Runhappy Owners to Offer $10K Scholarship

Jim and Linda McIngvale, the Houston-based philanthropists and owners of reigning champion male sprinter Runhappy, will give away a $10,000 college scholarship during Keeneland's College Scholarship Day April 8, opening day of the spring meet.

 

The Lexington track will award 10, $1,000 scholarships after each of the day's races, and the McIngvales's scholarship—the Runhappy Scholarship Fund—will also be drawn sometime during Friday's card, according to the couple's daughter Laura Brown.

 

"Education has always been at the top of their list when it comes to philanthropic ventures along with some medical things that we do," Brown said. "But we knew about the opening day and how Keeneland does such great work with college scholarships and allowing the kids to come out free of charge and have a great time and they can enter themselves in the drawings." 

 

In her family's discussions about Keeneland's college scholarship day, Jim McIngvale, owner of Gallery Furniture, also wanted to contribute, Brown said.

 

McIngvale bought Runhappy for $200,000 at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale. The son of Super Saver   won the Twinspires Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) and Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (gr. III) last fall at Keeneland in his championship season and has returned from a respite in Texas to the Kentucky Training Center, where he has begun training for his 2016 campaign.  Runhappy has won seven of eight starts, including two other grade I victories, and earned $1,481,300.The seven-furlong Churchill Downs Handicap (gr. II) is penciled in for his season debut. 

 

"Runhappy's a Keeneland grad, so why not give back to the future grads that live in Kentucky," Brown said, adding that she would be on hand at Keeneland Friday and might be joined by her father and trainer Laura Wohlers. 

 

"Runhappy won't make it out there, but he'll be there in spirit."

 

Keeneland will hold nine drawings from the general pool for scholarships and one from the Thoroughbred Industry pool. One drawing will be made immediately after each of Friday's 10 races, with the Thoroughbred Industry drawing after the 10th race.

 

To register, each student must currently be enrolled full time at a college, university, technical school, trade school, or other such school that qualifies for federal aid. Each student must be present to win.