The Phipps Family was honored with the inaugural Dinny Phipps Award at the annual Belmont Stakes Charity Celebration, held at Bryant Park Grill in New York City Thursday. Longstanding owner and a stalwart in the area of equine welfare Earle Mack, who created the award, presented family representatives Ande Phipps and Ogden Phipps II, wife and son of the late Ogden Mills (Dinny) Phipps, with a bronze sculpture created by Odon Wagner Gallery and artist Gary Weisman. The award will be presented annually to an individual or individuals who demonstrate dedication to equine health.
“Dinny was a man of great vision and strength and this award is designed to honor those who demonstrate exemplary and selfless leadership [in the field of equine health],” said Mack. “Dinny and I shared a love of racing and that was the basis of our long friendship.
Phipps, a prominent Thoroughbred owner and breeder, served as the chairman of The Jockey Club from February 1983 until he retired in August 2015. He received numerous honors and awards through the years for his dedication and commitment to the Thoroughbred industry. He died April 6 of last year.
“My father felt a deep obligation to do what was right for the equine,” said Phipps II. “He believed that everything we could do for the betterment of the horse was paramount to having our industry move forward and prosper. Simply put, what was good for the horse was good for our industry. I know that when my father left us, he was very proud of his accomplishments in our industry. I also know that he believed that there was more to be done, and I hope this award will be that spark that continues to ignite individuals and organizations to take care of our equine stars and continue to give back to this sport that has given everyone in this room so very much. On behalf of my family, thank you for this honor.”
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