HRN: Racing's Future: Jade Cunningham

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Racing's Future: Jade Cunningham

"“Racing’s Future” is a Q&A series in which I aspire to help everyone in the industry. In addition to shining a spotlight on youth who plan to have a career in horse racing, I hope that the opinions expressed in their responses will offer industry leaders insight into what a younger audience believes the sport should improve upon.

Meet Jade Cunningham

20-year-old Jade Cunningham is originally from Nashville, Tennessee, where all her family lives, and now resides in Oklahoma. She started on the racetrack at age 12, and her love for racehorses came a couple years after that. She is currently in school working to obtain a bachelor’s degree in communications. Last summer, she worked as an assistant trainer for Danny Pish at Lone Star Park. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: Racing's Future: Devon Dougherty

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Racing's Future: Devon Dougherty

"“Racing’s Future” is a Q&A series in which I aspire to help everyone in the industry. In addition to shining a spotlight on youth who plan to have a career in horse racing, I hope that the opinions expressed in their responses will offer industry leaders insight into what a younger audience believes the sport should improve upon.

Meet Devon Dougherty

From Philadelphia, Pa., Devon Dougherty has been a fan of racing her entire life, being raised in a horse racing family. She has worked at Parx Racing as a hot walker and groom for the past two years and is starting to learn to gallop horses. She is currently a freshman at the Community College of Philadelphia, and will go on to the University of Kentucky to earn her bachelor’s degree in Equine Science. After college, she plans to apply to the Godolphin Flying Start Program and eventually get her trainer’s license. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: Racing's Future: Natalie Rietkerk

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .


Racing's Future: Natalie Rietkerk

“Racing’s Future” is a Q&A series in which I aspire to help everyone in the industry. In addition to shining a spotlight on youth who plan to have a career in horse racing, I hope that the opinions expressed in their responses will offer industry leaders insight into what a younger audience believes the sport should improve upon.

Meet Natalie Rietkerk

Natalie Rietkerk, a 25-year-old equine enthusiast living in Orange County, California, gained her love for horse racing as the great-granddaughter of a Thoroughbred trainer and breeder. An equestrian for nearly 20 years and a horse owner since age 12, Natalie’s riding career began with dressage before she became involved with hunter-jumpers – with a special interest in developing young horses. She has a 5-year-old Belgian Sport Horse gelding named Otto whom she has had since he was a yearling and hopes to show him in hunter derbies in the near future. Natalie has been able to combine her love of equestrian sports and horse racing as the Project Manager for the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA) – a nonprofit which funds more than 20 Thoroughbred aftercare organizations and helps retired racehorses find successful second careers. She also serves as Event Manager for the Thoroughbred Classic Horse Show, which was specifically created to give off-track-Thoroughbreds and their owners a place to showcase their skills in jumping, dressage, western and horsemanship classes. . ."


Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: Racing's Future: Julie Witt

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Racing's Future: Julie Witt

""Racing’s Future" is a Q&A series in which I aspire to help everyone in the industry. In addition to shining a spotlight on youth who plan to have a career in horse racing, I hope that the opinions expressed in their responses will offer industry leaders insight into what a younger audience believes the sport should improve upon. 

Originally from Freehold, New Jersey, 18-year-old Julie Witt has been hooked on horses for as long as she can remember but her love of racing started about twelve years ago. She is currently spending most of her time in Lexington, Kentucky – where she attends the University of Kentucky. She plans to graduate in May 2019 with degrees in Equine Science/Management and Animal Science with a Pre-Vet concentration and her Honors certificate. She has interned during Monmouth Park’s race meets for the past three summers with North Atlantic Equine Associates, a veterinary practice, and plans to continue that when she returns home this summer. In addition, Julie started prepping broodmares for James B. Keogh of Grovendale LLC. in October of 2015, and continued doing so until the end of the sales in Kentucky. She worked several days at the 2016 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages sale and will continue working with Keogh for this upcoming sales season. She is planning to prep yearlings in the morning, broodmares in the evening and work as many sales days as her class schedule allows. At the beginning of April, she began working weekends for Coolmore America’s Ashford Stud as a mare and foal groom, and is hoping to continue that as well when she returns to Kentucky for school in the fall. She is also a volunteer for Old Friends, and while she mostly works with the farm staff to take care of the horses, she has been shadowing to become a tour guide as well in the future. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: Racing's Future: Amy Nesse

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Racing's Future: Amy Nesse

"Racing’s Future" is a Q&A series in which I aspire to help everyone in the industry. In addition to shining a spotlight on youth who plan to have a career in horse racing, I hope that the opinions expressed in their responses will offer industry leaders insight into what a younger audience believes the sport should improve upon.

