The Breeders Crown Charity Challenge Online Auction is in full swing. Several bids have already been taken on all types of items to support the charities linked to the upcoming Breeders’ Crown at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Oct. 27 and 28. The online auction is being facilitated by Jeff Boone and Associates Auctioneers based out of Markleville, Ind. Items are available until 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22.
Four charities will benefit from the Breeders Crown Charity Challenge Online Auction, going on now through Jeff Boone Auctions. The auction is available until 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22.
A total of 24 items are available in the Breeders Crown Charity Challenge Online Auction. Several sports memorabilia ranging from a signed football by Peyton Manning to a Chicago Bears autographed jersey for Devon Hester. There are several harness racing items as well, including a set of hopples, a Pennsbury jog cart, and a set of harness.
Several “hot ticket” items are getting a lot of action. The most popular option for online bidders so far is the Caesars Las Vegas Raiders Game and Stay package. A total of 25 bids have been placed for the package with the bid up to $205.00 at press time. The package includes two tickets to any game for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023-2024 plus a two-night stay at any Caesars Las Vegas property and transportation to and from the hotel to Allegiant Stadium for the game. Value of the package is $1,500.
Another popular option on the online auction is a similar package for the New Orleans Saints and Harrah’s New Orleans package. The package is for two tickets to the Saints home game versus the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023. The hotel package is for two nights stay at any Harrah’s New Orleans property with a value of $1,500. A total of 22 bids have been received with the high bid setting at $105.00 at press time.
The third highest attraction on the auction is an Old 55 Distillery Tour and Taste for 10 guests. The event will be held at one of Indiana’s best distilleries with a full tour and tasting in the distillery. Available for guests 21 and over. The outing has a value of $400 and with 12 bids already, the current bid is $55.00. Old 55 Distillery is located in Newtown, Ind., which is in the west-central part of Indiana, southwest of Lafayette.
Another popular item is a 50th Anniversary of Secretariat Kentucky Derby Woodford Reserve Bourbon. The package includes two Woodford Reserve rocks glasses. Eleven bids have been received on the package valued at $100. The current bid is $37.50.
The original Breeders Crown Charity Challenge was implemented in 2019 from the vision of owner Marvin Katz. When the Breeders Crown last came to Indiana at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in 2020, more than $120,000 was raised for four charities.
The four charities for the 2023 Breeders Crown Charity Challenge are New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, Teachers’ Treasures, Indiana Center for Prevention of Youth Abuse and Suicide, and Helping Veterans and Families. Four celebrities have been linked to each of the recipients with apparel company Tratter House Co. representing New Vocations, JMV of ESPN 1070 The Fan linked to Teachers’ Treasures, former Indianapolis Colts player Gary Brackett with the Indiana Center for Prevention of Youth Abuse and Suicide, and WIBC Radio Host Rob Kendall with Helping Veterans and Families.
This season, money will be raised for the Breeders Crown Charity cause in several ways. The first is the online auction followed by a Breeding Auction, with donated breedings to some of the top stallions in Standardbred racing available at the Lexington Sale, the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale, and the Ohio Buckeye Sale.
For more information and to peruse the items available on the online auction, go to the Boone Auction site at: 2023 Breeders Crown Charity Challenge Online Auction | Boone Marketing INC (hibid.com)