From the New York Racing Association
One leading breeding farm and two venerable stakes will be linked in 2008 as Shadwell Farm becomes the presenting sponsor for the New York Racing Association's Travers Stakes (gr. I) and Suburban Handicap (gr. I) through 2009.
The two events boast histories crowded with champions, classic winners, and Hall of Fame horses.
“Shadwell Farm is proud to announce its partnership with the New York Racing Association by sponsoring both the grade I Suburban Handicap and the grade I Travers Stakes,” said Rick Nichols, vice president and general manager of Shadwell. “Shadwell has been supportive of New York racing and anxiously looks forward to our involvement both at Belmont Park and Saratoga as a wonderful honor and an exciting new experience.”
Oldest of the country's 3-year-old races and centerpiece of the prestigious Saratoga season, the $1-million Travers Stakes presented by Shadwell Farm will be run for the 139th time Aug. 23. The 1¼-mile event will be televised nationwide on ESPN.
The 1¼-mile Suburban Handicap has long been one of the signature races in North America and figured prominently in the resume of Shadwell Stable's 2006 Horse of the Year Invasor. The 122nd running of the $400,000 Suburban Handicap presented by Shadwell Farm will be at Belmont June 28.
Gavin Landry, NYRA’s senior vice president of sales and market development, said: “Beyond the seven-figure investment that Shadwell has made in New York racing, what is most important is Shadwell's commitment to a partnership with NYRA and the desire to associate with the NYRA brand, representing the best racing in the world."
