Kentucky Derby winner Mage racing to raise cancer awareness

Around this time of year, we're used to talking about stats and the odds of winning for Kentucky Derby horses, but one thoroughbred is running with a mission.Lenny Wolz and his brothers say seeing their horse, Mage, hit the iconic racetrack fulfills their father's wish for them to save lives.“When he was dying, he said, 'I want all of you guys to spread the word about early detection and how important it is,'” Wolz said.In 2018, Robert Stinson died of prostate cancer. His children are now honoring his legacy by ensuring others can create their own by raising money and awareness for cancer screenings through horse racing.“All of our purse money goes back into the stable, and we have an online store where any profit from that goes into the Kentucky Cancer Program,” Wolz said. “We don't take anything out for ourselves. To me, the success is from the people that reach out and say, 'Hey, thank you.' I just know that we are making a difference and if you save one, that's worth millions.”And it did not cost them millions to become part owners of Mage. They used the platform Commonwealth Racing, which offers affordable shares in racehorses.Co-founder Chase Chamberlin says the platform is meant to break down financial barriers, but he recently learned it's also uplifting the brothers' mission.“We've talked mostly horses until today,” Chamberlin said. “It really is special to know that we're not only making those dreams come true, but we're helping them amplify voices from other walks of life too.”One of those voices is the security guard for Mage, who is a prostate cancer survivor. Meeting him in person for the first time was a full-circle moment for Wolz and his brother, Damon.“If you believe in divine intervention, it's crazy,” he said.While Mage came in first place in the 149th Kentucky Derby, the family says the best reward is pleasing the person watching over them every day.“If you knew him, he's going crazy right now. I'm sure he's excited,” Wolz said. “You know he's up there relishing in all this, would be very proud of us and what we're doing.”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

Around this time of year, we're used to talking about stats and the odds of winning for Kentucky Derby horses, but one thoroughbred is running with a mission.

Lenny Wolz and his brothers say seeing their horse, Mage, hit the iconic racetrack fulfills their father's wish for them to save lives.

“When he was dying, he said, 'I want all of you guys to spread the word about early detection and how important it is,'” Wolz said.

In 2018, Robert Stinson died of prostate cancer. His children are now honoring his legacy by ensuring others can create their own by raising money and awareness for cancer screenings through horse racing.

“All of our purse money goes back into the stable, and we have an online store where any profit from that goes into the Kentucky Cancer Program,” Wolz said. “We don't take anything out for ourselves. To me, the success is from the people that reach out and say, 'Hey, thank you.' I just know that we are making a difference and if you save one, that's worth millions.”

And it did not cost them millions to become part owners of Mage. They used the platform Commonwealth Racing, which offers affordable shares in racehorses.

Co-founder Chase Chamberlin says the platform is meant to break down financial barriers, but he recently learned it's also uplifting the brothers' mission.

“We've talked mostly horses until today,” Chamberlin said. “It really is special to know that we're not only making those dreams come true, but we're helping them amplify voices from other walks of life too.”

One of those voices is the security guard for Mage, who is a prostate cancer survivor. Meeting him in person for the first time was a full-circle moment for Wolz and his brother, Damon.

“If you believe in divine intervention, it's crazy,” he said.

While Mage came in first place in the 149th Kentucky Derby, the family says the best reward is pleasing the person watching over them every day.

“If you knew him, he's going crazy right now. I'm sure he's excited,” Wolz said. “You know he's up there relishing in all this, would be very proud of us and what we're doing.”