Woodford Reserve will be the Official Bourbon of Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course through 2018, it was announced today by Brown-Forman and The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA).
The three-year agreement includes title sponsorship of the Grade 1, $1 million Woodford Reserve Manhattan on Belmont Stakes Day and the Grade 2 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa at Saratoga.
Additionally, Woodford Reserve has been designated the Official Bourbon of the Belmont Stakes and the Official Bourbon of the Travers Stakes.
“We are delighted to partner with Woodford Reserve again and are appreciative of its long-standing commitment to excellence in thoroughbred racing,” said Lynn LaRocca, Senior Vice President and Chief Experience Officer for the New York Racing Association. “We are proud to offer Woodford Reserve to our guests at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course and feature it on our biggest and most prestigious days of the year.”
The 1 ¼-mile Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap, which carries a purse of $1 million, is run immediately preceding the 148th Belmont Stakes and will be nationally televised on NBC.
“Woodford Reserve is proud to partner with the New York Racing Association in some of the thoroughbred industry’s finest races,” said Mark Bacon, Woodford Reserve Global Brand Director. “We’ve had a longstanding place in the horse racing industry, and Woodford Reserve is excited to extend our ties through this affiliation with Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course.”
Entries for the Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap, along with the Belmont Stakes and the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap, will be drawn at a special event at Rockefeller Center in the heart of midtown Manhattan on Wednesday, June 8.
As many as 12,000 “Belmont Jewels” – the Official Cocktail of the Belmont Stakes, made with Woodford Reserve – will be served in souvenir glasses throughout Belmont Park on Belmont Stakes Day, Saturday, June 11.
The Belmont Jewel
1 ½ oz. Woodford Reserve Bourbon
2 oz. Lemonade
1 oz. Pomegranate juice
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain over ice into a rocks glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge or cherry.
About Woodford Reserve
Woodford Reserve is crafted at the historic Woodford Reserve Distillery, tucked in the heart of thoroughbred country in Versailles, Kentucky. A National Historic Landmark, the Woodford Reserve Distillery represents craftsmanship with a balance of historic heritage and modern practices. Woodford Reserve is a product of the Brown-Forman Corporation, a premier producer and marketer of fine quality beverage alcohol brands including Jack Daniel’s, Finlandia, Korbel, Tequila Herradura, Old Forester, Sonoma-Cutrer and Chambord. Please enjoy your bourbon responsibly. To learn more about Woodford Reserve, visit us www.woodfordreserve.com or check us out on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/woodfordreserve.
Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 45.2% Alc. by Vol., The Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, KY ©2016
About the New York Racing Association (NYRA)
Founded in 1955 and franchised to run thoroughbred racing at New York’s three major tracks (Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course) through 2033, the New York Racing Association’s mission is “Meeting the highest standards in thoroughbred racing and equine safety.” With a lineage of nearly 150 years, NYRA tracks are the cornerstone of New York State’s thoroughbred industry, which contributes more than $2 billion annually to its urban, suburban and rural economy.
NYRA tracks are proud to be accredited by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Safety & Integrity Alliance. Leading the industry in safety and welfare initiatives, NYRA tracks have earned “best practice” ratings in virtually every primary area examined by the Alliance since 2009.
In 2015, more than 1.75 million people attended live races at NYRA tracks. Factoring in nationwide off-track wagering, the average daily betting handle on NYRA races totaled nearly $11 million. For more information, visit www.NYRA.com. Stay connected with New York Racing by following NYRA on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, andYouTube.
