NTRA, NetJets, WFAN Join Forces on Benefit Initiative

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association, NetJets and New York radio station WFAN have teamed up on an initiative to benefit the Imus Ranch for Kids with Cancer.

On Monday, April 28, a luxury trip for two to the 2003 Kentucky Derby will be auctioned off, with the amount of the winning bid being donated to the New Mexico ranch. The auction was announced this morning by the popular radio personality Don Imus, host of the nationally syndicated "Imus in the Morning" show, in concert with actor Michael Imperioli of the hit series, "The Sopranos".

Imperioli, who plays Christopher Moltisanti on the HBO show, will accompany the winning bidder and a guest on a three-day trip (Friday-Sunday) to Louisville, Ky., site of next Saturday's 129th running of the Kentucky Derby. Along with a roundtrip flight from New York aboard a Cessna Citation X jet provided by NetJets, the prize also includes a two-night stay at Louisville's luxurious Brown hotel, transportation to and from Churchill Downs, VIP tickets to the Derby's Marquee Village, a $5,000 betting voucher and a pair of tickets to the black-tie Barnstable Brown Gala, the Derby's premier social event where show business and sports celebrities mingle with horseracing's top names.

To bid on the trip, contact WFAN's Bob Gelb at (718) 472-7215 or at bgelbwfan@aol.com. Bo Deitl, the former New York City police detective and a frequent guest on the Imus program, opened the bidding at $27,000. Bidding, which has now reached $29,000, began today and will remain open through Monday.

"Don Imus is to be congratulated for his tireless work on behalf of children with cancer," said NTRA Commissioner Tim Smith. "The NTRA is delighted to partner in those efforts with Imus and WFAN for a third consecutive year, and we are very pleased that NetJets has teamed up with us this year as well."