As Sierra Leone charged across the wire first in the Breeders’ Cup Classic Saturday at Del Mar Racetrack in California, he had a large cheering section extending back to Louisville, Kentucky.
The horse, who had finished a close second in the Kentucky Derby earlier in the spring, garnered over $3.6 million for his win in the $7 million Classic. Thanks to the generosity of his part-owner Brook Smith, the Backside Learning Center at Churchill Downs will be receiving nearly $60,000. This money will go directly toward programming and resources supporting backside workers and their families in Louisville .
Brook Smith, part-owner of Sierra Leone and founder of Rocket Ship Racing, LLC, is a long-time supporter of the Backside Learning Center’s (BLC) mission and efforts to support racetrack workers and their families. He helped spearhead the Purses for a Purpose program connecting horse owners a and their runners with the BLC’s efforts. Through the program, he donated a portion of Sierra Leone’s purse earnings from the Kentucky Derby when the race favorite finished second by a nose. The recent win, though, and subsequent donation takes things to a new level.
“Sierra Leone won the most prestigious race in the world last Saturday. He won, not just because of his unbelievable running style, not for his breeders/owners/connections, but more importantly he won for the backside community at Churchill Downs,” said Smith. “His victory is for all the families that make this incredible sport possible.”
The entire Breeders’ Cup experience was a positive one for the BLC, as earlier in the week at the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters Awards winner, Executive Director Sherry Stanley accepted the Joe Palmer Award for meritorious service to the racing industry.
(L-R): National Turf Writers and Broadcasters president Byron King presents the Joe Palmer Award to Sherry Stanley, executive director of the Backside Learning Center, and Caton Bredar, a BLC board member
“We are so excited to be recognized and believe we are a model to be duplicated across industries–a support system based in the heart of the workplace.” said Stanley. “By helping to address the many challenges faced by workers and their families, we are strengthening communities and the entire horseracing industry. Joe Palmer saw horseracing as a microcosm of humanity, with all its paradoxes, which is such an accurate observation.”
The BLC is hosting their annual benefit on November 22nd, noon at Churchill Downs First Turn Club. It’s not too late to register! Or, take advantage of our raffle for some incredible Derby Week experiences and bid on incredible items in our silent auction by visiting our event page: benefitforthebackside.com.
This press release has not been edited by BloodHorse. If there are any questions please contact the organization that produced the release.
