American Pharoah jockey, trainer donate Belmont winnings to charities
American Pharoah became the first Triple Crown winner since 1978 with a historic performance at the Belmont Stakes on Saturday. The horse’s jockey, Victor Espinoza, and trainer, Bob Baffert, have already announced plans to donate their winnings, reportsThe Courier-Journal.
Baffert, along with his wife, Jill, said they would donate $50,000 to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund in memory of Bobby Adair, an American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame jockey who died last month.
The Bafferts will also donate $50,000 to Old Friends Farm, a Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, Ky. Kentucky Derby and Preakness States winner Silver Charm recently retired at the facility.
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Espinoza will donate all of his Belmont winnings to a California cancer treatment center.
“At the wire I was like, ‘I cannot believe I did it,’” Espinoza said of Saturday’s Triple Crown-clinching victory, according to The Courier-Journal. “I [won] the Triple Crown race now, but I didn’t make any money, because I donated my money to the City of Hope.”
