You-Tube Video Earns Offaly Teen A Breeders Cup Invite

A young horse-racing fan from a small town in the Irish midlands got the biggest birthday present of his life last week, when the Breeders' Cup invited him to attend the race in Kentucky.

Mark Boylan, who just celebrated his 14th birthday in Banagher, County Offaly, combined his two passions in life - horseracing and music - on a You-tube video.

He sang an original song he wrote himself in tribute to the Breeders Cup, called "Stateside".

Organizers of horse-racing's biggest championship saw it, and offered to fly him and his family to the event in November, where he will perform the song for race-goers.

"When we first heard the song 'Stateside', we were blown away," said Peter Rotondo, Vice President of Media and Entertainment for Breeders' Cup.

"Mark is such a talented kid and we thought he'd be a great addition to Championship weekend festivities."

Rotondo confirmed the Boylans will get an all-expenses-paid trip to Louisville, KY for Breeders' Cup week and that Mark would be performing "Stateside" at Churchill Downs during the Breeders' Cup Championship weekend, November 4-5.

Additionally, "Stateside" will soon be offered online for download, with a 100% of the proceeds going to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF).

Mark's passion for horse racing developed at a young age.

His mother, Helene, grew up next door to four-time Breeders' Cup winning trainer Aidan O'Brien and Mark and his family became regular visitors to O'Brien's Coolmore Ballydoyle training center.

"To say I'm excited about going to the heart of US thoroughbred country, to Churchill Downs for the Breeders' Cup is an understatement," Mark Boylan said.

"It's obviously a huge thrill to be going across the pond for the first time. I'm really looking forward to experiencing world-class racing and hope my song will play a part in the excitement of this year's event."

Earlier this year, Mark performed another song he wrote, "The Festival," in front of 60,000 fans during the Cheltenham Festival steeplechase meet in England.

Accompanying Mark on his Breeders' Cup adventure will be his father Dave, mother Helene and six-year-old sister Holly.

To see Mark Boylan's performance of "Stateside," go to: http://youtu.be/ZnwST8QB2fs