America’s Best Racing (ABR), a multi-media fan development and awareness-building platform created and funded by The Jockey Club, today premiered an ABRFilms original, four-episode video series, “After the Runway: Esther de Jong’s Story.” The series chronicles de Jong’s debut inside the Thoroughbred world as she seeks to launch a career beyond the runway as a boutique Thoroughbred breeding and, ultimately, racing stable through the sale of her first-bred yearling filly, Pink Cashmere, at the Keeneland 2015 September Yearling sale.

Episode 1, Meet Esther, can be viewed here:  https://youtu.be/hVWp6kx8E00  

The series was directed, produced and filmed by ABRFilms in Versailles, Kentucky, at Brookdale Farm and in Lexington, Kentucky, at historic Keeneland Race Course, the world’s premier Thoroughbred auction house and host of the upcoming 2015 Breeders’ Cup World Championships (Oct 30-31).

Over two years ago, de Jong, a Dutch model who has graced the runways for some of the most prominent international fashion houses in the world and who has starred in campaigns promoting iconic brands such as Karl Lagerfeld, Christian Dior, Alberta Ferretti, Hermes, Prada and Cavalli, strategically bred her mare, Suzee Sunrise, with one of the dominant 3-year-old Thoroughbreds of his generation, Eskendereya. This led to the arrival of Pink Cashmere, who was named by de Jong after a Prince song.

The four-episode original series takes the viewer on de Jong’s journey as she looks to successfully sell Pink Cashmere at the yearling sale at Keeneland and launch her brand within the Thoroughbred world. Along the way, viewers are introduced to Oscar, de Jong’s 12-year-old son, and Joe Seitz, director of sales at Brookdale Farm, as well as the process and preparation that a yearling undergoes to prepare for the big stage and what happens at the one of the world’s finest Thoroughbred auction houses.

Episodes 2, 3 and 4 will be released on the following dates:

Tuesday, October 20 - Episode 2: Enter Brookdale

Thursday, October 22 - Episode 3: Welcome to Keeneland

Tuesday October 27 - Episode 4: The Moment

About America’s Best Racing:
America’s Best Racing is a multi-media new fan development and awareness-building platform, initiated by The Jockey Club, designed to increase the profile and visibility of North America’s best Thoroughbred racing events, with a primary focus on the sport’s lifestyle and competition. You can follow America’s Best Racing at americasbestracing.net as well as on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Google+, and Instagram.