This month, America’s Finest Racing partnered with Griffin Johnson and Breeders’ Cup to run an Instagram sweepstakes to provide one fortunate participant the final word Breeders’ Cup trip. Contest winner Torrey Irwin will probably be heading to Del Mar to get pleasure from a weekend of world-class racing and meet up with Griffin himself.
identify: tori irwin
12 months: twenty three
Birthplace: raleigh, north carolina
Present job/profession aspirations: He’s at the moment a grasp’s pupil at North Carolina State College, specializing in equine diet and train physiology. Future profession aspirations: Nonetheless undecided! May very well be in training, analysis, a feed firm, or perhaps staying within the horse trade in some capability.
How did you hear about this contest and what made you resolve to use? I adopted Breeders’ Cup on Instagram final 12 months after finishing a analysis internship with horses. In Lexington, I made many buddies within the trade from all around the world, together with different interns, college students, and other people engaged on the farm. One in every of our buddies was capable of attend the Breeders’ Cup final 12 months and had probably the most superb time. It has been on my bucket record ever since! Being East Coast college students, it will be costly to go to California, so my buddies and I (from Eire, England, and New Zealand) stated let’s make it occur sometime. So, once we noticed the competition on our social media feeds, we entered and tagged two of them as a nod to that dream, regardless that we thought there was no means we might win. I am right here now and I nonetheless cannot consider it.
How did you first hear about Griffin Johnson? Are you a long-time follower of his? I solely entered the Thoroughbred world final 12 months, so I used to be actually wanting ahead to following my future Derby horse. Sandman was such a enjoyable horse to observe and I watched his preparation for the Derby. I first realized about Griffin Johnson via Sandman content material.
What are you most wanting ahead to speaking to Griffin about if you meet him? I look ahead to talking with Griffin about his complete expertise, the locations he is been capable of race, his favourite races he is seen or tracked, and so forth. It’ll even be fascinating to listen to what he has deliberate for the long run and what involvement that may contain.
What first received you curious about horse racing? Through the internship I accomplished final 12 months, I carried out equine analysis, totally on Thoroughbreds. The ranch in Ocala, Florida, had 3-year-old horses in a coaching observe and thoroughbreds outdoors the observe in Lexington, Kentucky. It was straightforward to get as a result of working with these horses, the placement, and the train physiology analysis we did all had robust ties to the horse racing trade. My fellow interns and I received to tour a number of giant stud farms, equine veterinary/rehabilitation amenities, gross sales, and racing. In Ocala, our job was to nook a 3-year-old Thoroughbred for an train rider, so we had been capable of expertise the “coaching” and dealing with elements.
Who’s your favourite racehorse of all time and why? Zenyatta! After I realized about this iconic mare, I used to be hooked. It is also nice that she is the primary filly to win the Breeders’ Cup Basic. What a legend to beat all of the boys each time and placed on a present for the group. Plus, she’s beautiful! I like seeing how big she is standing subsequent to individuals. (Within the spirit of lady energy, I additionally must pay tribute to a different lately retired legendary mare, Thorped Anna.)
Have you ever ever been to the Breeders’ Cup earlier than? I have never! An merchandise in your lifelong bucket record is about to be checked off.
What are you most wanting ahead to at this 12 months’s Breeders’ Cup??We’re wanting ahead to reuniting with our buddies (company) throughout the pond and having fun with a particular expertise collectively. I am unable to wait to position my bets and discover out who wins! I am unable to wait to see which horses will probably be within the highlight this season.
Is there anybody else you wish to meet whereas attending the Breeders’ Cup (different celebrities, trainers, jockeys, horses, and so forth.)? We hope to have the ability to shake as many fingers as doable! It might be nice to fulfill 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Brian Hernandez Jr., in addition to Frankie Dettori and Irad Ortiz Jr. Additionally, legendary trainers like Bob Baffert and Kenny McPeak could be nice. We by no means know which celebrities will probably be within the race, so we’re hoping to seek out them right here and there.
Do you will have a favourite Breeders’ Cup race in historical past? It have to be stated that this can be a symbolic victory for Zenyatta.
What horse or race are you most wanting ahead to seeing in particular person on the 2025 Breeders’ Cup? Breeders’ Cup Basic on Saturday! We will not wait to fulfill a few of the largest names within the trade and expertise first-hand the joy of prime racing.
The place had been you if you discovered you gained and what was your response? I used to be listening to a Zoom name whereas strolling my buddy’s canine. I assumed it was an entire prank, however I additionally actually wished it to be. I used to be quietly excited! I texted into a gaggle chat with my horse buddies (from totally different international locations) and everybody began going loopy. All of them wished to verify it was legit, however then all of them received excited.
Whenever you informed your family and friends about it, how did they react? After I stated I gained this expertise, individuals appeared to assume I used to be joking and everybody freaked out and began congratulating me and asking about my win and the race till America’s Finest Racing introduced me because the winner on their Instagram tales. My buddies thought it was so humorous that I might be the winner. My household is so excited for me! I used to be born in Palo Alto, California, however I contemplate North Carolina dwelling as a result of that is the place I grew up. So my mother informed me she was going again to the Golden State for the primary time in years!
Who would you are taking and was it a contest to be your plus one? I will be bringing alongside a buddy I made whereas in Lexington, Shona McElroy from Eire, as a visitor. She taught me a lot concerning the thoroughbred world and we had a lot enjoyable collectively that I needed to take her. We had a lot enjoyable going to the Keeneland fall races final 12 months that I knew if she might come it needed to be her. I did have some volunteers as my company, haha! In the case of horse racing, Shauna is my go-to particular person, so the ultimate alternative was straightforward.
