Thursday morning quick picks

Brooklyn Backstretch is taking it easy this morning, having received yesterday a late-breaking invitation to the BEST benefit on Long Island last night, at which Allen Jerkens received a Lifetime Outstanding Trainer award. The New York Racing Association hosted the event at the gorgeous Hempstead House in Sands Point, Long Island, which is a long way from Brooklyn on a school night.

I’ll post a full report tomorrow, and perhaps the event will get some press elsewhere, as it was certainly a night on which racing could be proud. Many of the luminaries of NY racing turned out, including two of the men of the hour, Messrs. Iavarone and Dutrow, making it the second time this week that I was in their company. Perhaps Mr. Iavarone came to take his mind off this story, published Wednesday afternoon and brought to my attention by frequent commenter J.S. Not the sort of information, I’d imagine, that Mr. Iavarone wants floating around when he’s trying to sell the idea of investing in “equine acquisitions.” Ugh.

In other Big Brown/NY racing philanthropy news, the children of Anna House took a little field trip yesterday, from their child care center on the backstretch at Belmont to Big Brown’s barn. They brought their congratulatory poster and reportedly made the walk while singing their very own Big Brown song. One bystander was seen to have been so amused that he called someone on his cell phone, which he then held up so that the listener could hear the children singing.

A reminder to local folks that Anna House holds its own benefit next Thursday in Westbury, NY. Raising money for both the Belmont Child Care Association and the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, dedicated to equine health, the Rags to Riches Belmont Bash will have a casino night theme, live music, and live and silent auctions. I will, unfortunately, be on my way home from the senior class community service trip, so I won’t be able to attend, but there was good buzz about the event last night, and the two Anna House parties I’ve been to have been a lot of fun. More info on the event at the BCCA’s website.