Afleet Alex”s tale pulls at heartstrings
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Afleet Alex is running for more than glory in the Kentucky Derby. The big bay colt is running to beat cancer, too.
When the starting gate springs open Saturday for the Derby, Afleet Alex will be among the favorites. But he’s already a champion off the racetrack. If he wins, there can be no sweeter story.
Looking for the next Funny Cide or Smarty Jones feel-good story? You’re on the right track with Afleet Alex:
“The breeder has terminal cancer, but said the horse is helping him survive.
“The Philly-area owners are donating part of Afleet Alex’s earnings to Alex’s Lemonade Stand, a children’s cancer charity.
“The horse was hand fed with a beer bottle full of milk at birth, overcame a lung infection two months ago and won the Arkansas Derby.
“The trainer picked out Afleet Alex at a 2-year-old sale in Maryland for new owners at the bargain price of $75,000.
“The jockey, Jeremy Rose, was fired in favor of a more experienced rider, but will be back for his first Derby.
“Just an amazing story, isn’t it?” trainer Tim Ritchey said Tuesday. “We’re just so fortunate to have a horse like this. Everything is just falling into place, plus we have an opportunity to help some that are less fortunate.”
John Silvertand, the 60-year-old breeder who lives in Lake Worth, Fla., said doctors gave him about three months to live because of colon cancer that had spread to his lungs and liver. It’s been 2 1/2 years and counting.
“The horse keeps me going,” Silvertand said in a telephone interview. “I truly believe he’s helping me in my battle.”
Silvertand plans to drive to the Derby with his wife, Carolyn, and 12-year-old daughter, Lauren. “Have to drive,” he said. “Too many Afleet Alex hats to take on the plane.”
The hats are just part of the Afleet Alex merchandise also being sold to raise money for Alex’s Lemonade Stand for Pediatric Cancer Research.
Alexandra Scott, the daughter of Jay and Liz Scott of Wynnewood, Pa., was diagnosed with cancer two days before her first birthday, in 1997. She opened the lemonade stand when she was 4, hoping to raise $1 million for her hospital.
The story quickly gained national interest, and donations started pouring in. Alexandra was 8 when she died Aug. 1. Chuck Zacney, managing partner of Cash Is King Stable, owners of Afleet Alex, was so moved by the story that he pledged $30,000 to the charity. Then he e-mailed the Scotts, asking if they’d like to be part of the team, with a portion of Afleet Alex’s earnings going to the charity.
On Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs, a breeding season to Afleet Alex’s sire, Northern Afleet, was auctioned for $37,000 – all going to Alex’s Lemonade Stand. The winning bidder was B. Wayne Hughes, who owns two horses (Greeley’s Galaxy and Don’t Get Mad) trying to beat Afleet Alex in the Derby.
Zacney and his four co-owners arrived at Afleet Alex’s barn full of stories about how lucky they’ve been with the first horse they bought together.
Afleet Alex is coming into the race in fine form. He has won six of nine races, with two runner-up finishes, for earnings of $1,315,800.
Afleet Alex won the Arkansas Derby by a record eight lengths on April 16, less than a month after finishing sixth in the Rebel Stakes. After the Rebel Stakes, Ritchey said Afleet Alex had a lung infection.