Thanks in large part to the $58,000 celebrity chef Bobby Flay spent on options to breed to two of the sport’s top stallions, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) raised in excess of $500,000 Monday night at its annual gala at the Saratoga Golf and Polo Club.

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation is the nation’s oldest and largest horse rescue operation. The funds raised Monday will go toward the care of the more than 1,300 retired racehorses under the group’s care, horses that otherwise may have been subjected to abuse, neglect, or slaughter.
 
Throughout the night, options to breed in 2007 to some of the sport’s hottest stallions at 2006 prices were put up for bids to the more than 450 people attending the party. Flay paid $47,000 for the right to breed to Distorted Humor at his 2006 fee of $150,000. The sire of such standout horses as Funny Cide, Flower Alley, and Commentator, his stud fee is likely to rise next year. Flay also paid $11,000 to breed to More Than Ready at his 2006 fee of $30,000.

An option to breed to Maria’s Mon at his 2006 fee of $25,000 brought $37,000 from Brookfield Bloodstock. Jack Goldthorpe paid $35,000 for a Songaprayer option at his 2006 fee of $35,000. Lee Pokoik paid $35,000 for a trip to the 2007 Dubai World Cup, the sale-topper among the many unique experiences put up for bids. Peter Kizenko paid $25,000 to have his name appear as character in Jane Smiley’s next novel.

New York Mets All-Star catcher Paul Lo Duca was on hand to auction off the right to be on the field during Mets batting practice and to meet the team. That experience brought $12,000 from trainer Jimmy Jerkens. A private pitching clinic by New York Yankee announcer Jim Kaat and the chance to watch batting practice from the field at Yankee Stadium went for $11,000. The Yankee package was bought by Denali Stud’s Craig Banderoff