MUCHO MACHO MAN TO BE PRESENTED VOX POPULI AWARD SATURDAY, STEVENS, OWNERS, TO SIGN ‘MUCHO’ POSTERS AT 11 A.M. IN EAST PADDOCK

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 10, 2014)–Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Mucho Macho Man, who will be presented with the Secretariat Vox Populi “Voice of the People” Award Saturday, will be honored earlier in the day, as his owners, Dean and Patti Reeves, along with Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, will sign 1,000 full color posters of “Mucho” beginning at 11 a.m. in Santa Anita’s East Paddock Gardens area.

Stevens, who had been inactive for seven years, culminated an unprecedented comeback at age 50 with a pulsating nose victory aboard Mucho Macho Man in the Classic Nov. 2, has also won three Kentucky Derbies and a total of 10 Breeders’ Cup races.

Mr. and Mrs. Reeves will be flying in from their Florida base to participate in the ceremonies surrounding the presentation of the award created by Penny Chenery, owner of 1973 Triple Crown Champion Secretariat.

“I think we all identified with Mucho Macho Man’s story of overcoming adversity,” said Chenery last month. “It is a classic theme that transcends sports and life and generations. And because he is poised to return in 2014, racing fans will have much to anticipate in this champion Thoroughbred.”

The Reeves’ and their racing manager, Finn Green, have announced the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic, to be run at Santa Anita Nov. 1, as this year’s long-range objective for their 6-year-old son of Macho Uno.

The Vox Populi trophy will be presented to the Reeves’ and Stevens in the Winner’s Circle following Saturday’s fourth race, and trainer Kathy Ritvo will be recognized during a simultaneous presentation at Gulfstream Park. Both celebrations will be broadcast live on HRTV.

Previous winners of the Vox Populi trophy are Zenyatta (2010), Rapid Redux (2011), and Paynter (2012).

First post time for a nine-race program Saturday is at 12:30 p.m.