One of Kentucky's best known bourbon makers is teaming up with one of the highest profile horse racing events in the country to raise money for charity. The first of three charity events will occur the day before this fall's much anticipated Breeders Cup at Keeneland.
The partnership between the Breeders Cup and Maker's Mark seeks to raise $1 million over the next three years for the Lexington Cancer Foundation, the Race for Education, and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. The public will be allowed to bid on limited edition Maker's Mark bottles, each featuring a previous Breeders Cup champion. Bob Elliston, Breeders Cup CEO, says a $400 donation is required to participate. "Then you would show up and would begin to bid on those three bottles,” said Elliston. “If only 500 people choose to bid on each of those 500, we would raise exactly $1 million.”
Three of the bottles representing champions AP Indy, Lure, and Personal Ensign will be released this fall at the ticketed event the day before the Breeders Cup competition. Two other bottles, featuring Zenyatta and Cigar will be released in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
Jimmy King, president of Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, said "The past two years total we've raised $3.5 million for these 42 accredited operations that serve 130 facilities across the country.”
Wednesday's announcement of 'Champions for Charity' came at the historic track's library. ?
