Godolphin makes Cup pledge

Godolphin will donate 100 percent of its Breeders' Cup earnings to the NTRA Charities New York Heroes Fund, it was announced by D.G. Van Clief, vice chairman of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, on Tuesday.

Van Clief made the announcement on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed at a lunch in midtown Manhattan, where the world's racing press had gathered to preview the European assault on Saturday's $13 million World Thoroughbred Championships at Belmont Park.

The Godolphin pledge is in addition to the $5 million Sheikh Mohammed donated to the NTRA Fund a few days after the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. With seven horses running in five different races, Godolphin could earn as much as $4.68 million before rider and trainer fees are deducted.