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Breeders’ Cup Announces Winners Of Charitable T-Shirt Design Contest

The Breeders' Cup, one of Thoroughbred horse racing's most prestigious international events, today announces the winners of the Breeders' Cup T-Shirt Design Contest, a philanthropic art competition that tasked entrants to create original artwork to be printed and sold in support of backstretch communities and other industry stakeholders affected by COVID-19.

Alexa Zepp of Lawrence, Kan., and Amanda Crelin of Belford, N.J., were selected by the judging panel out of five finalists populated from an original pool of 93 entrants. The two winners will each receive two VIP tickets to the 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championships, scheduled to take place on November 6 and 7 at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. Additionally, their winning designs are now available for purchase on BreedersCupShop.com for $25 and will be sold on-site at the two-day event in November, with all Breeders' Cup proceeds going to Breeders' Cup Charities, the organization's official charity outreach program, in support of COVID-19 relief efforts.

Crelin's winning design features a color scheme of purple and gold, the Breeders' Cup signature colors, while the vivid jockey silks surrounding the globe serve as a symbol of hope and unity. The colorful artwork will be printed on the back of white, grey, purple and green crew neck tees, while the front features a left chest 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championships logo. Zepp's winning artwork features a striking image of racing Thoroughbred horses and their jockeys. The design, reminiscent of a watercolor painting with hues of orange, pink and purple, will be reproduced on white, grey and purple V-neck tees.

“It has been extremely rewarding to see the passionate fan response to our first-ever T-Shirt Design Contest, especially given the important cause that the program supports,” said Justin McDonald, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Breeders' Cup. “We were incredibly impressed with our finalists' displays of artistry and are excited to showcase not one, but two designs in our shop this year. We extend our congratulations to the winners and thank all of the talented entrants who took part in this contest.”

The T-Shirt Design Contest is the most recent element in a string of Breeders' Cup initiatives launched to provide COVID-19 relief to those in need. Prior to the T-Shirt Design Contest, Breeders' Cup launched branded face masks to support efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19, raise funds for Breeders' Cup Charities and give fans a fun way to showcase their support of the horse racing industry. On Mother's Day (May 10), the organization distributed gift baskets to the working moms on Santa Anita Park's backstretch to express gratitude for their contributions to the sport.

In April, Breeders' Cup launched Cocktails & Conversation, a weekly virtual happy hour series created to raise donations for impacted backstretch communities. The series has since aired ten installments, with additional episodes planned to follow. Supplementing direct donations made by Breeders' Cup to the Race Track Chaplaincy of America and the Commonwealth of Kentucky, each of these initiatives helps provide funds and essential equipment to organizations and groups in need in the battle against COVID-19.

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Del Mar Backstretch Workers To Receive Gregson Foundation Coupons For Food, Basic Necessities

Backstretch workers at the upcoming Del Mar summer meeting will continue to benefit from a recent special coupon program that has been financed by the Gregson Foundation, the California organization founded to aid those workers and enhance their lives.

In a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the extra burden placed on the workers, the foundation twice issued coupons during the month of April covering the stable area workers of 149 different trainers – 82 of them in Southern California and 67 in Northern California. Approximately 1,350 workers received the coupons.

Each worker received two of the $5 coupons twice, which in turn could be redeemed at the stable area cafeterias – Debby's Café at Santa Anita Park and Kan's Cafeteria at Golden Gate Fields. They also were good at California Thoroughbred Trainers' recreation hall stores for the purchase of food and snacks and everyday necessities, such as hygiene products, over-the-counter medicines, and laundry needs.

All told, the redeemed coupon value amounted to $26,690.

“Our backstretch workers are very appreciative of a seemingly small perk like this,” said Gregson Foundation president Jenine Sahadi. “They don't have a lot and they work hard with our horses and something like this is a recognition of the important jobs they perform. This was met with such positive feedback that we're going to do it again at Del Mar.”

Sahadi, previously one of America's most successful female trainers, has headed the foundation since 2001. The 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization, named to honor the driving force behind its establishment, the late trainer Edwin Gregson, raises funds to benefit backstretch workers and their families.

