Old Friends named beneficiary of Breeders’ Cup, with commemorative Zenyatta Maker’s Mark bottle offered to fans

-- Edited Press Release –

Continuing its collaboration to raise funds for important causes, the Breeders’ Cup and Maker's Mark announced that Old Friends Farm, home to some of the most popular retired Thoroughbred racehorses, has been named the official charity beneficiary of the 2016 Breeders’ Cup World Championships and will be offering a limited edition, commemorative Zenyatta bottle of Maker's Mark.

Fans can contribute to Old Friends and receive a Maker's Mark limited edition commemorative Zenyatta bottle, the first and only female horse to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic, by making a donation and attending the Championships for Charity celebration on November 2 in Arcadia, Calif. The Breeders’ Cup, consisting of 13 races and purses and awards totaling $28 million, will be held on November 4-5 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

Ann and Jerry Moss, owners of Zenyatta, worked with both Breeders’ Cup and Maker’s Mark in selecting Old Friends as the beneficiary of the 2016 bottle program.

Breeders' Cup and Maker's Mark have collaborated on a three-year program offering a limited-edition, five-bottle collection featuring a few of the most legendary Champions in Breeders' Cup history. Each bottle pays tribute with a customized design and signature from each Champion's connections. In the first year of the program, Breeders’ Cup and Maker’s Mark offered fans the opportunity to donate toward the first three limited-edition commemorative bottles of Breeders’ Cup Champions A.P. Indy, Lure and Personal Ensign. In 2017, a limited-edition commemorative Maker's Mark bottle of Cigar will be offered.

To support Old Friends, fans can reserve a bottle at www.breederscup.com/championsforcharity by making a $400 donation to receive a 2016 Maker's Mark limited-edition commemorative Zenyatta bottle. Once the donation has been made, those donors can collect their bottles at Arcadia Night: Salute to Zenyatta, which will take place on November 2 at the Gold Line Plaza, in Arcadia. The event will include live music, local food trucks, and signature Breeders’ Cup cocktails, among other special amenities.

“In conjunction with Maker’s Mark, we are very proud that Old Friends Farm, represented by the passion and dedication of Michael Blowen, is our chartable beneficiary this year,” said Breeders’ Cup President and CEO, Craig Fravel. “We recognize the importance as an industry of taking care of retired racehorses after they have given so much to us during their racing careers. We also look forward to many fans of Thoroughbred racing supporting this worthy cause with their donations to receive a commemorative bottle of Zenyatta, one of our greatest and most popular champions.”

Breeders’ Cup race winners Alphabet Soup (1996 Classic), Eldaafer (2010 Marathon), and Amazombie (2011 Sprint) are in residence at Old Friends in Georgetown, Ky.

“We are flattered and grateful to have been chosen by Jerry and Ann Moss, as well as Breeders’ Cup and Maker’s Mark, for this prestigious campaign,” said Michael Blowen, founder and President of Old Friends. “The Mosses have been strong supporters of this organization almost since its inception, and we are so proud to be working with them on this remarkable tribute to the remarkable Zenyatta. The impact this contribution will have on our retirees will be invaluable, and we just can’t thank everyone enough.”