Jamie Lynn Sigler
at the Stride Gum Longest Day of the Year Party. Crown Bar, Los Angeles, CA. 06-20-08

Breeders’ Cup, Thoroughbred horse racing’s most prestigious international event, has announced four new Breeders’ Cup Ambassadors, a distinction awarded to celebrity racing fans and owners. The new Breeders’ Cup Ambassadors will promote and serve as spokespersons for the upcoming 2018 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which will be held in Louisville, Kentucky on Nov. 2 and 3.

The new Breeders’ Cup Ambassadors include Chris Harrison (television host), Erik R. Johnson (NHL defenseman), Jamie-Lynn Sigler (actress), and Michael Owen (sports pundit). First launched in 2012, the Breeders’ Cup Ambassador program includes an impressive roster of talent, which mostly recently inducted Kate Upton, Gary Player, James Carville, Avery Johnson, John Ortiz, and Steven Jackson in 2013.

The newest Breeders’ Cup Ambassadors share a deep love for horse racing and boast intimate ties to the sport. Chris Harrison, most well-known for his role on the hit reality television show The Bachelor, began his career as a sportscaster and was a host for TVG Network during its launch in 1999.

Erik R. Johnson, the ice hockey defenseman for the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, first became a horse owner in 2014 and has since owned and raced winning horses in the name of his racing stable, ERJ Racing.

Jamie-Lynn Sigler, an award-winning actress well known for her work on The Sopranos, grew up with horse racing as a daughter of the principal owners of the prestigious Winning Move Stable in New York.

Lastly, in addition to owning a state-of-the-art training facility and award-winning horses, former English footballer Michael Owen, who played for prestigious teams including Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Liverpool F.C., recently made his own debut as a jockey at a charity race at Ascot Racecourse in 2017.

“I am excited to join a fantastic list of individuals as a Breeders’ Cup Ambassador,” said Harrison. “I’ve attended the Breeders’ Cup, and I really enjoy watching the outstanding showcase of international Thoroughbred racing, as well as the fun and energy at the event. I look forward to supporting the Breeders’ Cup for many years to come.”

“We are excited to introduce a new group of Ambassadors to the Breeders’ Cup family,” said Breeders’ Cup President and CEO Craig Fravel. “From actors to former football players, these new ambassadors diversify our program with their many talents and backgrounds, and their shared passion for Breeders’ Cup and horse racing enriches the fan experience. We look forward to sharing their enthusiasm with fans across the world.”

The 35th annual Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be held on Friday, November 2 and Saturday, November 3, 2018 at the iconic Churchill Downs racetrack. To learn more about the 2018 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, please visit www.breederscup.com/2018. For more details on Breeders’ Cup Celebrity Ambassadors, please visit http://www.breederscup.com/experience/celebrity-ambassadors.

source: Breeders Cup