Media Contacts: Karen Gajewski, UCSD, (858) 822-3353 

Amy Jankowsky, Celebrate the Champions, (619) 296-0605

"AND THEY'RE OFF.... CELEBRATE THE CHAMPIONS" EVENT TO HONOR RACE SEASON CHAMPIONS, BENEFIT STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS AT UCSD

"And They're Off...Celebrate the Champions at Del Mar," a gala event scheduled for Saturday, July 29, will honor champions of the 1999 Del Mar season and benefit undergraduate scholarships at the University of California, San Diego.

The celebrity-studded benefit traditionally takes place the opening weekend at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and is the first major event during the meet. "Celebrate the Champions" will spotlight the prior season's champion jockeys, trainers, owners and horses. Additionally, this year the prestigious Emeritus Award, praising an individual who has made tremendous contributions to horse racing, will be awarded to jockey Gary Stevens.

This year's event benefits financially needy youth throughout the San Diego region by providing undergraduate scholarship funds at UCSD. Last year's event raised more than $500,000 for the Center for Equine Health, School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis.

Activities begin at the Del Mar Horse Show Arena at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception followed by dinner, a live auction and an entertainment production headlined by Tony and Drama Desk Award winner Ben Vereen, with musical director Nelson Kole. Trevor Denman will serve as master of ceremonies.

Tickets for the gala start at $250 per person. For reservations and additional information call Sheri Goldie at 858-792-4245.