Since 2019 Diamond Creek Farm has sponsored a unique Winner's Lounge experience and champagne celebration for the connections of the horses who win a Breeders Crown championship.
This year’s events, worth $7.2 million are held at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Friday, Oct. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 28 with four freshman events on Friday (Races 10-13) and eight three-year-old and older races on Saturday (Races 8-15).
Award-winning harness racing personality Heather Vitale, one of the most recognizable faces in harness racing, will be conducting interviews in the Diamond Creek Winner's Lounge, where connections of the horses are invited to re-watch their race and enjoy a celebratory champagne toast. Vitale will interview the connections live on the Breeders Crown COSA TV broadcast.
Diamond Creek’s Adam Bowden sought to extend the thrill of victory with the Winner's Lounge concept and the “Lounge” immediately became an instant tradition and VIP experience at Breeders Crown host tracks. The Diamond Creek mission has always been one of providing superior service and experience for breeders and buyers, something they have extended past the winners circle with the Winner's Lounge.
Vitale is currently the host of two popular television shows - Post Time, a weekly show on a CBS affiliate that has aired continuously for over 20 years covering racing at Harrington Raceway, Dover Downs and Ocean Downs, and PA Harness Week, which airs on NBC Sports Philadelphia, covering harness racing happenings at Harrah’s Philadelphia and Pocono Downs. In addition to her weekly local productions, Vitale has been the on-air talent for some of the biggest races in our sport (including The Little Brown Jug, The Breeders Crown & The Meadowlands Pace) and on national channels like espn2, CBS Sports Network and MAV-TV.
Her social media skills have sent her around the world, including Ireland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and France to cover harness racing. But, her popular and widely viewed Facebook Live broadcasts have also brought fans a behind-the-scene look from The International Trot, The Hambletonian and even Shenandoah Downs. She is a two-time Sam McKee Broadcasters Award winner, an USHWAn of the Year, and a recipient of the Harness Horse International Media Award.
The COSA TV show, hosted by by Greg Blanchard, Mark McKelvie and Rick Uppal airs Friday, Oct. 27 from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. (EDT) and Saturday, Oct. 28 from 8:30 p.m. to – 12 a.m. (EDT). The show will also be featured on the Standardbred Canada website both nights.
(Breeders Crown)