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The 10th Annual ABR Pre-Preakness Party: A Night of Fun and Philanthropy
The 10th Annual ABR Pre-Preakness Party: A Night of Fun and Philanthropy
By: Jay Privman
Years before he got into racing professionally, back when he was a college-aged fan, Dan Tordjman attended an event prior to the Belmont Stakes at which jockeys and trainers mingled with the patrons. He was awestruck.
“I walked up to John Velazquez – I was trembling – and he was so cool,” Tordjman recalled. “That planted the seed. It left an impression. It had an impact. If fans of the sport can meet jockeys and trainers and have an interaction, it could take the fan on a trajectory to anything.”
That trajectory will lead to the Mt. Washington Tavern, just north of Baltimore and only minutes from Pimlico Race Course, on Wednesday night, May 14, when America’s Best Racing (ABR) puts on its 10th Pre-Preakness Party, three days before the historic 150th running of the Preakness at Pimlico.
Tordjman, who has worked for ABR for more than a decade and is now the Vice President of The Jockey Club Media Ventures, parent company of ABR, helped launch the Pre-Preakness Party, hoping to repeat for others the experience he had as a fan all those years before.
“It’s a party meant for everyone,” Tordjman said. “It’s accessible, affordable, and a lot of fun.”
It also helps raise funds and awareness for Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, as well as the The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation, the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, and the Ed Brown Society – which highlights the extensive history of African-Americans in racing and helps to increase opportunities for young people of color in the sport. There will be a silent auction, for people in attendance as well as those bidding remotely.
“There will be a lot of memorabilia, halters, farm visits, a lot of cool stuff,” Tordjman said. “Not everyone who supports Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance can attend, but they can support the event by gifting tickets, donating to the silent auction, or bidding on items. Those in attendance can get jockeys to sign autographs. It’s a party for the fans. It’s Maryland-themed, and Preakness-centric.”
Tickets cost $35 in advance, or $50 at the door, and include one drink ticket and a buffet of some of Mt. Washington Tavern’s top food items, like their famous crab cakes.
The first of these events was held in 2014, and it has been held annually except for Covid-related interruptions in 2020 and 2021.
Over the years, Tordjman said the event has raised tens of thousands of dollars for Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.
“It’s still our signature event, and in addition it raises awareness for aftercare,” he said. “It helps raise awareness of the incredible work Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance does. A lot of fans of the sport are passionate about what happens to horses when their racing careers are over. Those fans are doing what they can to make sure horses have a soft landing.”
The Maryland Jockey Club, which owns Pimlico, is the title sponsor of the event. Ambassador Earle Mack, a long-time horse owner, is the supporting sponsor.
Tickets can be purchased on-line at bit.ly/ABRPartyTickets
To register for the auction and be able to bid, go to thoroughbredaftercare.org/abr-pre-preakness-party
Learn more about Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance’s supporters:
