Breeders' Cup Charities Sets Annual Day of Giving

Breeders' Cup Limited announced June 23 that its Annual Day of Giving will take place on Wednesday, July 22. This initiative benefits Breeders' Cup Charities and is dedicated to generating meaningful, lasting support for key industry non-profits and the broader Thoroughbred racing community. The Annual Day of Giving on July 22 marks exactly 100 days before the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., Oct. 30-31.   Founded in 2008, Breeders' Cup Charities serves as the official outreach program of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. For the second consecutive year, Breeders' Cup Charities will support its mission to raise contributions across five core pillars: (i) Thoroughbred aftercare, (ii) jockey health and wellness, (iii) backstretch and industry workers, (iv) equine research, and (v) other impactful community initiatives. For 2026, Breeders' Cup Charities will proudly support multiple established charities, including but not limited to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, and the Race Track Chaplaincy of America.   A generous pledge from Ken Freirich, racehorse owner, philanthropist, songwriter, retired entrepreneur and CEO, will kick off the Annual Day of Giving. Freirich will match up to $100,000 for donations raised this year.  Freirich's match contribution to the Annual Day of Giving in 2025 helped to raise more than $200,000. This contribution is part of an initial $500,000 pledge he made last year to Breeders' Cup Charities, which will be donated over a 3 1/2-year period. Freirich hopes his generosity will serve as an impetus for others, positively impacting the Thoroughbred industry's tradition of giving through long-term commitments. Fans and supporters are encouraged to participate in the Annual Day of Giving by visiting BreedersCup.com/charities or by calling 859-514-9428 to make a contribution on July 22. "The ongoing growth of Breeders' Cup Charities demonstrates the tremendous opportunity we have to leverage the Breeders' Cup World Championships as a force for good throughout the Thoroughbred industry," said Drew Fleming, President & CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited. "With the support of generous partners such as Ken Freirich and so many others across our sport, we are creating new ways for the Championships to deliver meaningful, lasting support to the charities and initiatives that strengthen racing's future." Beyond the Annual Day of Giving, the racing community and fans will have numerous opportunities throughout the year to support Breeders' Cup Charities. All royalties generated from official Breeders' Cup merchandise sales continue to benefit Breeders' Cup Charities, an initiative launched in 2025. In addition, a donation option is integrated into the Breeders' Cup World Championships ticket checkout process, providing ticket purchasers with a convenient way to contribute. Through the annual Champions Give Back campaign, attendees at the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland will be able to support Breeders' Cup Charities in a variety of meaningful ways. A portion of proceeds from official event cocktails sold on-site will be donated to the charity, while fans can further contribute by rounding up their merchandise purchases at checkout or purchasing select specialty items, with all proceeds benefiting Breeders' Cup Charities. Champions Give Back will also feature additional fundraising initiatives throughout World Championships week, including text-to-donate opportunities and a post-event online auction featuring Thoroughbred racing memorabilia and exclusive experiences. Owners of World Championships contenders will also have the option to dedicate a percentage of their purse earnings to Breeders' Cup Charities. To learn more about these and other ways to support the organization's mission, visit BreedersCup.com/charities.