Champion California Chrome will be running for much more than bragging rights and big checks in the future. His connections have pledged a portion of the colt’s future earnings will be donated to the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Additionally, majority owners Perry and Denise Martin and Taylor Made Stallions said that they will launch a new partnership in the fight against cancer which will include additional events to raise charitable donations for the foundation.
California Chrome, North America’s all-time leading money-winner and top-ranked Thoroughbred in the country, is currently pointed towards the $200,000 San Diego Handicap on July 23, and the $1 million Pacific Classic on August 20, which will both be held at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. In addition to a portion of California Chrome’s future race earnings to support The V Foundation, the California Chrome team will also hold other special events to raise charitable donations for The V Foundation. The first such event will be following the San Diego Handicap and will auction California Chrome’s blinkers, Jockey Victor Espinoza’s silks worn in the race as well as a co-branded Chrome and V Foundation saddle blanket worn during the horse’s final workout at Del Mar. 100% of the proceeds of the auction will be donated to The V Foundation.
“When Taylor Made selected a charity, we were looking for a charity that has the same values as Taylor Made Stallions,” said Duncan Taylor, Taylor Made’s President and CEO. “When someone recommended The V Foundation, I went back and listened to Jim Valvano’s ESPY’s speech while he was fighting for his life against cancer. The wisdom from his speech perfectly matched what our company’s founders and parents Joe and Mary Emily Taylor instilled in our family growing up–family, faith and your daily work. Do it with enthusiasm and bring hope to others. I encourage everyone to listen to Jimmy V’s speech and give and do what you can to beat this dreaded disease and make the world a better place. We feel blessed to be associated with The V Foundation, which distributes 100% of all charitable donations to actual research. Our entire California Chrome team is proud of the association and believe that this relationship is groundbreaking in horse racing.”
Diagnosed with metastatic bone cancer in 1992 at the age of 46, North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator Jimmy Valvano was awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award and delivered a memorable speech at the first-ever ESPY Awards March 4, 1993. Valvano and ESPN launched the V Foundation, and Valvano died less than two months after his speech, on April 28.
“I urge all of you, all of you, to enjoy your life, the precious moments you have,” he said at the ESPYs. “To spend each day with some laughter and some thought, to get your emotions going. To be enthusiastic every day, and as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, `Nothing great could be accomplished without enthusiasm,’ to keep your dreams alive in spite of problems whatever you have. The ability to be able to work hard for your dreams to come true, to become a reality.”
For more information about The V Foundation, please visit www.jimmyv.org. For more information about California Chrome, please visit www.thechampisback.com.