What does a four-year-old filly have in common with entertainer Oprah Winfrey? Her name — sort of. And maybe her commitment to community service too. Dubbed Oprah Winney by her owners, the horse — along with her owner and trainer — will be thrust into the celebrity spotlight on October 23 when Oprah Winfrey honors her almost namesake on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”
The show will feature segments of Oprah Winney’s distinguished racing career. She has 14 races under her belt and most recently won the Barbara Fritchie Breeders’ Cup H earlier this year. The gray filly will take part in the inaugural running of the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on October 26 at Monmouth Park. Ten percent of those winnings, which could exceed $50,000, will be donated by her owners to the Belmont Child Care Association (BCCA), a not-for-profit organization that operates Anna House at Belmont Park, an on-site child care center for families of backstretch employees.
Oprah Winney, trained by Richard Dutrow, races for Michael Dubb, Sanford Goldfarb and Bunch of Characters Stable. Dubb is president of Beechwood Organization, a developer of private residential communities, including the $400-million gated community called Meadowbrook Pointe Athletic Club and Spa, built on the former Roosevelt Raceway harness track in Westbury. The equestrian-themed, over-55, smart growth community offers luxury condominiums and townhouses surrounding a 25,000-square-foot clubhouse called The Equestrian Club. Overlooking a man-made pond with a fountain and lights, the clubhouse features a fitness center, a day spa, beauty salon, indoor and outdoor pools and movie theater.
Dubb serves as chairman of the board of directors of the BCCA and donated construction oversight for Anna House and the shell of the building, completed in 2003.
“We are so fortunate to have a horse like this, who has given us the opportunity to raise money for the Belmont Child Care Association. Should she win the Breeders’ Cup, the children will benefit to the tune of $50,000,” said Dubb. “We are confident the real Oprah will be proud.”
About The Beechwood Organization. The Beechwood Organization is one of the largest developers of residential housing in New York. Over the past two decades, Beechwood has developed over 55 communities. The Beechwood Organization is currently developing Meadowbrook Pointe, a 720-unit active adult community replete with a 25,000 square foot clubhouse on the former site of the Roosevelt Raceway, as well as unique riverfront community at Harbour Pointe at Shorehaven in the Bronx. Additionally, Beechwood has partnered with the Benjamin Companies to develop an award winning, smart-growth master planned community in the Rockaways, Arverne By The Sea. When complete, this mixed-use community will have approximately 2,2 largest revitalization project in the Northeast.