Save the date! The Belmont Child Care Association has announced the details of its spring fundraiser, the Rags to Riches Belmont Bash. This charity casino night will offer the “chance to eclipse Todd Pletcher in earnings and out-race John Velazquez,” to benefit two great charities: the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, “committed to the advancement of research to enhance the health and soundness of horses of all breeds,” and the Belmont Child Care Association, which offers very low-cost child care to the children of the backstretch workers at New York tracks.

The event will take place on Thursday, June 5, 2008 (two days before the Belmont), at
The Clubhouse at Meadowbrook Pointe in Westbury, NY. This community was developed by Michael Dubb, without whose contributions and leadership Anna House, the BCCA center, could not have been built. Dubb is chairman of the BCCA board and is a Thoroughbred owner; Oprah Winney is one of the horses in his stable.

Other details of the event have yet to be announced, and I’ll pass them on as I get them.

In other non-track racing news, in December I attended a benefit for BEST (Backstretch Employees Service Team) at Aqueduct, at which the short film, Women in American Horse Racing, by John and Sandy Ronan, was screened. I wrote about the event then, and am pleased to pass on that the film has been named a finalist in the annual media competition conducted by the Women’s Sports Foundation. The ceremony will be held in Beverly Hills on April 15. You can read the full article, which includes the list of nominees in all categories (definitely worth a look–terrific work on women in sports) here. Good luck to John and Sandy.