Standing Ovation by Ovation Riding: Make-a-Wish Day at Keeneland

The partnership between Make-a-Wish and Keeneland celebrated its 10th anniversary this year: we’re recognizing that partnership in this week’s Standing Ovation by Ovation Riding.

Wish kid Miranda awards a winning jockey with her family at Keeneland. Photo courtesy of Make-A-Wish.

On October 12, 2017, Keeneland Racecourse celebrated the tenth anniversary of Make-a-Wish Day at the Lexington track, in partnership with local equine facilities and Thoroughbred farms. This annual celebration has raised over $500,000 for Make-a-Wish, with $83,000 being raised this year alone. This funding has contributed to 62 wishes being granted for children in the region battling life-threatening medical conditions.

Of the ten Kentucky children attending the 2017 Make-a-Wish Day at Keeneland, some have already experienced their wish come true while others are waiting for their wish experience. The children spent the morning touring local farms and equine hospitals before enjoying VIP treatment at the track, getting to meet the jockeys and spend time in the winner’s circle.

Wish kid Jack and sister Maddie meet with jockeys before a race at Keeneland during Make-A-Wish Day. Photo courtesy of Make-A-Wish.

Sponsors of the 2017 event included:

• Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital
• Shawnee Farm
• Gainesway
• Hagyard Equine Medical Institute
• Coolmore America Ashford Stud
• Lane’s End
• Godolphin
• Flaxman Holdings/Frizzy Foundation
• Shadwell Farm
• Keeneland

We love seeing horse people spreading the joy and using their abilities to fundraise to help such a deserving cause.

Wish kid Cade Sloan and brother Colin meet jockeys before a race at Keeneland during Make-A-Wish Day. Photo courtesy of Make-A-Wish

Make-A-Wish relies on the financial support of the local community to grant wishes. For more information on ways to help, visit kentucky.wish.org, call 1-877-206-9474 and follow Make-A-Wish on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @makeawishohkyin.

About Make-A-Wish® Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana
Make-A-Wish® Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Currently, there are more than 300 medically eligible wish kids in Kentucky. You can help share the power of a wish® by making a donation, volunteering, or referring a child. For more information, visit our website at kentucky.wish.org or call 1-877-206-9474.

About Keeneland
For more than 80 years, the Keeneland Association has devoted itself to the health and vibrancy of the Thoroughbred industry. As the world’s largest Thoroughbred auction company, Keeneland conducts sales every January, September and November. Its sales graduates dominate racing across the globe at every level. In April and October, Keeneland offers some of the highest caliber and richest Thoroughbred racing in the world. In 2015, Keeneland hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Uniquely structured, Keeneland is a private, for-profit corporation that returns its earnings to the industry and the community in the form of higher purses, and it has donated millions of dollars in charitable contributions for education, research and health and human services throughout Central Kentucky. To learn more about Keeneland, visit Keeneland.com.

Many thanks thanks to Ovation Riding for their support of both Horse Nation and individuals and organizations that are doing good work in the horse world. If you know someone who deserves a Standing Ovation, we would love to recognize them in a future post. Email the name of the person or organization along with a message about the good work they do to [email protected]. Photos/videos are always welcome, and include a link to their website if applicable.