The Breeders' Cup, one of Thoroughbred horse racing's most prestigious international events, announces special guests Sol Kumin and Jack and Laurie Wolf, co-owners of $1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) favorite Authentic, 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, July 16 at 6 p.m. ET via Breeders' Cup's Twitter, YouTube and Facebook pages, will mark the 14th 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.
Kumin, raised in Boston, has enjoyed a successful career managing a financial services business. He transferred his acumen in venture capital to racehorse ownership, and over the past six years has risen to the top of the Thoroughbred game. Establishing partnerships through private purchases, Kumin's runners have scored major wins, including five Breeders' Cup victories: Lady Eli, 2014 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1); Wavell Avenue, 2015 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1); Monomoy Girl, 2018 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1); and two triumphs last year with British Idiom in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and Uni (GB) in the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).
In 2018, Kumin became the first owner in 66 years to pull off an Oaks-Derby double, when Monomoy Girl won the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Justify, who he co-owned with the Wolfs' Starlight Racing, China Horse Club and WinStar Farm, won the Kentucky Derby (G1). Justify went on to win the Preakness Stakes (G1) and the Belmont Stakes (G1) to become racing's 13th Triple Crown winner. Justify later earned Champion 3-year-old Male and Horse of the Year honors.
Jack and Laurie Wolf, from Louisville, Ky., began purchasing yearlings in 2000. They have campaigned a number of high-profile runners, including the two-time champion filly Ashado, who won six Grade 1 races, notably the 2004 Breeders' Cup Distaff; Shanghai Bobby, who captured the 2012 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) as well as Justify. Under Starlight, the Wolfs have won more than 260 races and over $23 million in total earnings.
In 2011, Jack orchestrated the launch of Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), the industry's first broad-based initiative to help retired Thoroughbreds. He was the TAA's first president and is a longtime member of its board of directors.
Authentic, who the Wolfs and Kumin co-own with Spendthrift Farm, is the morning-line favorite for Saturday's 1 1/8-mile Haskell for 3-year-olds, which will be broadcast live on NBC at 5 p.m. ET as a part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing. The Haskell winner will earn an automatic starting position into the $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).
Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Authentic has won three of his four starts, which includes victories in the Sham Stakes (G3) and the San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park.
Thursday's live stream will commence with Tubridy leading a virtual mixology class for viewers, creating three refreshing cocktails to enjoy at home during the broadcast. Mark will be mixing up a “Lemon Drop Martini,” consisting of Tito's Handmade Vodka, triple sec, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and sugar rim. Mark's second cocktail will be a “Whiskey Smash,” made with Maker's Mark Bourbon, lemon wedges and simple syrup. Completing the cocktail trifecta, Mark also will prepare a “Mint Chocolate Cake Shot,” consisting of Lemon Peel Infused-Tito's, Frangelico and sugar-coated lemon.
Following the cocktail-mixing segment, the broadcast will feature a conversational interview with Kumin and the Wolfs, who will offer their perspectives and thoughts on Authentic, the TVG.com Haskell Stakes and the latest developments in horse racing. Fans will be able to submit questions via social media for the hosts and guests 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 Frankie Dettori and Mike Smith; leading trainers Tom Amoss, Bob Baffert, Chad Brown, Graham Motion, Doug O'Neill, Todd Pletcher, Dale Romans and Wesley Ward; NHL All-Star and Thoroughbred owner Erik Johnson; film and television actress and equestrian rider Bo Derek; owner Jeff Bloom; television personality and fashion designer Carson Kressley; and the NBC Sports' horse racing broadcasting team, Breeders' Cup has raised thousands of dollars through previous 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 https://www.breederscup.com/convos.
The post Authentic Co-Owners Kumin, Wolf Featured On Thursday’s Breeders’ Cup Cocktails & Conversation appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
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