Harness: 2021 Breeders Crown Charity Challenge exceeds expectations

The 2021 Breeders Crown Charity Challenge presented by the Libfeld-Katz Breeding Partnership exceeded expectations this year and raised a total of $409,225.

Four tri-state charities benefited from the Challenge that ran July 2 through Breeders Crown night one on Friday, October 29. Driver Grand Circuit points, online voting and onsite visit bonus points were tallied to award the first through fourth spots.

The John Theurer Cancer Center and Team Dexter Dunn captured the top spot by a slim three-point margin and earned $134,050. Coming in second place and earning $84,500 was Special Olympics NJ behind a strong social media push by Team Tim Tetrick.

The enCourage Kids Foundation and Team David Miller finished in third place. Meadowlands Racetrack CEO Jeff Gural and his wife Paula generously matched the third place donation winnings giving the enCourage Kids Foundation $119,450. The New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund and Team Yannick Gingras finished the Challenge in fourth place earning $59,725.

A special thank you goes out to the generous donations of sponsors including:

* Diamond Sponsors: FanDuel & Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment

* Platinum Sponsors: Nancy Takter, Ron Burke, Nifty Norman, Brett Pelling & Tony Alagna

* Gold Sponsors: Deo Volente Farms, Concord Stud Farm, Marcus Melander, Julie Miller, Linda Toscano, Hogan Equine Clinic

* Silver Sponsors: Dexter Dunn, Yannick Gingras, David Miller, Tim Tetrick, Noel Daley, Ake Svanstedt, Chris Ryder, Tom & John Cancelliere, Jim Campbell

Many thanks go out to the "Breedings for a Cause" bidders and the breeding donors Hanover Shoe Farms and Dr. Bridgette Jablonsky, the Captaintreacherous Syndicate, Blue Chip Farm and Chapter Seven Syndicate, Adam Bowden of Diamond Creek Farms, Southwind Farm and Muscle Hill Syndicate, the Walner Syndicate and Brittany Farms and Val d'Or for their generous donations. $10,000 was also donated personally by Marvin Katz to the Woodhill Community Center in Lexington, KY on behalf of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale for their support of the Charity Challenge initiative.

To date $812,591 has been raised for local organizations in need through the Breeders Crown Charity Challenge, creative in 2019 to help host tracks forge a bond with their regional communities while also highlighting the benevolence of the harness racing industry.

-edited release (Meadowlands)