Breeders Crown Charity Challenge raises $450,000

MILTON, October 28, 2025 – The 2025 Breeders Crown Charity Challenge concluded this past weekend with $450,000 donated to charities local to Woodbine Mohawk Park, bringing the total dollars raised through the initiative to over $2.4 million since 2019.

Spearheaded by prominent owner Marvin Katz, the Breeders Crown Charity Challenge began in 2019 and has annually raised funds for charities in the Breeders Crown host community. The funds are raised within the harness racing industry through the generosity of its participants.

This year’s challenge featured four teams, each partnering a charity with a top owner and driver in the sport. The dividing of the funds was based on several metrics, including the performance of the team’s owner and driver on the racetrack, plus the charity’s social media engagement. Each charity received a minimum donation of $80,000.

Team Millar – Food4Kids Halton – $95,000
​Team Grant – Milton District Hospital Foundation – $90,000
​Team Katz – Peter Munk Cardiac Centre – $85,000
​Team Determination – Kids Help Phone – $80,000

Following the cheque presentation to each charity, Katz made a personal donation of $100,000 to the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre.

The 2025 Breeders Crown Charity Challenge marked the final year at the helm of the initiative for founder Katz, who will now pass it on to a new leader ahead of the 2026 edition.

To recognize his efforts, Woodbine made an additional donation of $15,000 to the challenge and presented Katz with a personalized trophy.

by Mark McKelvie, for Woodbine Communications