Stallion Owners Get Involved in Race-For-Charity Pledge

The partnership that owns the stallion Maria's Mon has pledged contributions to equine research should Monarchos, who's by Maria's Mon, win Saturday's grade I Wood Memorial Stakes and/or the grade I Kentucky Derby May 5. The pledge was announced by Mrs. Josephine Abercrombie's Pin Oak Stud, home of Maria's Mon, the champion 2-year-old of 1995.

Earlier, John and Debby Oxley, who own Monarchos, pledged 1% of the money the colt would earn with grade I victories through the Kentucky Derby. Monarchos' grade I Florida Derby win was worth $6,000 to the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. They made the same pledge for the colt Hero's Tribute, who is scheduled to start next in Saturday's grade I Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.

The partnership that owns Maria's Mon will contribute to the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation an amount equal to 1% of the winning purse of the race if Monarchos wins the Wood Memorial and/or Kentucky Derby. In addition to Pin Oak Stud, other owners of the stallion are W.T. Young's Overbrook Farm, Robert McNair's Stonerside Stables, and John Rosenthal.

Said Abercrombie, who is a Grayson-Jockey Club board member: "I hope other owners of race horses and stallions will consider major victories as appropriate occasions to make some contribution to an organization whose work helps us all."