July Newsletter

July 2024

Monthly News & Updates

As part of our mission to help grow the sport of horse racing, we want to reach as many people as possible and help develop new friends, fans, and participants. With our monthly newsletter, you can follow our horses, learn about the horse industry, and hear about efforts to bring more diversity to the sport of horse racing. Please feel free to share our newsletter and let others follow along on our journey as well.

As One Day at Churchill Downs

Partners and friends of As One met at the famous host track of the Kentucky Derby on June 22 to cheer on our three year old filly Murphy's Gift and experience some fun and fellowship.

A group of nearly 30 gathered in the Jockey Club Suites just under the iconic Twin Spires to take in the races. We were able to provide the new fans and friends in attendance a behind the scenes look at racing, with trips to the paddock for saddling and a view of the race from the rail in the winners circle.

As a special bonus, owners from Old Hillside Bourbon Company joined us and brought two of their bottles honoring black jockeys. (Learn more below.) As often happens on any good race day, the fun continued to grow when the founders and hosts of the Black and Brown Bourbon podcast joined us. (Check them out at www.dablackandbrown.com.)

Unfortunately, Murphy's Gift didn't have her best day. Breaking from the number eight post position with jockey Christian Torres at the reins, she settled mid-pack down the backstretch but never found her full stride coming down the stretch and finished a disappointing eighth. Whether it was the hot weather, the time off, or just not her day, we hope to draw a line through this effort and have better results next time.

Bolivie Hits the Board In Stakes Race

Beaten by a Head in Thrilling Finish

Coming off her season debut win, Bolivie returned to action on Saturday, July 6, with a step up to stakes company in the Indiana General Assembly Distaff Handicap at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Indiana Derby Day.

Racing against nine other fillies and mares in the 1 1/16 mile stakes race on the turf. Bolivie broke quickly and went straight to the front. Though not her typical style, Bolivie nearly went wire to wire and battled gamely down the stretch, before being nipped by a nose at the wire to finish third.

The race was another step forward for our four year old filly, as she improved off her season debut and showed heart and competitive spirit battling down the stretch. Next up for Bolivie will be another stakes race against tougher competition. Plans are being finalized now, but look for her to race in early August.

Watch the Replay

Official Chart

Big Brass Bed Entered for

July 27 Race at Ellis Park

After her trip north for the Belle Mahone Stakes in June, Big Brass Bed returned to her training base in Kentucky under the guidance of trainer Brendan Walsh. She was scheduled to return to racing earlier in July at Horseshoe Indianapolis, but scratched from the race when it came off the turf due to heavy rains.

Big Brass Bed returns to racing on Saturday, July 27, at Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky. Nicknamed the Pea Patch for the crops grown in the infield, Ellis Park is actually located on the Indiana side of the Ohio River near Evansville, but is located in Henderson, Kentucky based on the course of the river when Kentucky first became a state in 1792.

Jockey Luan Machado will ride Big Brass Bed in the 1 1/8 mile race on the turf. Our girl will break from the sixth post position as she competes against nine other fillies and mares in the race carded as Race 7 scheduled for 2:52 p.m. CT.

Diversity in the Industry

Old Hillside Bourbon Features Black Jockeys

As mentioned above, the team from Old Hillside Bourbon joined us at Churchill Downs in June. As One co-founder Ron Mack first connected with Old Hillside, who then helped support Legacy Equine Academy at this year's Legacy Ball.

Old Hillside Bourbon Company was founded after two high school friends attended the races several years ago. Noting that African Americans were underrepresented in the racing industry in modern times, they decided to feature the history of black jockeys in their new distilled spirits venture.

Since then, Old Hillside has grown and can be found from coast to coast, with distribution in California, Georgia, North Carolina and Kentucky. As can be seen on the company website, honoring the history of black horsemen is a key part of Old Hillside's vision.

Two bottles in particular are of note. The special release The First Rye'd features Oliver Lewis, the winner of the first Kentucky Derby, while The Last Rye'd features a label honoring black jockeys Isaac Murphy, Alonzo Clayton, Jimmy Lee, and Soup Perkins. Our new friends from Old Hillside brought bottles of each as gifts, which As One partners Jonathan Israel and Romain Malhouitre cheerfully accepted.

Also joining us with the Old Hillside team were Delvin Joyce, William H. Stephens, and Raymond A. Culbert, the founders and hosts of the Black and Brown Podcast, where the three friends explore the world of whiskey and bourbon from an African American point of view.

About Old Hillside Bourbon Company

About the Black and Brown Podcast