A total of 12 Kentucky-based horsemen and horsewomen are 'catalogued' and set to go 'under the hammer' this coming Friday at the Race for Education's eighth Horsemen of All Ages Bachelor Auction, to be held at the Red Mile in Lexington. Among the 'lots' is the TDN's own International Editor Kelsey Riley, who is being sponsored and 'consigned' to the event by the TDN. Other consignors of the dozen bachelors, split evenly among the sexes, include Overbrook Farm, Four Star Sales, WinStar Farm, Casner Racing, Bowling Bloodstock & Vinery Sales, Stonestreet Farm, Mt. Brilliant Farm, Darley, Gainesway, Team Valor International and Phipps Stable. Some 200 or so attendees are expected.
The Race for Education was founded in 2002 by Elizabeth Jensen and Bill Casner as a means of providing educational programs and scholarships to young people in the equine and agricultural industry with significant financial need. A public charity, the RFE received funding from many sources and its most prominent and successful fundraiser is the 'Racehorse Nomination Program.' Racehorse owners are invited to donate a percentage of their horses' earnings to the foundation. Prominent participants have included Kentucky Derby winners Animal Kingdom, Street Sense and Super Saver, Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Shanghai Bobby and many other horses.
“I am so proud of this organization,” said Jensen, who co-founded the RFE in 2002. “We've continued to grow every year and continued to provide more and more services and we've had so much support across all aspects of the industry over the years–from the farms, to the racetracks to the owners to locals from the community. We're also grateful for all the bachelors and bachelorettes who offer to do this. I can tell you that getting out there and putting yourself on that stage is a lot harder than writing a check. I can't thank all the folks that are doing this enough. It's also great that all of the farms are supporting us and getting behind the great people that are doing this.”
For those that are 'not single,' Jensen points out there will be live Zydeco music, food and drink and a variety of other packages, including a trip for two to Beverly Hills and a gift certificate to Tiffanys and tickets to the NCAA Final Four.
Today, we profile, in brief, the 'colts' who will 'compete' for the affection of the bidding public Friday evening:
CHRIS BENEZET (consigned by Mt. Brilliant Farm)
Consigned as a 'stallion prospect,' Chris was born in New York City, but grew up and was raised in Lexington. A graduate of Tates Creek High School, Chris is the founder and CEO of the downtown Lexington-based Benezet & Associates construction services. Chris's go-to dance move: 'The Cha-Cha' Slide.
“We have always been huge fans and supporters of the Race for Education and everything they do. We appreciate what they do in helping to support the advancement of our childrens' education and throughout the equine industry and that's why we support the program.”
–Gay Bredin, Chief Operating Officer, Mt. Brilliant Farm
MATT BOWLING (consigned by Bowling Bloodstock)
A native of Louisville, Matt graduated the University of Kentucky and became the stallion director at the former Empire Stud in New York, now Vinery New York. Matt also worked as an independent agent for The Stallion Company, syndicating stallions in the U.S. and abroad. He bleeds Kentucky blue and is a fan of 'The King' George Strait.
ANDRES CABALLERO (consigned by WinStar Farm)
Born in Miami, FL, and a fan of that city's two-time NBA champion Heat, Andres, a Florida Gator, interned at Claiborne Farm and worked as a hot-walker and barn foreman for trainer Todd Pletcher in South Florida and Saratoga. He currently holds the position of assistant stallion manager at WinStar Farm.
DEUCE GREATHOUSE (consigned by Overbrook Farm)
A self-professed 'steak-and-potatoes' guy, Deuce was born in Lexington, but attended college at Tulane University in New Orleans. An avid golfer, Deuce proclaims, “if you don't like gambling and horse racing, don't waste your time.”
SEAN STEPHANIC (consigned by Phipps Stable)
The proprietor of Hybrid Martial Arts LLC, Sean is a two-time Hall of Fame inductee and three-time world champion and has trained several champions. A native of Harrisburg, PA and father of two girls, Sean believes, “what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.” His favorite horse is Orb.
JORGE VASQUEZ (consigned by Gainesway)
Born in Santiago, Chile, Jorge has also lived in Venezuela and England, but got to Lexington “as soon as he could.” A fan of the Arsenal FC and University of Kentucky basketball, Jorge calls his college education 'complicated' and loves to do the Macarena.
Click here for a list of all contestants.
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