently still going to. Ross’ medical condition has been decreasing month by month, week by week and day by day. Will one of the top trainers in our industry ever train again? Time will tell, but in the meantime his family is asking for help from his horseman family.
On Aug. 8, 2021, Ross finally received some good news. He became a grandfather to a little boy named Dominic. Ross talks about taking Dominic on the track to jog all the time and hopefully that day will come.
A golf fundraiser will be put in place for Ross in the near future, but in the meantime any donations will be the biggest help for Ross and his family. If you would like to donate, please reach out; if you would like to just speak to Ross and make his day, please reach out. Times have changed for Ross and he needs his horseman family more then ever.
Please send donations to: 49 Red Valley Road, Millstone, NJ 08510
Please call: 609.389.4299.
by Stacey Verge