Big Brown makes his run at Triple Crown history on Saturday, June 7, but there will be several big winners two nights before when the New York Racing Association and The Jockey Club host the Rags to Riches Belmont Bash.
Tickets for the event, which will be held Thursday, June 5, at The Clubhouse at Meadowbrook Pointe in Westbury, N.Y., are $250 and proceeds will benefit Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and the Belmont Child Care Association. To obtain tickets, contact Nancy Kelly at (212) 521-5305 or nkelly@jockeyclub.com; or Jenifer Van Deinse at (212) 521-5327 or jvandeinse@jockeyclub.com.
The Bash, named after 2007 Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches, will feature a charity casino, dinner and musical entertainment by the Faze 4 Orchestra.
A small live auction will feature:
A trip for two to Las Vegas for four days and three nights with accommodations at the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort, Spa and Golf.
A VIP trip for four to the 2008 Breeders' Cup at Oak Tree at Santa Anita Park in California.
A painted aluminum lawn jockey signed by dozens of active and retired jockeys.
A finish-line box for Opening Day at Saratoga Race Course as well as lunch and dinner for four.
Some of the prizes include:
A "Night on the Town" in New York City, which includes dinner at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill, two orchestra tickets to any Broadway show and limousine service for the evening.
Rags to Riches' halter with a framed photograph of the 2007 Belmont Stakes winner, signed by trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez.
A blue glass Sculpture of Barbaro's shoes.
Golf and dinner for four at the Saratoga National Golf Club in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
A 12-litre bottle of Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne.
Gift basket filled with Borghese products.
Four seats in the original owner's box at Shea Stadium. (This is the last season the New York Mets will play in Shea Stadium.)
Several premium electronics items, including an iPod and docking station, flat screen TV's, a digital camera and printer, and video gaming systems.
"This is always an exciting time of the year for racing, and especially so this year with Big Brown going for the elusive Triple Crown," said Nancy Kelly, vice president of development for the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. "There is tremendous interest in this year's charity event and we encourage those who plan to attend to make their reservations now."
Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation (http://www.grayson-jockeyclub.org) is a leading provider of equine medical research funding aimed at enhancing the health, safety and soundness of all horses. In 2008, the foundation is underwriting 24 projects for $1,226,457, including projects devoted to laminitis and equine herpes virus, two of the most visible maladies horses face. During the last 25 years, the foundation has underwritten 239 projects at 35 universities for more than $15.5 million.
The Belmont Child Care Association is an independent, not-for-profit corporation dedicated to raising the financial resources necessary to maintain a quality child care center, Anna House. Located at Belmont Park, Anna House is the first and only full-time child care facility based on site at a U.S. racetrack. The BCCA is committed to providing early childhood education to the children of the families working at the NYRA racetracks. The BCCA also determines the admissions criteria for the children using Anna House, serves as an advisory board to its child care service provider, and acts as a liaison between the center and racetrack management and other services.
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