The 2024 Breeders Crown Charity Challenge continues this weekend, Oct. 18-19, with the Challenge Influencer Handicapping Contest.
Jessica Otten, Dawnelle Mock, Jenna Otten and Mary McDermott will battle it out in this mythical handicapping contest to earn needed points for their respective teams.
This year's Breeders Crown Charity Challenge features teams consisting of a driver, trainer, owner and influencer grouped together to raise funds for the designated charities. The teams, which are listed below, earn points via various events and activities to determine the winners.
- SBH Health System, Bronx, NY, Yannick Gingras, Tony Alagna, Burke Racing/Weaver Bruscemi, Jenna Otten
- Friends of Union County, Dexter Dunn, Nancy Takter, Courant, Jessica Otten
- enCourage Kids, NY, Tim Tetrick, Ake Svanstedt, Bill Pollock, Mary McDermott
- New Jersey YMCA State Alliance, David Miller, Marcus Melander, Brad Grant, Dawnelle Mock
For this weekend's handicapping contest, each race night, the influencers will be given $100 in “mythical battle money.” Their mythical wagers can be on any race/wager offered on the race card. The $100 must be wagered each night. The combined earnings from each night will determine the order of finish, with first receiving 50 points, second 25 points, third 15 points and fourth 10 points.
The remaining ways teams can earn points are listed below.
- Through Oct. 19, via driver and trainer team performance on the Grand Circuit. Every time they are in a major stakes race, they earn points that are calculated.
- Through Oct. 24 via fan voting. Fans, charity participants and everyone in between can vote each day of the challenge for their favourite team. Voting is live at playmeadowlands.com.
The teams have already earned points in the August double-seater jog cart race. SBH Health System from the Bronx, with CFO Mary Grochowiski, took home first place and 50 points. Julie Gallanty, CEO of the New Jersey YMCA State Alliance, grabbed 25 points by finishing second. Emma Wolk, the Director of Development at Kids’ Direct, scored 15 points with her third-place finish. John Roman, representing Friends of Union County, received 10 points.
Additional points were earned at the Charity Challenge Open House, where SBH took home 50 points, enCourage Kids and the NJ YMCA State Alliance earned 17 points, and Friends of Union County earned 16 points.
The cheque presentations will take place on Friday, Oct. 25, following Race 2 on the night’s card, which features the Breeders Crown two-year-old finals.
The Breeders Crown Charity Challenge was conceived to create positive relationships with the local community, raise awareness and fund local charities. From 2019-2023, the Challenge raised more than $1.5 million USD for charity. This year’s Challenge has raised more than $345,000 USD.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)