Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Horses and Hope To Accept Churchill Downs Donations on Saturday, June 13

Jun 14, 2009 By John Asher

While many of America’s top horses will be competing in the $600,000 Stephen Foster Handicap and four other major races at Churchill Downs on Saturday, the search for a cure for breast cancer will also be in the spotlight as the historic track presents a $100,000 check to Susan G. Komen for the Cure©, the world’s largest breast cancer organization.

    The $100,000 donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the result of the fundraising partnership between the organization and the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks, America’s premier race for 3-year-old fillies renewed for the 135th consecutive year at Churchill Downs on Friday, May 1.  Many of the 104,867 people who attended the race were dressed in Komen for the Cure’s signature shade of pink as Oaks fans were urged “Think Pink” to show support of the effort to find a cure of breast cancer.

    The special day of racing was packed with activities designed to raise awareness of breast cancer, including an emotional parade of breast cancer survivors on the track shortly before the running of the Kentucky Oaks.  The day was capped by a breathtaking Oaks victory by Rachel Alexandra, who won the race by a record 20 ¼ lengths.

    Scheduled to accept the $100,000 check from Churchill Downs on Saturday is Katrina McGhee, vice president, Marketing for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  Also scheduled to be present are Bob Silverthorn and Dee Vance of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Louisville.

    Churchill Downs will also present a check for $30,000 as a donation to Horses and Hope, a breast cancer outreach and awareness initiative in Kentucky’s horse industry that was founded by Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear and the Kentucky Cancer Program.  Horses and Hope works with workers at Kentucky racetracks and horse farms to raise breast cancer awareness and provide opportunities for education, screening and early detection of breast cancer.

    Scheduled to accept the $10,000 donation for Horses and Hope will be Connie Sorrell, director of the Kentucky Cancer Program regional office at the University of Louisville, Mary Midkiff of Horses and Hope, and Anita Cauley of the First Lady’s “Pink Team.”

    The check presentations to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Horses and Hope are set to occur after the sixth race, which has a scheduled post time of 3:35 p.m. EDT.

For information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877-GO KOMEN.

Information on Horses and Hope is available at www.horsesandhope.org.