John C. Oxley, the owner of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Classic Empire, has pledged to Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation 1% of the owner’s share of any Grade I victories by the colt from now through the Kentucky Derby.

Oxley owns Fawn Leap Farm in Midway, Ky., and is a board member of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. In 2001, he made a similar pledge in connection with Monarchos. The colt went on to win the Kentucky Derby, generating a donation of $8,120 to the foundation.

“We appreciate Mr. Oxley’s making this generous pledge,” said Edward L. Bowen, president of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. “The precedent of his having won the Derby with Monarchos is a great memory, and we wish him well again. Owners who recognize the benefits of scientific research are very important to the entire world of the horse, and Mr. Oxley exemplifies that echelon of horseman.”

Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile – Sambuca Classica, by Cat Thief) won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity and Grade 3 Bashford Manor prior to his Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile score and has a record of four wins from five starts and earnings of $1,485,920. He is trained by Mark Casse.

Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation traditionally is the leading source of private funding for equine research and since 1983 has provided $23.3 million to fund 335 research projects at 42 universities. Learn more at grayson-jockeyclub.org.