Dec. 4, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky. – In an effort to “Pack the House” vs. No. 2 Duke in Rupp Arena on Sunday, Dec. 22, the Kentucky women’s basketball program has paired up with horse owner and prominent Lexington area veterinarian Dr. Stuart Brown to offer one lucky fan a one-of-a-kind horse racing experience.
Fans who attend the game will receive one numbered card per person as their ticket is scanned upon entry. The winning card will be randomly drawn in the second half of the game. The winner must be present with his or her card to win a chance to be a part owner of a 3-year-old filly named Patinka. The winner will receive 10 percent of the owner’s winnings from any of Patinka’s races from Jan. 1, 2014 until Dec. 31, 2014 and also will receive travel expenses for two to at least one of Patinka’s races. The lucky winner will also be able to meet Patinka this winter before the 2014 race season at Dr. Brown’s farm in Versailles, Ky.. Brown’s late wife, Christine, was Patinka’s breeder and cared for the filly through a difficult birth.
“I just thought this was a unique and collaborative opportunity to keep sharing what Christine was so passionate about: horses and Kentucky basketball,” Brown said. “She loved bringing friends to the UK Hoops games and it was a big thing for her to share her passion with them. Everyone she brought to the games always wanted to come back. This drawing also is an opportunity to share her love of horses and just keep her legacy alive. Thoroughbred horses are bred with the desire to win and a competitive spirit and there are a lot of commonalities between horse racing and basketball. She loved everything about UK Athletics and was really inspired by the style of basketball the women’s team play. The story of our horse being born is also so inspirational and one I hope inspires others.”
Patinka (pronounced pa-TINK-ah) is trained by H. Graham Motion, the trainer most notable for his work with 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom and Better Talk Now.
Kentucky set the school’s single-game attendance record last season vs. DePaul in Rupp Arena with 18,488. The Wildcats are hoping to set the record again this season and sell out the downtown venue for the first time for a women’s basketball game.
“This annual game in Rupp Arena is a special chance for many to experience Kentucky women’s basketball,” UK Assistant Athletics Director Nathan Schwake said. ”This promotion is something we felt was unique to Kentucky and Dr. Brown has made it even better than we could have imagined. What a year this will be for one very lucky fan.”
For tickets to the game, visit the Joe Craft Center ticket office, go to UKathletics.com, or call the UK ticket office at 1-800-928-CATS. Tickets are also available at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.
Single-game reserved tickets are $9 for all ages. General admission tickets for adults are $8 while single-game general admission tickets for seniors and children (ages 6-18, 65 and over) are only $5. UK faculty, staff and children ages five and under are admitted free in the general admission seating area, while supplies last.
Purchase 10 or more for just $2 per ticket. All groups are welcome and will be given seating on a first-come, first-served basis. Fans can also purchase a block of tickets to be distributed to local youth organizations. For more information, call 859-257-5526.
Game time is 3 p.m. ET and it will be televised on the UK IMG Sports Network and Fox Sports South.
Follow UK Hoops on Twitter and Instagram at @UKHoopCats and on Facebook by liking University of Kentucky Women’s Basketball.
