The Scott Family hosted a stand at the Preakness Stakes. Afleet Alex stumbled in that race, but went on to win. In a post-race interview, when asked how he managed to hang on, jockey Jeremy Rose replied, “An angel kept me safe. There was someone up there who helped us. Little Alex kept me on.”
His owners invited the Scott Family to set up a lemonade stand at Churchill Downs. Afleet Alex would come in third at the Kentucky Derby, but the media found out the story of the two Alexs.
While extended family members hosted the lemonade stand at Belmont Stakes, Liz, Jay and Alex’s three brothers manned Alex’s Original in Wynnewood, PA. They set up a TV so everyone could watch Afleet Alex’s last Triple Crown race.
By: Trish Adkins
Twenty years ago, Liz Scott got a call from one of the owners of a racehorse named Afleet Alex. The person on the line mentioned they had a horse that was "pretty good" and they’d been donating anonymously to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) whenever the horse won. They wanted to keep donating, but go public with their support.
The caller, one of the horse’s co-owners, asked Liz what she thought.
“I knew nothing about horse racing at the time,” recalled Liz, “But my husband, Jay, and I thought, why not?”
Their daughter and ALSF founder, Alex, had died less a year before, leaving the Scotts with broken hearts, but with a mission. Alex had raised over $1 million for childhood cancer through her lemonade stands with the help of other supporters and stand hosts all across the country. After her death, Liz and Jay grappled with how to continue Alex’s incredible work without Alex present — should they keep going or stop?
Soon, the Scotts would learn that the owners had been modest about the ability of the horse. Afleet Alex, was much more than “pretty good” — he was a three-year-old thoroughbred with speed and enough racing success to qualify for the Kentucky Derby — and like Liz and Jay’s daughter, Alex, he would show the world he also had resilience and heart.
It seemed that another Alex had stepped up to help kids with cancer.
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To qualify for the Kentucky Derby, a racehorse needs to be winner in its Prep and Championship seasons or win an international series. Afleet Alex won — and then won big at the Grade 2 Arkansas Derby, taking first place an impressive six lengths. He qualified for the Kentucky Derby, the first race in the Triple Crown series. His owners invited the Scott Family to set up a Lemonade Stand at Churchill Downs. Afleet Alex would come in third at that race, but the media found out the story of the two Alexs. Headlines in sports, local, and horseracing media launched ALSF onto the national and even international stage, giving the Foundation and its story vast awareness.
Two weeks later, the family packed up again, this time heading to Baltimore for the second race in the Triple Crown series: the Preakness Stakes. Once more, they set up a lemonade stand. It was during that race that Afleet Alex stumbled to his knees, nearly tossing his jockey, Jeremy Rose. But then, as quickly as he stumbled, Afleet Alex recovered and powered his way to a first-place finish. In a post-race interview, when asked how he managed to hang on, Rose replied, “An angel kept me safe. There was someone up there who helped us. Little Alex kept me on.”
That day, the connection between Alex and Afleet Alex was unmistakable.
“We had been wondering if we should keep going or stop,” said Liz. “Afleet Alex gave us our answer.”
Afleet Alex’s story captured the hearts of the nation and, along with it, the story of Alex Scott, the lemonade girl. Donations and media clips began pouring in.
The Belmont Stakes — the final leg of the Triple Crown — was next and it happened to coincide with Alex’s “Original” Lemonade Stand, a grand, community lemonade stand held at Alex’s former elementary school. It would be the first held without Alex.
While extended family members hosted the lemonade stand at Belmont Stakes, Liz, Jay and Alex’s three brothers manned Alex’s Original in Wynnewood, PA. They set up a TV so everyone could watch Afleet Alex’s last Triple Crown race. A crowd huddled together to watch. At first, Afleet Alex stayed in the middle of the pack — but then in the final turn, he charged forward, winning by several lengths.
Not only did Afleet Alex prevail at The Belmont, it was a massive victory for ALSF too, raising tens of thousands of dollars in one day.
“Afleet Alex was a critical part of continuing to take Alex's voice to a very different audience. And it's probably one of the single most magical things that happened in a year when we thought, how are we going to get anybody's attention now that Alex isn't here anymore?” said Liz, “Afleet Alex did. It is amazing.”
Since 2005, ALSF has grown into the largest independent childhood cancer charity in the U.S. and has raised more than $300 million and funded over 1,500 medical research grants. Anyone can host a lemonade stand, anytime, anywhere and make a difference. Find out more here.
