Page 34 - NMHBA Spring 2021

Reverend Don
by Pete Herrera
Pat Day was in the jock’s room at Hollywood Park when he got the call that December day. When he picked
up, he instantly recognized the voice. ``How you doin Dumplin?’’ said the
caller on the other end of the line.
That’s the nickname that his old friend and former jockey Don Stover had pinned
on Pat back in the day. Back when they were young and careless. When the good times, the drugs, the alcohol and their trips to the winner’s circle all came in spades.
But that was then, and this was now and there was nothing good about the tone in Stover’s voice.
“I could tell,” said Day. “He was in California. He was in bad shape and needed some help. I had endeavored to help him previous to that and it hadn’t gone too well.”
Stover’s addiction to drugs and alcohol spanned decades. He had tried numerous times to get sober, only to relapse. His best run at recovery and redemption lasted six years.
Day had always been one of his best friends and as their conversation went on, the Hall of Fame jockey agreed once again to help.
But this time, the compassion, counseling and lifeline Day was offering would come with conditions.
“I told him I would only help him if he would agree to go to Teen Challenge. It’s a (yearlong) live in, really regimented (rehab) Christ centered program that has a tremendous track record.”
Stover agreed and enrolled in the program in southern California. He left after three months, relapsed again, then went back two years later and finished the program. He did an internship at the Teen Challenge Institute and eventually graduated as a certified minister with the Assemblies of God.
One of the first persons he called was Day. He described his new role in life by telling Day, “I can bury, I can marry and on occasion I can preach.”
These days, Stover is the racetrack chaplain at Sunland Park, Zia Park and the Downs at Albuquerque. He heads up the chaplaincy at all three racetracks and his ministry provides weekly prayer services for the backside employees and their families.
At least once a year, Stover gets a group of jockeys at The Downs at Albuquerque to dress up in their silks and the group visits the children’s ward at the University of New Mexico Hospital. He does the same thing at an El Paso hospital during the meet at Sunland Park.
They take selfies with the kids and hand out little stuffed horses and signed goggles.
“For an hour or two these kids forget about everything,” says Stover.
A backside appreciation day and events for kids on holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving are also part of Chaplain Don’s ministry.
Each of the tracks provides Stover with a building and financial help to carry on
his chaplaincy.
At Zia Park, much of his work is funded through the Cowboys Junction Church in Hobbs. With the coronavirus pandemic having shut down racing at New Mexico tracks for the time being, Stover recently spent time in Warren, Arkansas, helping out at the Assembly of God Church in that town.
When he’s not ministering at the three racetracks, Chaplain Stover occasionally speaks at Teen Challenge events around the country. Teen Challenge was founded in 1961 and
is a global network of Christian faith-based corporations whose goal is to help teenagers, adults and families overcome substance abuse.
Humbled by life, Stover is candid and sometimes comic in his description of his life’s journey.
Spurred on by Dale Day, Don Stover went to Teen Challenge, a yearlong, live in, regimented Christ centered program. Founded in 1961, Teen Challenge is a global network of Christian faith- based corporations with the goal of helping teenagers, adults and families overcome substance abuse. Stover now speaks at Teen Challenge events around the country
32 New Mexico Horse Breeder