Meet Amy Nesse

18-year-old Amy Nesse, from Rockford, Illinois, has been a fan of racing for over ten years. She is currently involved in racing on social media and writes horse racing articles for Jon Stettin at pastthewire.com. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: Racing's Future: Sidney Boots

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Racing's Future: Sidney Boots

""Racing’s Future" is a Q&A series in which I aspire to help everyone in the industry. In addition to shining a spotlight on youth who plan to have a career in horse racing, I hope that the opinions expressed in their responses will offer industry leaders insight into what a younger audience believes the sport should improve upon.

Meet Sidney Boots

Sidney Boots, a 19-year-old from Alexandria, Kentucky, has been a fan of racing her entire life. She currently works as a BETologist at Keeneland and is an officer in the University of Kentucky’s Horse Racing Club. She is an Agricultural Education major at the University of Kentucky and hopes to use that degree to work as an advocate for the racing industry in the future. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: Racing's Future: Cassidy Jackson

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Racing's Future: Cassidy Jackson

""Racing’s Future" is a Q&A series in which I aspire to help everyone in the industry. In addition to shining a spotlight on youth who plan to have a career in horse racing, I hope that the opinions expressed in their responses will offer industry leaders insight into what a younger audience believes the sport should improve upon.

Meet Cassidy Jackson

From central Florida, 14-year-old Cassidy Jackson has been a fan of racing for as long as she can remember. With aspirations to become a veterinarian, Cassidy also enjoys photography and takes pictures of racehorses at sales and farms. Most of those pictures are featured on my Instagram photography account, @puresouthernphotography. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: Racing's Future: Acacia Courtney

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Racing's Future: Acacia Courtney

""Racing’s Future" is a Q&A series in which I aspire to help everyone in the industry. In addition to shining a spotlight on youth who plan to have a career in horse racing, I hope that the opinions expressed in their responses will offer industry leaders insight into what a younger audience believes the sport should improve upon.

Meet Acacia Courtney

Originally from Connecticut, 23-year-old Acacia Courtney currently lives in New York City. Although she only recently became involved in horse racing, she is a lifelong horse lover, having grown up riding and being trained in hunter/jumper and dressage disciplines. While her family has always watched the Kentucky Derby for as long as she can remember, it was when she started working with off-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) that she became hooked on the sport. Acacia is the founder and president of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Racing for Home Inc., which is dedicated to re-purposing OTTBs for new careers after the racetrack. Trips to the Suffolk Downs backside led to a full-fledged passion for racing and an enhanced love and appreciation for equine athletes, and about two and a half years ago, Acacia dove in to the industry headfirst. She has been blogging for America’s Best Racing for a year, and recently joined the Horse Racing Radio Network team full-time as an analyst after working as the paddock/winner’s circle commentator and interviewer for the Derby, Saratoga stakes races, and Breeders’ Cup. She is the co-host of the Xpressbet Radio shows, covering live racing from multiple tracks with with Anthony “The Big A” Stabile. Aside from her involvement in racing, Acacia was Miss Connecticut 2014 and a top-15 semifinalist in that year’s Miss America pageant, and graduated from Fordham University with a major in Communications (Journalism concentration) in December 2015. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: Racing's Future: Kylie Wellington

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Racing's Future: Kylie Wellington

""Racing’s Future" is a Q&A series in which I aspire to help everyone in the industry. In addition to shining a spotlight on youth who plan to have a career in horse racing, I hope that the opinions expressed in their responses will offer industry leaders insight into what a younger audience believes the sport should improve upon.

