Seabiscuit Heritage Foundation

WHAT: After an absence of 55 years, a classic, life-sized bronze sculpture of the legendary American racehorse Seabiscuit will be unveiled and formally dedicated during a by-invitation-only ceremony at Ridgewood Ranch in Willits, CA. Musical entertainment will be provided, and a Call to Post by a bugler in race day dress will be sounded at the beginning and end of the ceremony. (Press credentials must be shown and verified to gain admittance.)

WHO:

Joan Mondale, former 2nd Lady of the U.S., leading patron and advocate for the arts in America, and Seabiscuit fan
Statement by Laura Hillenbrand, author, “Seabiscuit-An American Legend”
Harry J. Aleo, owner of Lost in the Fog, most popular San Francisco Bay Area horse since Seabiscuit
Col. Michael Howard, great grandson of Charles Howard, Seabiscuit’s owner
Anthea Hartig, Western Director, National Trust for Historic Preservation
Jani Buron, former ranch resident and author, “The Spirit of Seabiscuit”
Bill Nichols, former ranch hand and author, ”Seabiscuit-The Rest of the Story”
Chris and Anita Lowe, Bishopstone, Wiltshire U.K., benefactors of the Seabiscuit Heritage Foundation who funded the statue’s return
Willits Mayor Tami Jorgensen
Tracy Livingston, President, Seabiscuit Heritage Foundation
Jacqueline Cooper, MC, Owner/Breeder, American Legend Horse Farm
Dashing Lil’Biscuit, a Seabiscuit descendant

Plus Seabiscuit fans, horse lovers, racing enthusiasts, public officials, historic preservationists, land conservationists, and many more.

WHEN: Saturday, June 23, 10 A.M.

WHERE: Ridgewood Ranch, 16200 N. Highway 101, Willits, CA

STATUE: Custom design statue makers, Icon Bronze of Anchorage, Alaska and its affiliate, Atlas Bronze Casting of Salt Lake City, meticulously cast the statue from a new rubber and fiberglass mold of the original at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, NY. The family of Seabiscuit’s late owner, Charles Howard, had donated the monument to the Hall of Fame where it now occupies a place of honor just outside the museum. V. Fontana, a family-owned and-operated fine granite and marble products manufacturer near San Francisco, produced the five-ton dark diamond gray granite pedestal. Under its founder, Valerio Fontana, the company made the original base. Valerio’s grandson Mark used the same polishing equipment to finish the granite and duplicate the look and lettering of the original.

***

The Seabiscuit Heritage Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization formed to promote the cultural legacy of the Ridgewood Ranch through historic preservation, environmental conservation and public education. For further information, contact the Seabiscuit Heritage Foundation, @Ridgewood Ranch, 16200 Highway 101, Willits, CA 95460, or seabiscuit@instawave.net. The foundation Web site address is www.seabiscuitheritage.org. To request a press pass for the special June 23 unveiling and dedication of the statue of Seabiscuit, please fill out the registration form below, insert as text onto an e-mail message, and e-mail to seabiscuit@instawave.net for your press pass.

Press credentials are limited and are granted only to working journalists who intend to cover the event. The credentials you submit will be reviewed carefully, so please be as detailed as possible when filling out the form. A press pass entitles your entrance to the unveiling and dedication as well as the tour and luncheon to follow.

If you have special needs, please be sure to let us know your specific requirements by June 8.

All press inquiries for the event should be directed to Gary Kozel at (707) 833-1381, or send an e-mail to gary@seabiscuitheritage.net.

You are responsible for your own travel and accommodation costs. For hotel and travel information, go to www.willits.org.

Name:

Affiliation:

Title/Job Responsibility:

Street Address

City, State, Zip

Phone

E-Mail Address

Special Requirements, Including Interview/Photo Requests

SEABISCUIT STATUE TO BE UNVEILED, DEDICATED
AT RIDGEWOOD RANCH, WILLITS, CA ON SATURDAY, JUNE 23

Former 2nd Lady of U.S., Joan Mondale, to Keynote Ceremony

Archive

SEABISCUIT STATUE TO BE UNVEILED, DEDICATED AT RIDGEWOOD RANCH, WILLITS, CA ON SATURDAY, JUNE 23

Former 2nd Lady of U.S., Joan Mondale, to Keynote Ceremony

Archive

SEABISCUIT STATUE TO BE UNVEILED, DEDICATED
AT RIDGEWOOD RANCH, WILLITS, CA ON SATURDAY, JUNE 23