By Bloodhorse.com
DEL MAR, Calif. (July 14, 2016) –Majority owners Perry and Denise Martin and Taylor Made Stallions announced July 14 that 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome will run to benefit the V Foundation for Cancer Research, as a portion of his earnings through the remainder of his racing career will be committed to the charity.
California Chrome is currently pointed to the $200,000 San Diego Handicap (gr. II) July 23, and the $1 million Pacific Classic (gr. I) Aug. 20, both at Del Mar.
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 an auction following the San Diego Handicap that will offer 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. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to The V Foundation.
“When we selected a charity, we were looking for a charity that has the same values as Taylor Made Stallions,” Taylor Made president Duncan Taylor said. “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 we believe that this relationship is groundbreaking in horse racing.”