Preakness Stakes: Orb-Maserati deal benefits charities

BALTIMORE - The proceeds of a sponsorship deal between the connections of Kentucky Derby winner Orb and Maserati, the car company, will benefit two racing charities, Stuart Janney III announced Thursday. Janney co-owns Orb with his cousin Ogden Mills Phipps.

Janney said the money from the deal would be split between the Grayson Jockey Club Research Foundation, which funds equine research initiatives, and the Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation, which provides financial relief and assistance to needy members of the backstretch.

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“We really want those two particular causes to do well,” Janney said. “We think not only will this money be helpful in that regard but it will also maybe stimulate other people to support those causes, and that’s great.”

Janney would not provide any of the specific financial terms of the deal other than to call the contributions made by Maserati “very generous” and “meaningful.”

Several members of Team Orb were sporting Maserati shirts Thursday morning at Pimlico and even the horse himself had a shiny new white blanket. Thus far, no member of the team has been awarded a Maserati vehicle.

“They haven’t come with the car yet,” Janney said. “If the car comes I will put the blanket on.”