After a a light final weekend in September, the Road to the 2021 Breeders’ Cup World Championships resumes at full tilt with a total of 14 preps scheduled from Oct. 1-3.
A day spent at the races is special for everyone. Whether it’s your first time or you’re a seasoned pro, nothing beats the magic of hearing, “And they’re off!,” followed by the surreal rhythm of hooves pounding across the track. To relive the excitement, we asked six influencers that have partnered with ABR throughout the years to share what their experiences with horse racing have been like.
Patrick O’Neill, nephew to two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O’Neill and bloodstock agent Dennis O’Neill, had a different interest from most college kids when he was an undergraduate student and a member of Brown University’s football team. He insisted on adding TVG to the fraternity house’s cable television package; he was the one who watched horse racing at every opportunity, including in class, and in film study prior to practice.
The domestic Road to the Breeders’ Cup schedule takes a break this upcoming weekend before picking up for a 2 ½-week run loaded with final “Win and You’re In” preps. But the important races continue Saturday as the focus shifts to Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pa., where two Grade 1 stakes worth $1 million apiece will bring together some of the top 3-year-olds in training to vie for divisional supremacy.
We are finally in the homestretch of our journey, and oh man….what a ride! Although there really was no way I could have predicted how this would all come together, I have to say that I am very glad to know horses well enough to realize that anything can happen!
