Last year's "Racing for Research" program generated $35,940 for Grayson-Jockey Club. It included 1% of the Acorn Stakes purse earned by Debby Oxley's Forest Secrets.
John Oxley, owner of 3-year-old stakes winner Booklet, has pledged a portion of future purses won by the colt to equine research. Booklet is scheduled to race next in the March 16 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.Last year, Oxley won the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby with Monarchos, and forwarded 1% of the winning purses to Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. This year, Oxley has pledged 1% of the individual race purses to the foundation should Booklet win any of the following stakes: Florida Derby, Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, or Belmont Stakes."This is an exceptionally generous commitment," said Edward Bowen, president of Grayson-Jockey Club. "Mr. Oxley's contribution last year was later matched by a similar contribution by Prince Ahmed Salman, owner of Preakness and Belmont winner Point Given. So, the foundation had a sort of Triple Crown sweep -- all for the betterment of equine research."
