Bunning to Speak at Breeders' Dinner

U. S. Senator Jim Bunning (R-Ky) will present the keynote speech when breeders of this year's Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships race winners are honored at an annual dinner to be held Jan. 6, 2002, at the Thoroughbred Club of America in Lexington, Ky. A Hall of Fame major league baseball player, Bunning is a longtime supporter of the horse industry who was instrumental in the passage of a federal financial relief package for breeders affected by Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome.

The event, which costs $75 per person, is hosted the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) and Breeders' Cup Limited. Emcees will be Mike Battaglia, on-air sports racing analyst for NBC for the last nine Breeders' Cup events, and John Asher, vice president of racing communications at Churchill Downs.

Breeders who will receive a bronze Ecorche trophy are: K. David Schwartz (for Distaff winner Unbridled Elaine), Darley Stud Management (Juvenile Fillies winner Tempera), Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum (Turf winner Fantastic Light), Jean-Luc Lagardere (Mile winner Val Royal)), Dr. Audrey Narducci (Penske Auto Centers Sprint winner Squirtle Squirt), Prince Khalid Abdullah (Filly & Mare Turf winner Banks Hill (GB)), Wayne G. Lyster III and Jayeff "B" Stables partners Richard Santulli and George Prussin (Bessemer Trust Juvenile winner Johannesburg), and Michael Cooper (Classic winner Tiznow).

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