The Breeders Crown Charity Challenge, the brainchild of prominent owner Marvin Katz, is back for a sixth year and underway.
Local New Jersey and New York charities were paired with their respective harness racing teams consisting of a driver, trainer, owner and influencer via a random draw on Friday, Aug. 30. The teams are listed below.
- 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
Also, on Friday, the charity representatives competed in a double-seater jog cart race where points were awarded based on the order of finish. SBH Health System, Bronx, NY, with CFO Mary Grochowiski, took first place and earned 50 points; Julie Gallanty, CEO of the New Jersey YMCA State Alliance, grabbed 25 points finishing second; encourage Kids’ Director of Development, Emma Wolk, scored 15 points with her third-place finish; and John Roman, representing Friends of Union County, received 10 points.
The remaining way teams can earn points are:
- 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.
- Through Oct. 19, 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.
- On Oct. 18 & 19 via an influencer handicapping contest. Team influencers compete to amass the most money over two race cards.
The final Challenge standings will be tallied after the final race on Saturday, Oct. 19. The cheque presentations will take place on Friday, Oct. 25 during the two-year-old Breeders Crown race card.
The Breeders Crown Charity Challenge was conceived to create positive relationships with the local community, raise awareness and fund local charities. This year’s challenge has already raised over $1.5 million USD for charity.
This year’s Charity Challenge sponsors are: Meadowlands Racetrack & FanDuel, Marvin & Lynn Katz, Diamond Creek, Brad Grant, Burke Racing & Weaver Bruscemi, Bill Pollock, Anders Strom – Courant, Inc., Takter Stable, Melander Stable, Svanstedt Stable, Alagna Racing, Brittany Farms, Kentuckiana Farms, Hunterton Farm, Cameo Hills Farm, Armitage Farm, M&L of Delaware, Southwind Farms, Walnridge Farm, Dexter Dunn, Yannick Gingras, Dave Miller, Tim Tetrick, Julie Miller, Carter Pinske, Southwind Farms, Lucas Wallin, Todd McCarthy and Scott Zeron.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)