When Sierra Leone enters the starting gate May 4 as one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby (G1), he will be racing for a purpose greater than the fame, glory, and money that comes associated with the classic.
The 3-year-old son of Gun Runner runs for the roses in support of the Backside Learning Center, a human service and education nonprofit organization that provides support and resources to more than 1,000 people that live and work at both Churchill Downs and its nearby training center.
"It's their life," said Brook Smith, a part owner of Sierra Leone. "It's a job of passion, and there's not many of those left."
After receiving a financial management degree from Clemson University, Smith got his start writing surety bonds before he and his partners purchased their first insurance company in 2001. In 2010, he created a horse racing-themed wine brand called "Post Parade Wines."
Always desiring to pair nonprofit organizations with his business ventures, Smith looked close to home—having grown up in Oldham County, Ky.—for a racing-themed organization to coincide with his wine company and discovered the BLC.
"I was amazed at the anemic budget that they had to support all the folks in the community on the backside," Smith said. "I was shocked."
Originally under the umbrella of the Kentucky Derby Museum upon its creation in 2004, the BLC received status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2016. The change has allowed the organization to more easily apply for grants and receive donations as an independent entity. It was not long after that Smith started to get involved.
"He hadn't heard of us before and he was sold since day one," said the BLC's executive director Sherry Stanley. "He's been an incredible advocate of ours and is really trying to set the example of an owner that recognizes the important role of the whole backside community."
Smith and the Learning Center came up with an idea for owners to give back to the people who take care of their horses called the "Purses for a Purpose" program.
For either a percentage of the purse or a flat dollar amount, owners can enroll their horses and help raise money for the BLC. Smith donates 10% of all his purses to the BLC, including those earned by Sierra Leone.
"They're incredible animals," Smith said. "They need honest, thoughtful care, and that's what these workers do."
To have a good horse, you need a good team. To have a good team, you need to provide access to all the necessities of life.
"When you support the workforce and have a strong workforce, you're going to have a stronger product at the end," said Stanley.
In the last 10 years, the BLC has grown from two full-time staff members to 18, allowing for the introduction of more programming that provides English classes, prenatal care, mental health support, youth development, and so much more. In addition, they touch every worker on the backstretch by being the place where they go to pick up their mail, receive directions, print a form, or any task that may pop up in which they need help.
With added financial support from owners like Smith, the BLC can continue to grow and strengthen their staff to offer more services. In addition, children are not allowed on the backstretch. To offer youth programming, a key initiative for the BLC, they rent space at the Beechmont Baptist Church about a mile south of the track. However, they are currently looking at purchasing their own building closer to the track by 2025.
"If we could just get 150 horses, since it's the 150th Derby, and get owners that race at Churchill regularly to just give 1%, it's a momentous event that can help the Backside (Learning Center) get a building for their programming for the kids and everything else," Smith said.
For Stanley, the excitement of their program star entering the Kentucky Derby with a strong chance at victory does not come from a financial mindset, but rather that it puts the spotlight on all the hard work that the BLC and the backstretch workers do on a daily basis.
"I hope that most people in this industry know that we exist, but it's going to bring us to another level in terms of our recognition and the important role that we play," said Stanley. "Having (Smith) set that example of sharing part of his winnings is going to be amazing."
Smith is alright with taking a back seat should Sierra Leone win the Kentucky Derby, caring more about the mission the horse represents than being able to call himself a Kentucky Derby-winning owner.
"I'm more excited about that than me saying 'I own this percentage of the horse,'" Smith said. "If it were to happen, the first thing I'm going to do is look at the faces of the people around me and the faces of the folks around the barn."
As far as what winning the Derby would mean to Smith personally, he can't even imagine.
"I'm not one to cry very often, but there will probably be tears coming down my cheeks because I just won't be able to process at the moment," Smith said. "Why me? Why am I here in this moment? It's just overwhelming."
It appears that the answer is already known as to why Smith is in this moment: to bring awareness and support to the daily needs of the people who are the most crucial piece of the horse racing puzzle.
