As many of you may remember, it was 5 years ago when thoroughbred race horse Afleet Alex won the Preakness after narrowly escaping a fall and catastrophe. We remember the gasps and silence as the audience at Pimlico held their breath to see the outcome. Though it was only a second, it felt like minutes until Afleet Alex popped back up and won the race, which was only one of the miraculous things that the horse and his owners were doing that day. While they were achieving their own dream of a win in the Triple Crown series, they were also allowing Alex’s dream of a cure for all childhood cancers to continue. Less than a year after we lost our daughter, Alex’s Lemonade Stands were set up at all three Triple Crown races and for each Afleet Alex win, place or show a donation was made to the newly formed foundation.
Looking back, it was likely the boost we needed in an uncertain time for the newly born Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. We knew we wanted to continue what Alex had started, but we weren’t sure if we would be able to do it without our inspiration, Alex, as she was the face and driving force behind the stands. The Preakness was surely a turning point for all of the Afleet Alex connections, and one that we can definitely point to. The talented thoroughbred would go on to win the Belmont Stakes, which could have been the end of our horse racing run, but it wasn’t. The owners and trainers of Afleet Alex have continued to support the foundation, and one of them, the Brittingham’s even suggested we return to the Preakness this year.
Now, 5 years after the miraculous win at the Preakness, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and one of Afleet Alex’s offspring, Dublin, are returning to Pimlico Race Track on Saturday, May 15. It seems fitting that both Alexs will be present on Saturday, and we know that the world of thoroughbred racing will once again embrace the cause.
We’re looking forward to another day at the races and an opportunity to revisit the place where dreams came true in 2005. If you’re at the races tomorrow, make sure to visit our stand, and if you’re at home, route for Dublin!
- Liz & Jay Scott, Alex's parents
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