LEXINGTON, Ky. (Monday, October 6, 2014) – Jerseys autographed by Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz and Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert are among the coveted memorabilia and experiences available in an online auction to benefit the John Joseph Morris Trust. The auction is underway and can be accessed at johnmorrisclassic.24fundraiser.com. Bidding closes Oct. 14.
Other items up for bids include: a baseball autographed by Ortiz, a three-time World Series champion; four tickets to see the last two Stanley Cup winners – the Los Angeles Kings and the Chicago Blackhawks – face off Jan. 28 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles; a collectible Gibson guitar autographed by Tito’s Vodka founder Tito Beveridge; a Keeneland Spring Meet package with four reserved seats and a framed print of the original pastel, Outriders, Keeneland, by Thomas Coates; and a Daily Racing Form Formulator 240-Race Card Pack.
The John Joseph Morris Trust benefits the Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital, where the Trust’s namesake undergoes physical therapy, as well as the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
John Morris, 25, was paralyzed in 2012 as the result of a freak accident at home. He is the son of Joe Morris, president of the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) and a former National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) executive.
The Trust’s other major fundraiser, the annual John Morris Golf Classic, is set for Monday, Oct. 13, at the University Club of Kentucky Golf Course in Lexington, Ky. Registration for the “scramble” is $150 per person and includes lunch, drinks and prize drawings. Sponsorships are also available. For more information, contact Heather Brown of NTRA Advantage at (866) 678-4289 or hbrown@ntra.com.
About the NTRA
The NTRA is a broad-based coalition of more than 100 horse racing interests and thousands of individual stakeholders consisting of horseplayers, racetrack operators, owners, breeders, trainers and affiliated horse racing associations, charged with increasing the popularity, welfare and integrity of Thoroughbred racing through consensus-based leadership, legislative advocacy, safety and integrity initiatives, fan engagement and corporate partner development. The NTRA owns and manages the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance, NTRA.com, the Eclipse Awards, the National Handicapping Championship, NTRA Advantage, a corporate partner sales and sponsorship program, and HORSE PAC, a federal political action committee. The NTRA has offices in Lexington, Ky., and New York City. NTRA press releases appear on NTRA.com, Twitter (@ntra) and Facebook (facebook.com/1NTRA).