Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and WinStar Farm announced Nov. 13 that WinStar will be the official sponsor of The WinStar-Grayson #GivingTuesday Challenge, to be held Nov. 28.
As part of this sponsorship, WinStar will offer 100 tickets to WinStar Fan Appreciation Day to the public to meet Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Always Dreaming, leading second-crop sire Bodemeister , and Triple Crown sire Pioneerof the Nile that day at the farm's stallion complex near Versailles, Ky.
"When Always Dreaming was found to be suffering from a severe case of ulcers this summer, his veterinarians at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital used treatments that were developed based on research funded by Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation," said Elliott Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager of WinStar Farm. "We are proud to support the health of all horses through The WinStar-Grayson #GivingTuesday Challenge, and we look forward to welcoming fans to the farm to meet some of our stallions while supporting this great cause."
Fans will have the option to sign up for one of two hour-long time slots: 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Each time slot will be limited to 50 guests. With each ticket purchase, fans will be entered for a chance to win a WinStar gift bag and stallion halter, and attendees will have the chance to win a halter worn by Always Dreaming or Bodemeister.
Tickets to the event cost $50 per person, and all proceeds will benefit Grayson. Tickets can be purchased through WinStar's online store at winstarfarm.com/tickets.
Started in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation, #GivingTuesday, held the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, is now designated as an international day of giving. This year, WinStar pledged a gift of $25,000 to Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation.
"We are so appreciative of WinStar's continued support of equine research and welfare," said Dell Hancock, chairman of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. "We are excited to kick off The WinStar-Grayson #GivingTuesday Challenge and allow fans multiple ways to contribute to the foundation, including the unique opportunity to get up close to a Kentucky Derby winner and two top sires."
In addition to purchasing tickets to the WinStar Fan Appreciation Day, fans can also donate to Grayson online at grayson-jockeyclub.org or text donations to 91999 using the keyword Grayson on #GivingTuesday, Nov. 28. All monetary contributions are tax-deductible.
Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation is traditionally the nation's leading source of private funding for equine medical research that benefits all breeds of horses. Since 1983, the foundation has provided more than $24.8 million to fund 346 projects at 43 universities in North America and overseas. Additional information about the foundation and is available at grayson-jockeyclub.org.
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