LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 21, 2020) — The Breeders’ Cup, one of Thoroughbred horse racing’s most prestigious international events, today announces special guest Frankie Dettori for the next installment of Cocktails & Conversation, the recurring virtual happy hour series designed to rally the horse racing industry’s most prominent figures to raise funds for communities that have been profoundly impacted by COVID-19.

The next Cocktails & Conversation broadcast, airing Today at 6 p.m. ET via Breeders’ Cup’s Twitter, YouTube and Facebook pages, will mark the eighth installment of the series. The episode will be hosted by Nick Luck and Britney Eurton of NBC Sports and ‘21’ Club mixologist and creator of Breeders’ Cup’s official cocktails Mark Tubridy.

Today’s virtual happy hour will feature Frankie Dettori, whose riding prowess and flamboyant flying dismounts have made him the most prolific and best known jockey in the world. A native of Milan who has made his riding home in Great Britain during the past 30 years, Dettori has won 14 Breeders’ Cup World Championships races, third most of all-time behind Mike Smith and John Velazquez. Some of those victories have been aboard such remarkable horses as Enable (GB), Fantastic Light, Ouija Board (GB) and Raven’s Pass. Further strengthening his global resume, Dettori has won stakes races in more than 20 countries, including a record six wins in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp in France. On September 28, 1996, Dettori scored a “Magnificent Seven,” riding all seven winners on the Festival of British Racing card at Ascot.

Today’s live stream will commence with Mark Tubridy leading a virtual mixology class for viewers, creating two refreshing cocktails to enjoy at home during the broadcast. Mark will be mixing up a “French 76” featuring Tito's Handmade Vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup and Champagne, as well as a “Gold Rush,” consisting of Maker's Mark Bourbon, lemon juice and honey syrup.

Following the cocktail mixing segment, the broadcast will feature a conversational interview with Dettori, who will offer his insightful perspectives and thoughts on daily life, the latest developments in horse racing and other everyday topics. Fans will be able to submit questions via social media for the hosts and Dettori to answer during the broadcast for a uniquely interactive experience. Throughout the cocktail hour, viewers will be encouraged to donate to industry workers and communities in need through the official Breeders’ Cup website.

Tapping all-star talents such as Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith; 15-time Breeders’ Cup-winning trainers Chad Brown and Bob Baffert; NHL All-Star Erik Johnson; restauranteur and celebrity Chef Bobby Flay; film and television actress and equestrian rider Bo Derek; and the NBC Sports’ horse racing broadcasting team, Breeders’ Cup has already raised thousands of dollars through previous broadcasts.

All proceeds generated from Cocktails & Conversation are wholly donated to the following organizations benefitting the horse racing and hospitality industries:

     • Race Track Chaplaincy of America, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs of the horse racing community through social services, food and clothing banks and educational workshops.

     • USBG National Charity Foundation, which supports bartenders, barbacks and bar servers throughout the nation who have been financially impacted by restaurant and bar shutdowns as a result of the health crisis

     • Restaurant Workers Relief Program, a project jointly formed by Maker’s Mark and the Lee Initiative that has transformed restaurants in major cities into relief centers that offer food and supplies to affected hospitality workers

To learn more about the virtual happy hour series and to support those in need, please visit BreedersCup.com/donate.
  

ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP
The Breeders’ Cup administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred horse racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The Breeders’ Cup is also a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, an organization composed of industry leaders committed to advancing safety measures in Thoroughbred racing and improving the well-being of equine and human athletes.

The 2020 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Championship races, will be held on November 6-7 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky and features a total of $35 million in purses and awards. The event will be televised live by the NBC Sports Group. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.