Kentucky Derby Charity Wager Wins for Food Bank

About a month ago, Ruidoso Downs general manager Jeff True made his annual media tour to El Paso to promote the grand opening of the racetrack. As part of the promotion, he gives the media outlets a free wager to use on any horse in the Kentucky Derby. Jeff would place a $20 bet across the board and if the horse finished in the money, all of the winnings would go to the charity of the media member's choice, in this case I picked El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank.

My original on-air selection was Omaha Beach, but he was scratched three days before the race due to a respiratory infection. Instead I went with Code of Honor, since Jeff liked him on air and he would be a good value at 10-1. Like everyone else, I had no idea the race would end up in controversy after Maximum Security was disqualified and 65-1 longshot Country House was moved into the winner's circle. Code of Honor originally finished third but was moved up into second.

Nearly a month later, a check for $260 arrived in the mail from Ruidoso Downs addressed to El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank. Code of Honor paid $15.20 (Place) and $9.80 (Show). However, since a $20 bet was placed on both Place and Show, the total winnings of $26 was multiplied by 10 and the charity won $260. It was the rare occasion that controversy and outrage benefited my horse and charity. Thanks to Jeff and his team at Ruidoso Downs for making a great contribution to El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank.