Editor’s Note:

This coming Friday — Dec. 16 — the fine team at The Louisville Thoroughbred Society in downtown Louisville will be conducting a “Silent Auction” to help raise money for the Backside Learning Center at Churchill Downs.

An open reception for members, guests and investors will be held on location to help celebrate this season of cheer. All members and guests will be able to bid on site as the night progresses from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and are encouraged to bring donations of winter clothing and/or gift cards as the price of admission. All items will be collected and transported to the headquarters upon completion.

Anyone else interested in bidding on an amazing collection of memorabilia and collectibles from the Thoroughbred world and beyond my call a couple of phone numbers that we will be releasing on Thursday morning.

We will be posting the top bid every 5-to-10 minutes on this site (www.thepressboxlts.com) to give the current high price.

The list of items that will be offered up is impressive, but will include:

— Horse blanket worn by Triple Crown winner Justify — donated with gracious hearts by Ashford Stud and special thanks to both Charlie O’Conner and Dermot Ryan

— Horse blanket worn by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah — donated with gracious hearts by Ashford Stud and special thanks to both Charlie O’Conner and Dermot Ryan

— Horse blanket worn by perennial top stallion Into Mischief — donated with gracious hearts by Spendthrift Farm and special thanks to Spendthrift Farm’s Stallion Sales Manager Mark Toothaker

— Horse blanket worn by top young stallion and sire of 2022 KY Derby runner-up Epicenter Not This Time — donated with gracious hearts from the Albaugh Family and Taylor Made Farm

— Horse blanket worn by 2022 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike — donated with gracious hearts from the Team of Rich Strike and trainer Eric Reed and special thanks to National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback

— Sports coat worn by Hall of Famer rider Mike Smith — donated with gracious heart by the jockey himself and special thanks to Sen. Damon Thayer

— Sports coat worn by Angel Envy’s owner, founder and Master Distiller Wes Henderson — donated with gracious heart by the bourbon servant himself.

And, much much more.