A series of special events leading up to the 42nd annual Eclipse Awards will benefit the Gulfstream Thoroughbred Aftercare Program, the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF), The Race for Education and the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced Tuesday. The Eclipse Awards will be held January 19 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.
Among the events that are open to the public during Eclipse Awards week are a golf tournament at The Westin Diplomat Golf Location on January 15 that will benefit the PDJF; a slots tournament at Gulfstream on January 16 that will benefit The Race for Education and the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation; a celebrity poker tournament at Gulfstream on January 17 to benefit the PDJF; and a cocktail party at Gulfstream on January 18 that will benefit Gulfstream Thoroughbred Aftercare Program.
The week will be culminated by Saturday night's Eclipse Awards ceremony, which will feature a "Miami Chic" theme with black-tie attire optional.
"We are delighted to join Gulfstream Park and The Stronach Group, Daily Racing Form and The Breeders' Cup in affiliating with these terrific charities as the Eclipse Awards expands to a weeklong series of festivities leading to the crowning of our human and equine Champions for the 2012 racing year," said Alex Waldrop, president and CEO of the NTRA.
Below is the complete schedule of events during Eclipse Awards week:
Wednesday, January 16 thru Monday, January 21: World-class Thoroughbred racing at Gulfstream Park.
Tuesday, January 15: Eclipse Charity Golf Tournament at The Westin Diplomat Golf Location benefiting Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF).
Wednesday, January 16: Eclipse Charity Slots Tournament benefiting The Race for Education and Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation.
Thursday, January 17: Eclipse Charity Celebrity Poker Tournament benefiting PDJF.
Friday, January 18: Eclipse-eve Cocktail Party Under the Stars at Gulfstream Park benefiting Gulfstream Thoroughbred Aftercare Program and featuring the artwork of Barbara Livingston (admission included with Eclipse Award ticket).
Saturday, January 19: Eclipse Awards Dinner, Awards Ceremony and After Party.
Gulfstream will also offer the "Sunshine Millions" on January 19, a six-race stakes program featuring more than $1 million in purses, and there is the "First Chance, Last Chance" Handicapping tournament on January 19-20 that serves as qualifier to the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas.
Tickets to the Eclipse Awards ceremony are available for $375 each or $3,750 for a table of 10. A block of rooms has been reserved at The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, located on the ocean and only a short distance from Gulfstream Park. For ticket purchases and room reservations, please contact Michele Ravencraft of the NTRA at mravencraft@ntra.com, or call (859) 422-2657. Order forms for tickets are available at www.NTRA.com.