Meet Kylie Wellington

From Iowa, 14-year-old Kylie Wellington has been a part of the horse racing world for as long as she can remember. Outside of racing, she also barrel races, runs cross country, and practices photography. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: Racing's Future: Madison Scott

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Racing's Future: Madison Scott

"Racing’s Future" is a Q&A series in which I aspire to help everyone in the industry. In addition to shining a spotlight on youth who plan to have a career in horse racing, I hope that the opinions expressed in their responses will offer industry leaders insight into what a younger audience believes the sport should improve upon.

Meet Madison Scott

21-year-old Madison Scott grew up in Austin, Texas, in a family far removed from horses and the racing industry. Ever since becoming hooked on the sport at age 10 thanks to Smarty Jones, Madison has pursued a career in the industry. Her knowledge of the industry grew as she followed the progeny of Smarty Jones through middle school and high school, sending fan mail and updates to Three Chimneys Farm. That farm put Madison in contact with Patricia Champan (Smarty Jones’ owner), allowed her the privilege of naming a Smarty Jones colt – Mad for Smarty – while she was visiting the farm in 2009, and later gifted the horse to her once his racing career concluded. She is currently a senior at the University of Kentucky, double majoring in Marketing and Equine Science and Management. During her time in college, she has had work/internship experience at Three Chimneys Farm, Shawhan Place, Northrop Equine, The Blood-Horse, and Fasig-Tipton. In spring 2015, she studied abroad in Co. Kildare, Ireland to gain international experience, working at a stud farm and going racing. In November 2015, she and her boyfriend formed a registered LLC syndicate to purchase a pinhook prospect and became the primary investors. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: Racing's Future: Julia Ferreira

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Racing's Future: Julia Ferreira

""Racing’s Future" is a Q&A series in which I aspire to help everyone in the industry. In addition to shining a spotlight on youth who plan to have a career in horse racing, I hope that the opinions expressed in their responses will offer industry leaders insight into what a younger audience believes the sport should improve upon.

Meet Julia Ferreira

Julia Ferreira, from Ontario, Canada, is a 15-year-old horse racing enthusiast. She has had a passion for racing since she was very little, and it has only grown –  in particular due to her following of and trips to the races at Woodbine.

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: Racing's Future: Chris Crestik

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Racing's Future: Chris Crestik

""Racing’s Future” is a Q&A series in which I aspire to help everyone in the industry. In addition to shining a spotlight on youth who plan to have a career in horse racing, I hope that the opinions expressed in their responses will offer industry leaders insight into what a younger audience believes the sport should improve upon.

Meet Chris Crestik

From San Diego, California comes 16-year-old Chris Crestik, a lifelong racing fan. He is now a photographer for a Spanish horse racing website called elpotroroberto.com . In addition to his involvement with horse racing, he is a two-sport athlete, playing varsity football and throwing shot put/discus for his school's varsity track and field team. He is also a top student pursuing a full IB diploma. Follow him on Twitter, @chriscrestik, and Instagram, @riders.up, for his pictures and handicapping selections. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: Racing's Future: Mary Eddy

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Racing's Future: Mary Eddy

"“Racing’s Future” is a Q&A series in which I aspire to help everyone in the industry. In addition to shining a spotlight on youth who plan to have a career in horse racing, I hope that the opinions expressed in their responses will offer industry leaders insight into what a younger audience believes the sport should improve upon.

Meet Mary Eddy

17-year-old Mary Eddy has been attending the races at Saratoga Race Course since she was an infant and for the past four years, she has volunteered for Old Friends at their New York location, Cabin Creek. In doing so, she has won two volunteering awards: The Thoroughbred Charities of America Youth Essay Contest and a local news station award for 13 teenagers who perform outstanding volunteer service in their community. Her essay for the TCA was published in The Blood-Horse in October 2014 and she was featured on her local news station for their award. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: Racing's Future: Jack Gilligan

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Racing's Future: Jack Gilligan

"“Racing’s Future” is a Q&A series in which I aspire to help everyone in the industry. In addition to shining a spotlight on youth who plan to have a career in horse racing, I hope that the opinions expressed in their responses will offer industry leaders insight into what a younger audience believes the sport should improve upon.

