Spendthrift Farm and MyRacehorse.com have launched a weekly foal contest on social media called #FoalDerby, which will showcase foals from the first crop of their Horse of the Year and Kentucky Derby winner Authentic.
The contest begins this week and will run weekly leading up to this year's Kentucky Derby on May 7. Breeders are encouraged to submit photos each week as their foals arrive and continue to submit as they grow over the course of the next 10 weeks. Weekly photos are due by end of day on Wednesday for voting through Thursday.
Submissions will be posted to Spendthrift's Twitter and Facebook platforms where fans will be asked to like, retweet, and share their favorite foals. The top two foals by fan engagements each week will earn berths into the Foal Derby, which will include 20 total entries – like a full starting gate in the Kentucky Derby. Upon the actual 2022 Kentucky Derby draw (slated for Tuesday, May 3), a Foal Derby draw will occur and each of the 20 foals will be assigned to a real Kentucky Derby entrant.
Spendthrift is offering grand prizes to the breeders of the three foals associated with the first, second and third place finishers in this year's Kentucky Derby. The winning breeder will get $20,000 to put towards a season to Authentic in 2023, and the runner-up and third-place finishers will get $10,000 and $5,000, respectively, towards a season to Authentic in 2023. Spendthrift will also match the same amount for all three to donate to an accredited Thoroughbred aftercare charity in those breeder's names, totaling $35,000.
Foal Derby will also offer weekly prizes for both breeders and voters. Spendthrift will be awarding the 10 weekly winning breeders Authentic apparel, and MyRacehorse will be doing the same for the voters of the weekly finals on Fridays by giving away official Authentic 2020 Breeders' Cup owner caps along with MyRacehorse gift cards every week.
“There is significant interest surrounding Authentic's first foals, which you would generally expect from a Horse of the Year with his pedigree. Authentic is unique in that there is an anticipation among the breeding community and his 5,300 microshare owners and fans,” said Spendthrift's Ned Toffey. “We wanted to be able to celebrate him with MyRacehorse during this year's run up to the Kentucky Derby in a way that would engage and benefit everyone. We look forward to seeing the foals.”
Michael Behrens of MyRacehorse said: “The joy Authentic's foals have brought to the MyRacehorse community is incredible and the buzz on social media among his fans has been electric. We're thrilled to partner with Spendthrift to bring Authentic owners, fans and breeders together in an innovative way to celebrate our champion.”
For the full contest rules and details, please visit spendthriftfarm.com/FoalDerby.
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