VIRTUAL GREAT BUFFALO CHASE 5K

HOSTED RECORD NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS

More than $21,000 raised for local VFW, $15,000 donated to local food pantry 

        FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (July 28, 2020) – Runners from all 50 states and seven countries participated in Buffalo Trace Distillery’s 19^th annual Great Buffalo Chase 5k which was held virtually for the first time over July 4^th weekend. This was also the first time this race, which has historically attracted top runners from across the United States and the world, received runner participation in all of the 50 states, and the most participants to ever run the race in a single year. In total, 1,124 people participated in the virtual race.

Registrations for the race raised more than $21,000 for the city of Frankfort’s VFW Post 4075’s annual fireworks show which has been rescheduled for this fall.

The race kicked off the morning of July 3 with the singing of the National Anthem, performed by Christina Kaloyanides, a soprano opera singer from Chicago. Then, runners and walkers participated in this year’s virtual race in their hometowns and local neighborhoods wherever they were located during the period of July 3-5 instead of running at the Distillery as in the past. Participants were mailed a commemorative T-shirt and race bib and had the option to record and submit their personal race time.

Due to the nature of this being a virtual race, and in the spirit of fairness, prizes were not awarded to top runners this year. On behalf of all participants, and in commitment to supporting others, Buffalo Trace Distillery is donating $15,000, which would have been prize money for top runners, to God’s Pantry Food Bank to support the local Franklin County community.

All registrants were entered into a raffle for the chance to receive a hand-made American Flag made from bourbon barrel staves, to be donated to the charity of their choice for fundraising. The recipient of this raffle was Chris German who donated the hand-made barrel-stave flag to the SJ5K Foundation, which supports local, Plymouth-Canton, Michigan families facing crisis situations. This nonprofit, which was started by members of German’s family, will use the barrel-stave flag to raise funds for the foundation.

Participants also were encouraged to take part in the virtual patriotic attire costume contest on the Buffalo Trace Distillery Facebook Page and by using #ChaseTheBuffalo for the chance to win a prize from the Gift Shop.

A full listing of submitted race times can be found on the Buffalo Trace Distillery website, here.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1775 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 35 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon was named World Whiskey of the Year by “Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible 2018” and its William Larue Weller and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac were named 2^nd and 3^rd finest whiskeys in the world, respectively, in the “Jim Murray Whiskey Bible 2020.”  Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com