Meet Jack Gilligan

19-year-old Jack Gilligan was born and raised in Newmarket, England – a town known for its Thoroughbred culture. After completing all of his schooling at the age of 16, he attended the British Racing School and rode his first race just before his 17^th birthday. He is now a jockey on the Kentucky circuit. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: Racing's Future: Olivia Friesen

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .



Racing's Future: Olivia Friesen

A 21-year-old college art major residing in Texas, Olivia Friesen has been a fan of racing for 13 years and a fan of horses since the day she was born. She even has fond memories of pretending that her Appaloosa gelding, Chico, was her racehorse. A passionate photographer, Olivia runs the mostly horse racing-focused Instagram account @thequineathlete.

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: Racing's Future: Nicholas Vaccarezza

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .



Racing's Future: Nicholas Vaccarezza

“Racing’s Future” is a Q&A series in which I aspire to help everyone in the industry. In addition to shining a spotlight on youth who plan to have a career in horse racing, I hope that the opinions expressed in their responses will offer industry leaders insight into what a younger audience believes the sport should improve upon.

Meet Nicholas Vaccarezza

16-year-old Nicholas Vaccarezza has been a fan of horse racing all his life. His father, Carlo Vaccarezza, is a trainer where they live in South Florida, currently training at Palm Meadows. An aspiring trainer himself, Nick helps his father around the barn and with the racehorses. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: Racing's Future: Matt Dinerman

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .


Racing's Future: Matt Dinerman

“Racing’s Future” is a Q&A series in which I aspire to help everyone in the industry. In addition to shining a spotlight on youth who plan to have a career in horse racing, I hope that the opinions expressed in their responses will offer industry leaders insight into what a younger audience believes the sport should improve upon.

Meet Matt Dinerman

Born and raised in San Diego, California, 23-year-old Matt Dinerman has been a fan of racing since age 11. He is now the racetrack announcer at Emerald Downs. He is also a trip notes analyst on a new website called OptixEQ, and contributes handicapping analysis to TVG’s online newsletter. Follow him on Twitter, @3coltshandicap. . ."


Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: Racing's Future: Cameron Decker

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .


Racing's Future: Cameron Decker

“Racing’s Future” is a Q&A series in which I aspire to help everyone in the industry. In addition to shining a spotlight on youth who plan to have a career in horse racing, I hope that the opinions expressed in their responses will offer industry leaders insight into what a younger audience believes the sport should improve upon.

Meet Cameron Decker

14-year-old Arizona resident Cameron Decker has been a fan of horse racing for six years. He is currently interning for trainer Sharlot Martinez at Turf Paradise on the weekends to get early start and work towards his career as a racehorse trainer. Follow him on Instagram, @cam_deckr. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: Racing's Future: Eric DeCoster

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .


Racing's Future: Eric DeCoster

“Racing’s Future” is a Q&A series in which I aspire to help everyone in the industry. In addition to shining a spotlight on youth who plan to have a career in horse racing, I hope that the opinions expressed in their responses will offer industry leaders insight into what a younger audience believes the sport should improve upon.

Meet Eric DeCoster

Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, 13-year-old Eric DeCoster now resides in Phoenix, Arizona. A fan of racing from a very early age, he promotes horse racing through his Instagram – @mr_ed26 – and Twitter – @hawksnhorses."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

HRN: Racing's Future: Danica Cochran

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

Racing's Future: Danica Cochran

"“Racing’s Future” is a Q&A series in which I aspire to help everyone in the industry. In addition to shining a spotlight on youth who plan to have a career in horse racing, I hope that the opinions expressed in their responses will offer industry leaders insight into what a younger audience believes the sport should improve upon.

Meet Danica Cochran

Danica Cochran, 21, is a graduate of the Thoroughbred Equine Racing Program at Morrisville State College, located in upstate New York. She is originally from southeast Massachusetts, but has been living in Lexington, Kentucky for a little over a year now. A fan of racing since 2004, Dani is currently working as a vet assistant and farm hand at Gunston Hall Farm in Lexington. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.