Breeders’ Cup announced Friday that Ken Freirich, co-owner of Horse of the Year Flightline, has committed a $500,000 gift to Breeders’ Cup Charities to strengthen the Thoroughbred industry’s philanthropic culture.
The donation will be distributed over a 3½-year period, demonstrating Freirich’s commitment to long-term charitable impact within the racing community.
This major contribution follows Freirich’s earlier $100,000 matching gift during the organization’s Annual Day of Giving in July, which helped raise nearly $201,000 for industry causes.
Freirich has earmarked $50,000 of his donation to match funds raised during the upcoming “Champions Give Back” campaign. The initiative begins October 1 and runs through the World Championships on October 31-November 1.
The campaign includes the unprecedented donation of all royalties from Breeders’ Cup merchandise sales, with additional fundraising initiatives to be announced in coming weeks.
Beyond his financial support, Freirich will serve in an advisory capacity with Breeders’ Cup Charities, lending his expertise to the organization’s philanthropic efforts.
Freirich gained prominence in racing circles as part of the ownership group behind Flightline, whose undefeated career culminated in Horse of the Year honors and a dominant victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