Over the past two decades, the foundation has provided over $1.3 million in scholarship grants, paying the costs of attendance at various colleges, universities and trade schools for 625 sons and daughters of California grooms, hot walkers, exercise riders and assistant trainers. Many of these children are the first in their families to go on to higher education.

Further, the Gregson Foundation has raised more than $5 million through grants, donations, fundraising events and Charity Day funds. Those monies have gone toward providing various activities annually for the workers and their families, such as softball and soccer leagues, family excursions to amusement and water parks, zoos, fishing trips, professional sporting events, holiday festivities, picnics and Bar-B-Qs. The foundation functions both in Southern and Northern California.

Del Mar's 2020 racing season opens on Friday, July 10 and runs through Labor Day Monday, September 7.

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NHL’s Nugent-Hopkins ‘Excited,’ ‘Nervous’ To Watch Undefeated Filly Infinite Patience In Fury Stakes

The 2019-20 NHL season hasn't resumed yet, but Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is already part of an impressive win streak.

Although he won't be on hand at Woodbine Racetrack on July 5 to watch the 65th edition of the $125,000 Fury Stakes, a key prep on the road to the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks presented by Budweiser (slated for August 15), Nugent-Hopkins will be well represented on the racetrack.

Infinite Patience, a daughter of Sungold, co-owned by the Edmonton Oilers forward, puts her perfect five-for-five record and champion status on the line in the seven-furlong main track race for Canadian-foaled three-year-old fillies.

Nugent-Hopkins will be glued to his laptop when the action gets out of the gates.

“I'm excited and I'm nervous, to be honest,” the 27-year-old told Woodbine. “I've sent a mare to Seattle and then Edmonton. I've never sent any to Toronto before. The Tapeta [at Woodbine], it's a little different [than the dirt track at Hastings], so that's the only real hesitation I have. We don't have that many options anymore. There aren't a whole lot of stakes races in Vancouver or even in Edmonton, and they don't start until the end of July. She's been training so long and she's ready to go. We'll take a shot out there and see what happens.”

William DeCoursey, who bred the filly, sold a share in the filly to Nugent-Hopkins, who races under the R. N. H. Stable banner.

DeCoursey also campaigned Infinite Patience's dam Montero, a stakes winner with 11 victories and more than $205,000. Montero is the dam of multiple stakes winner Raider (Stephanotis).

After breaking her maiden last July courtesy of a 9 ¼-length romp at Hastings Racecourse, Infinite Patience won the British Columbia Cup Debutante Stakes, a CTHS Sales Stakes, the Sadie Diamond Futurity, and most recently, the Fantasy Stakes (October 13, 2019).

The bay filly, who won the five races by a total of 35 ½ lengths, was named B.C. Horse of the Year and B.C.-Bred Horse of the Year in 2019, collecting five (Champion Two-Year-Old Filly in both the Open and B.C.-Bred categories and Champion Sprinter) awards in all.

Nugent-Hopkins, who hails from Burnaby, B.C., is thrilled to be along for the ride.

“She's very impressive and last year was so great. I'm pretty lucky to have partnered with her breeder. It's really been fun.”

What race has impressed him the most so far?

It's not a particularly easy question for the centerman to answer.

“Her second race, the Debutante Stakes, it was a tremendous effort. After her maiden race, that's when I approached her owner and breeder, and we partnered together. So, for that first stakes race, that was my first race with her. She won by 11 ¼ lengths in a pretty quick time. That was very impressive. So was her effort in the [1 1/16-mile] Fantasy. She broke the stakes record [1:44.16] in that one, so that would probably be the one that stands out the most.”

The first overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft comes by his love for racing naturally. His grandfather was a breeder in British Columbia, and the forward's parents, Roger and Deb, have a long association with Thoroughbreds.

