The Breeders' Cup, one of Thoroughbred horse racing's most prestigious international events, today announces Kenny McPeek and Robby Albarado, this year's Preakness Stakes-winning trainer and jockey respectively, as the special guests for this week's installment of Cocktails & Conversation. The multi-platform broadcast is a recurring virtual happy hour series designed to rally the horse racing industry's most prominent figures to raise funds for communities that have been profoundly impacted by COVID-19.
The Cocktails & Conversation broadcast, airing Thursday, Oct. 8 at 6 p.m. ET via Breeders' Cup's Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages, will mark the 23rd installment of the series. The episode will be hosted by Nick Luck and Britney Eurton of NBC Sports and 21 Club mixologist and creator of Breeders' Cup's official cocktails Mark Tubridy.
A native of Lexington, Ky., McPeek began his horse racing career working for future Hall of Fame trainer Claude R. “Shug” McGaughey III before opening his own stable in 1985. Widely known for his talent in discovering star horses, McPeek has trained Grade 1 winners Sarava, who captured the Belmont Stakes, Harlan's Holiday, winner of the Florida Derby and Golden Ticket, winner of the Travers Stakes, among others.
After turning professional at age of 16, Albarado has been a regular force in the horse racing circuit. Albarado won his first Triple Crown race in 2007, when he steered Curlin to victory in the 132nd Preakness Stakes, and later that year won the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) with the same horse. His other victories in the Breeders' Cup World Championships include the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf with Tapitsfly in 2009 and the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) in 2011 with Court Vision.
Last Saturday, McPeek and Albarado made history as the duo won the Preakness Stakes with filly Swiss Skydiver. Defeating the 3-2 favorite Authentic by a neck, Swiss Skydiver became the first filly since 2009 to win the Preakness. The filly also gave Albarado his first Grade 1 stakes victory since 2017.
Thursday's live stream will commence with Tubridy leading a virtual mixology class for viewers, creating two refreshing cocktails to enjoy at home during the broadcast. Mark will first create “Tito's Hurricane,” which boasts bright, fruity flavors with ingredients including Tito's Handmade Vodka, dark rum, fresh orange juice, grenadine and more. The second featured cocktail is “Smoke Signals,” a smooth and nuanced cocktail featuring Maker's Mark Bourbon, Islay Scotch, sweet vermouth and smoked cinnamon.
Following the cocktail-mixing segment, the broadcast will feature a conversational interview with McPeek and Albarado, who will speak about the recent historic Preakness win, Swiss Skydiver's prospects in this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships and more. Fans will be able to submit questions via social media for the hosts and guest to answer during the broadcast for a truly interactive experience. Throughout the cocktail hour, viewers will be encouraged to donate to industry workers and communities in need through the official Breeders' Cup website.
Tapping all-star talents such as world-renowned jockeys Victor Espinoza, Umberto Rispoli, Javier Castellano, Frankie Dettori, Angel Cordero Jr. and Mike Smith; leading trainers Peter Eurton, Simon Callaghan, Tom Amoss, Bob Baffert, Chad Brown, Mark Casse, Graham Motion, Doug O'Neill, Todd Pletcher, Dale Romans and Wesley Ward; the Stronach Group's Aidan Butler, NHL All-Star and Thoroughbred owner Erik Johnson; film and television actress and equestrian rider Bo Derek; owners Jeff Bloom, Sol Kumin and Jack and Laurie Wolf; television personality and fashion designer Carson Kressley; the NBC Sports' horse racing broadcasting team; and Breeders' Cup President and CEO Drew Fleming, Breeders' Cup has raised thousands of dollars through previous Cocktails & Conversation broadcasts.
All proceeds generated from Cocktails & Conversation are wholly donated to the following organizations benefitting the horse racing and hospitality industries:
- Race Track Chaplaincy of America, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs of the horse racing community through social services, food and clothing banks and educational workshops.
- USBG National Charity Foundation, which supports bartenders, barbacks and bar servers throughout the nation who have been financially impacted by restaurant and bar shutdowns as a result of the health crisis.
- Restaurant Workers Relief Program, a project jointly formed by Maker's Mark and the Lee Initiative that has transformed restaurants in major cities into relief centers that offer food and supplies to affected hospitality workers.
To learn more about the virtual happy hour series and to support those in need, please visit BreedersCup.com/convos.
The post Preakness-Winning Duo McPeek, Albarado Join Breeders’ Cup’s Cocktails & Conversation Thursday appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
