Golisano Children’s at UK named beneficiary of 2027 Breeders Crown Charity Challenge
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 24, 2026) — The Breeders Crown, one of harness racing’s premier championship events, is Oct. 22-23, 2027, at Lexington’s Red Mile in 2027 — with Golisano Children’s at UK named as the sole beneficiary of the Breeders Crown Charity Challenge.
“Being part of the Breeders Crown Charity Challenge is deeply meaningful for all of us at Golisano Children’s at UK,” said Scottie B. Day, M.D., vice president of children’s health for UK HealthCare and physician-in-chief of Golisano Children’s at UK. “This partnership is about more than fundraising — it’s about showing up for Kentucky’s kids and the families who count on us every day. We’re grateful to the Breeders Crown and the Hambletonian Society for supporting our mission to provide the best care across the Commonwealth.”
Created in 2019, the Breeders Crown Charity Challenge was designed to build stronger connections between the Breeders Crown, its host community and local charitable organizations. The initiative mobilizes the standardbred racing industry to raise funds and awareness for causes in the communities that welcome the championships.
“The Breeders Crown represents the very best of our sport — not only the extraordinary horses and horsemen who compete for a championship, but also the strength of an industry that comes together to make a meaningful difference,” said John Campbell, president and CEO of the Hambletonian Society. “As all 12 championship divisions come to The Red Mile for the first time, it is especially fitting that the Breeders Crown Charity Challenge will support Golisano Children’s at UK and the exceptional care it provides to children and families throughout the Commonwealth. We look forward to working alongside The Red Mile, the racing community and our charitable partners to ensure the impact of the 2027 Breeders Crown extends far beyond the racetrack.”
The Breeders Crown Charity Challenge has raised more than $2.4 million since 2019, including $80,000 to host-community charities in 2025. In 2024, UK Golisano Children’s, then called Kentucky Children’s Hospital, received a gift of $15,000 from the Breeders Crown fundraising initiatives.
UK HealthCare is the hospitals and clinics of the University of Kentucky. But it is so much more. It is more than 10,000 dedicated healthcare professionals committed to providing advanced subspecialty care for the most critically injured and ill patients from the Commonwealth and beyond. It also is the home of the state’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that cares for the tiniest and sickest newborns and the region’s only Level 1 trauma center.
As an academic research institution, we are continuously pursuing the next generation of cures, treatments, protocols and policies. Our discoveries have the potential to change what’s medically possible within our lifetimes. Our educators and thought leaders are transforming the healthcare landscape as our six health professions colleges teach the next generation of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals, spreading the highest standards of care. UK HealthCare is the power of advanced medicine committed to creating a healthier Kentucky, now and for generations to come.