Cash is King Racing Stable — owner of dual classic winner and Eclipse Award
finalist Afleet Alex — will be honored with the Special Eclipse Award for
outstanding individual achievements in, or contributions to, the sport of
Thoroughbred racing.
Cash is King Racing Stable — which is comprised of managing partner Chuck
Zacney of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania; Bob Brittingham of Collegeville,
Pennsylvania; Joe Judge of Surf City, New Jersey; Joe Lerro of Langhorne,
Pennsylvania; and Jennifer Reeves of Philadelphia — will receive the award at
the 35th annual Eclipse Awards ceremony on January 23 at the Regent Beverly
Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California.
Afleet Alex is named for the son of Zacney, as well as the daughters of Lerro
and Brittingham. In late September of 2004, shortly after Afleet Alex registered
his fourth win from as many starts, Zacney read about Alex’s Lemonade Stand — a
unique foundation that had evolved from a young cancer patient’s front yard
lemonade stand to a nationwide fundraising movement for childhood cancer. The
eight-year-old Connecticut girl who started it all in 2000, Alexandra Scott, had
died just a few weeks earlier on August 1. Upon learning that the charity was
determined to continue its efforts, Zacney and Cash is King Stable decided that
they and their colt could contribute to this worthy cause.
Cash is King Racing Stable pledged a portion of Afleet Alex’s future earnings
to Alex’s Lemonade Stand, and along with their trainer Tim Ritchey, donated time
and visited children’s cancer wings of hospitals in Louisville, Baltimore and
New York before each of Afleet Alex’s Triple Crown races.
“We gave out plenty of Afleet Alex hats and posters,” Zacney said. “We had a
ton of support from these kids. Most of these kids did not know who we were but
all heard of Afleet Alex. It was great to walk into a room and see a big smile.
These kids made our experience even more special.”
An Alex’s Lemonade Stand was present at Churchill Downs during Derby week,
and then other tracks and the national media got behind the effort as well. On
Belmont S. (G1) Day, there were about 1,100 Alex’s Lemonade Stands scattered
across the U.S., including many at racetracks and wagering facilities. By the
end of 2005, Alex’s Lemonade Stand had raised more than $3.5 million during the
preceding 12 months — its best ever year by far.
Cash is King Racing Stable would also like to recognize the time and
charitable contribution of Afleet Alex’s jockey, Jeremy Rose, and the support of
J.J. Graci and Anita “Sam” St. Clair.