Five weeks ago, Dan Tordjman issued me a challenge: if twenty-five people would participate in a Hawthorne-only handicapping contest for Galloping Out on Illinois Derby day, there would be one.

Thanks to you, yesterday’s handicapping contest succeeded beyond anything I could have imagined.  In all, the contest raised $1,073.00 for Galloping Out.

Thank you to everyone who donated to Galloping Out as part of the contest.

Thank you to Brandon Moran and Amanda DaBruzzo for going above and beyond with your bonus donations.

Thank you, Dan Tordjman and Jan Ely, for all your help and support with contest logistics.

Thank you, Elvis Trujillo and Martin Pedroza, for taking a moment to sign pairs of goggles as prizes for the contest after your wins yesterday.

Thank you to everyone who told anyone about the contest, whether it was in person or online.

We could not have done this without all of you.  Thank you for your support of retiring racehorses here in Illinois.