Woodbine Entertainment, Hambletonian Society and Breeders Crown presenting sponsor Libfeld-Katz Breeding Partnership announced on Monday, July 11 the return of the highly successful Breeders Crown Charity Challenge for 2022.

Launched in 2019 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, the Breeders Crown Charity Challenge has raised more than $800,000 for local charities of each year’s Breeders Crown host track. Last year’s challenge set a new event high, raising more than $400,000 for charities in The Meadowlands in the East Rutherford, New Jersey area.

This year’s challenge format will see four teams, consisting each of a prominent owner, their charity of choice and a Woodbine leading driver, vying to secure the largest donation amount possible from a minimum pool of $200,000. ​

The four teams are listed below:

• Team Brad Grant/Doug McNair – Charity: Milton District Hospital Foundation
• ​Team Determination/Bob McClure – Charity: Kids Help Phone Line
• ​Team Steve Heimbecker/James MacDonald – Charity: Pine River Institute
• ​Team Libfeld-Katz/Louis-Philippe Roy – Charity: Toronto General Hospital Heart Research Centre - SickKids Hospital Toronto

Each team has pledged $25,000, which guarantees their charity a minimum donation of that amount. An additional $100,000 has been raised through gracious donations by industry participants.

With a minimum $25,000 guaranteed to each charity, the additional funds will be up for grabs through a Driver Challenge and Social Media Challenge.

The Driver Challenge will distribute $50,000 to the charities based on each driver’s performance in the Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Lampman Cup standings. The team with the driver earning the most points in the OSS season will be awarded $20,000. The remaining $30,000 will be distributed $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000 based on each driver’s ranking in the standings.

The Social Media Challenge, beginning September 1, will distribute $50,000 to the charities based on each team’s social media engagement. The team creating the most engagement by using #Crown22 and a team hashtag will earn $20,000. The remaining $30,000 will be distributed $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000 based on each team’s engagement numbers.

In addition to the various challenges, the popular Cocktails For A Cause will again be held at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale on Tuesday, Oct. 4, serving as another avenue to raise funds for charity.

The 2022 Breeders Crown presented by Libfeld-Katz Breeding Partnership will take place on Friday, Oct. 28 and Saturday, Oct. 29 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The Breeders Crown Charity Challenge would not be possible without the generous support of the following individuals and groups: Marvin Katz, ​Al Libfeld, ​Determination, ​Brad Grant, ​Steve Heimbecker, Bob McClure, Doug McNair, ​James MacDonald and ​Louis-Philippe Roy. Diamond Pledges: ​Alagna Racing, ​Bettors Delight Syndicate – Blue Chip Farms, ​Hanover Shoe Farms, ​Hunterton Farm/Southwind Farms, ​Lindy Farms/Brittany Farms, ​Muscle Mass – Bob Brady, ​Seelster Farms, ​Tara Hills Stud and ​Winbak Farm. Additional Pledges: ​Carmen Auciello, ​John Bax, ​Cameo Hills Farm and Richard Moreau.

(Woodbine)