Nugent-Hopkins bought his first racehorse about seven years ago. His first win as an owner, on June 13, 2015, was delivered courtesy of Zenya, a British Columbia-bred daughter of Salute the Sarge. Crossing the line second, the chestnut was elevated to first after the winner was taken down after interference in deep stretch.

Aside from Infinite Patience, other top horses Nugent-Hopkins has owned include Yukon Belle and Sanawar. In 76 starts, his starters have won nine races and earned 23 seconds and 17 thirds.

His first start at Woodbine will come in the Fury.

“I've been to Woodbine once with my parents when I was young,” said the alternate captain.

In less than two weeks time, he'll be there again, so to speak.

Only this time, he'll be represented by a starter in a key race leading up to the Woodbine Oaks.

Nugent-Hopkins is looking forward to seeing how his stable star, trained by Barbara Heads, stacks up against other talented three-year-old fillies.

“She can relax if she needs to, which she showed in the Fantasy. It will be really fun. I'll definitely be watching online. I'm pretty reserved… my dad is the one who is a little more vocal and gets into it. But I'm still pretty nervous about it. I just want everything to go okay for her, and make sure that she's comfortable out there. If it doesn't work out, then we can always bring her back here.”

As for what's in a name, Nugent-Hopkins has a great story to share about how his top-shelf filly came to be known as Infinite Patience.

“It's funny. My partner, he named her after his wife, he told me. He said for them to have been together for so long, she needs to have infinite patience. Actually, the horse's nickname is 'Irony,' because she's not patient. She's not super high-strung, but she wants to go, she wants to do it, and she doesn't want to wait around too much.”

Nugent-Hopkins would love to see that for the sixth time.

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Grace Clark, Eric DeCoster Selected For The Jockey Club’s Academic Scholarships

The Jockey Club announced Tuesday that Grace Clark has been selected to receive The Jockey Club Scholarship and Eric DeCoster has been selected to receive The Jockey Club Jack Goodman Scholarship.

The Jockey Club Scholarship provides $15,000 ($7,500 per semester) to a student who is pursuing a bachelor's degree or higher at any university and has demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in the Thoroughbred industry.

The Jockey Club Jack Goodman Scholarship awards $6,000 ($3,000 per semester) annually to a student at the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) and is based on academic achievement, a proposed career path in the Thoroughbred racing industry, and previous industry involvement. Goodman was a longtime member of The Jockey Club and one of three founders of the RTIP.

Clark is a rising senior at the University of Kentucky and is majoring in Community and Leadership Development with a minor in Agricultural Economics. In addition to being a marketing intern and tour guide for Godolphin, she has worked in various roles for Kentucky Downs and is active in the National FFA Organization. Upon graduation, Clark hopes to work in educational outreach and promotion of the Thoroughbred industry.

DeCoster is an incoming freshman in the RTIP this fall. An Arizona native, he worked as an assistant manager at a local barn and cohosts “Racing Rundown,” a horse racing podcast. DeCoster aspires to be a bloodstock agent.

“The Jockey Club's two academic scholarships are part of the portfolio of initiatives designed to support the Thoroughbred industry, and we are proud to assist Grace and Eric in their efforts to pursue careers in the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industries,” said James L. Gagliano, president and chief operating officer of The Jockey Club.

The Jockey Club, founded in 1894 and dedicated to the improvement of Thoroughbred breeding and racing, is the breed registry for North American Thoroughbreds. In fulfillment of its mission, The Jockey Club, directly or through subsidiaries, provides support and leadership on a wide range of important industry initiatives, and it serves the information and technology needs of owners, breeders, media, fans and farms. It founded America's Best Racing (americasbestracing.net), the broad-based fan development initiative for Thoroughbred racing, and in partnership with the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, operates OwnerView (ownerview.com), the ownership resource. Additional information is available at jockeyclub.com.

The University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program has placed almost 600 alumni in the racing industry. Alumni currently work in all aspects of the horse racing industry, including breed registries, racetracks, owners and breeders associations, sales companies, bloodstock agencies, racing commissions, tote companies, breeding farms and equine publications. Additional information is available at ua-rtip.org.

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