If Brockley chooses the winning horse in the Whitney Invitational Handicap on Saturday, August 3, he will get to take home the full on-track winnings from the $15,000 wager, not having spent a penny of his own cash. Brockley will have the opportunity to direct the $15,000 win wager, using Marylou Whitney’s and John Hendrickson’s money, as part of the Saratoga 150 celebration.
“It is absolutely amazing, a phenomenal opportunity,” said Brockley. “Wow, this has all the makings of a good time.”
On August 3, the date of the first race at Saratoga 150 years ago, Sesquicentennial Honorary Chairs Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson will present Brockley with his choice of any horse to direct the $15,000 win wager on, in the $750,000 Whitney Invitational Handicap for three-year-olds and up. The long-time racing principals and civic-minded couple are underwriting the $75,000 Saratoga 150 promotion that offers five lucky fans this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The presentation of the $15,000 in cash will take place in the winner’s circle after the ninth race.
The $15,000 win wager promotion will be offered each Saturday thereafter, throughout the remainder of the Saratoga racing meeting that runs through Labor Day. The other designated races are: August 10, the $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap; August 17, the $600,000 Alabama Stakes; August 24, the $1 million Travers Stakes; and August 31, the $750,000 Woodward Stakes.
Registration for the four remaining $15,000 fan-wager drawings can be made on the sesquicentennial website, www.Saratoga150.com/contest.
Whitney and Hendrickson initiated the idea for the Saratoga 150 promotion because they are ardent supporters of racing, founding the almost-seven-week long, popular backstretch banquet and entertainment program at Saratoga, with their personal funds, in 2007. The program, which grew and became supported by friends and other concerned racing fans, feeds and entertains backstretch workers each night, with more than 1,000 meals on Sundays.
The well-known, philanthropic couple said that they feel that a highly-visible promotion of this type will garner widespread exposure for the excellent caliber of racing and the element of philanthropic and social intrigue that is uniquely found at Saratoga. Whitney said of the birthday activities, “Saratoga 150 is going to be the biggest celebration in our town’s history. It needed excitement, so John came up with a fun idea.”
“We wanted to support Saratoga 150 in any way we can,” Hendrickson added. “I thought this promotion would appeal to Saratoga’s enthusiastic and loyal fans and recruit new ones.”
Brockley and his wife Rachel are avid racing fans. Both will attend Saturday’s day at the track. He is employed by Forest Pharmaceuticals as a sales representative.
Drawings for the five $15,000 Win wagers are held weekly, in a random, electronic-based system. Each entry is assigned a number as it is entered on the website and someone from the public chooses a number, each week, within the database of registered numbers; thereby picking the winner for the chance to direct the bet. Contest winners are notified by phone and e-mail, and on the Monday before the Win wager, the contest winner is announced at Saratoga Race Course. He or she must agree to be present at the track on the day of their designated race to direct the wager.
All entrants must be 21 years of age, and a legal resident of one of the 50 states or Washington, D.C. only one entry, per person, is allowed and no more than three entries from any one computer. Winners must agree to abide by the rules and regulations set forth within the online registration.
The weekly contest winner, and a guest, receives VIP Clubhouse amenities including admission, luncheon and programs from the New York Racing Association that operates Saratoga, Belmont and Aqueduct Thoroughbred tracks.