McGaughey, Rosario to Return June 15 to Accept Engraved Derby Trophies During 'Downs After Dark,' Foster Celebrations

Jun 09, 2013 John Asher

Members of the team that guided Phipps Stable and Stuart Janney III’s Orb to victory in the 139^th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) are set to return to Churchill Downs on the Saturday, June 15 “Downs After Dark Presented by Stella Artois and Finlandia Vodka” and Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) celebrations to accept to engraved trophies earned by the winning owner, trainer, jockey and breeder in the “Run for the Roses.”

Winning trainer Claude “Shug” McGaughey III and jockey Joel Rosario are among those scheduled to participate in the track’s presentation of engraved Kentucky Derby trophies, which is scheduled after Saturday’s 4^th race, which has a post time of 7:26 p.m. (all times EDT). Post time for the evening’s first race is 6 p.m., and admission gates will open at 4 p.m.

The solid gold Kentucky Derby winner’s trophy is presented during ceremonies in the Derby Winner’s Circle in the infield pagoda immediately following the race, but is returned to Churchill Downs for the engraving of the names of the winning horse and owner. Smaller sterling silver versions of the winner’s trophy are presented to the winning trainer, jockey and breeder, and those newly engraved trophies also will be presented Saturday.

McGaughey, a native of Lexington, Ky. who earned his first Kentucky Derby victory with Orb, and Rosario, the 28-year-old native of the Dominican Republic who experienced first Derby success aboard that son of Malibu Moon, are scheduled to personally accept their trophies. The ceremony is an important part of the rich racing program that annually surrounds the $500,000-added Stephen Foster Handicap, one of America’s top races for older horses and a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event.

The Kentucky Derby winner’s trophy and the trophy to the winning breeder will be accepted by Daisy Phipps Pulito, the daughter of Phipps Stable’s Ogden “Dinny” Phipps, on behalf of her family’s stable and Janney, a cousin to the Phipps family. The victory by Orb realized the family’s dream of winning the Kentucky Derby that dates to 1928 when Distraction, owned by the Wheatley Stable of Mrs. Henry Carnegie Phipps, ran 13^th in the 54^th Derby won by Reigh Count.

Also scheduled to take part in the Kentucky Derby trophy celebration is Claiborne Farm, the famed Paris, Ky. institution where Orb was bred and raised. Although Claiborne will not receive a trophy, the farm has boarded mares and worked closely with the winning owners for decades and Orb was the 10^th horse either bred or raised at the farm to win the Kentucky Derby. The farm will be represented on Saturday by Walker Hancock, son of Claiborne Farm president Seth Hancock.         

The trophy presentation will be part of a busy evening for Rosario as the 28-year-old native of the Dominican Republic is scheduled to ride in each of evening’s four stakes races. Rosario will ride Golden Ticket in the Stephen Foster Handicap, Funny Proposition in the $175,000-added Fleur De Lis Handicap (GII), Sunbean in the $100,000-added Matt Winn (GIII) and Kitten’s Dumpling in the $100,000-added Regret (GIII).

The Spring Meet’s trio of themed “Downs After Dark” racing and entertainment celebrations are scheduled for the final three Saturdays this month: June 15 (The White Party), June 22 (Boots, Brew and BBQ) and June 29 (Star-Spangled Night).

Reserved seating can be purchased online at ChurchillDowns.com/Tickets or the on-track box office located at the Gate 1 entrance off Central Avenue (open Wednesday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. on ‘Downs After Dark’ Saturdays).

Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875. Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 140^th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 3, 2014 and its 2013 Spring Meet is scheduled continues through Sunday, June 30. The track has hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships a record eight times. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.ChurchillDowns.com.

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