On the Rise: Jodie Vella-Gregory

With a double main in psychology and political science from the College of Alberta in Canada, Jodie Vella-Gregory contemplated a profession in prison psychology, however upon commencement in 2007 she spent a summer season in Lexington and all the things modified.

Now because the vp of business relations for 1/ST Racing, Vella-Gregory is within the midst of a busy time of 12 months with Gulfstream Park‘s Championship Meet in South Florida opening Thanksgiving Day and Santa Anita’s Basic Meet in Southern California getting underway Dec. 26. Probably the most anticipated occasions of the 12 months for 1/ST Racing is when Gulfstream Park hosts its signature race, the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at its Hallandale Seaside observe Jan. 25. Vella-Gregory performs an integral function in catering to attendees, each inside the business and outdoors, to make sure that everybody has an fulfilling and memorable expertise.

Vella-Gregory’s solutions are edited for readability and house.

BloodHorse: How had been you launched to racing?

Jodie Vella-Gregory: Though I did not develop up with a racing background, my mother is British and he or she has an absolute love for something horse-related. She launched me to horseback driving after I was 5. I grew up three-day eventing in Canada. I used to be on the Younger Riders Staff. I competed on fairly just a few off-the-track Thoroughbreds. Among the horses I used to be competing on I might lookup the place they got here from. 

I did not actually know a lot concerning the depth of the racing business so I got here to Kentucky to soak it up after ending college. I obtained the chance to do a working-student place in Lexington (Bluegrass Thoroughbred Providers) due to some household buddies. Whereas I used to be there I additionally volunteered at KESMARC (Kentucky Equine Sports activities Drugs and Rehabilitation Heart). That summer season my eyes had been opened as much as a number of completely different avenues in horse racing. I labored the gross sales, I obtained to go to Keeneland and Churchill Downs. It wasn’t till that summer season that I noticed you can make a profession in horse racing. There may be actually one thing for everyone.

By the top of that summer season, I had been provided a few jobs, and I ended up taking a job with Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital as a clinician technician with Dr. Scott Hopper.

BH: What’s it concerning the business that hooked you?

JVG: I discovered a lot whereas working at Rood & Riddle. The care, time, vitality, and cash that goes towards (the welfare) of those horses. I had no concept what was out there to those wonderful athletes. 

I used to be given fairly just a few alternatives after I was at Rood & Riddle. I obtained to do the TOC2 testing on the Breeders’ Cups after they had been run at Churchill. I additionally obtained to go to the (Kentucky) Oaks and Derby as a part of that workforce as nicely. Seeing the joy and vitality from being across the stables…that began pushing me extra towards eager to be on the racing facet of issues.

I’m the place I’m in the present day due to the help of individuals round me and the groups which have given me probabilities to push ahead concepts and I am grateful for that. 

BH: What are your duties because the vp of business relations at 1/ST Racing?

JVG: The factor that I really like about my job is that it is by no means the identical day twice. I do a number of communication with the high-level racing stakeholders and business contributors on our marquee occasions. I’ve a number of communication and work with the occasion attendees and that’s throughout all our properties at 1/ST. For our marquee occasions, I am the conduit between our expertise and racing groups. I’m ensuring that the people who find themselves coming, stakeholders or contributors, are being nicely taken care of. 

I additionally work on on-track experiences, such because the Compton Cowboys (which gives a optimistic affect on inner-city youth by means of driving horses) after they come out to trip at Santa Anita. 

BH: It seems like a job that pulls you into many various instructions. Are you a high-energy individual?

JVG: I feel folks that meet me would say I’m an extroverted individual, however I would not say that I’m. I do, although, get pleasure from being round individuals and I like studying and listening to from individuals. 

When the occasions come, the vitality is so excessive. I thrive off of that. When that crowd is cheering; I nonetheless get chills despite the fact that I see a number of races as a result of (my workplace) is at Santa Anita. It simply by no means will get outdated. I simply love seeing individuals on the observe. This business is such an emotional one typically. I simply know the way a lot goes into getting a horse into the gate and I need to rejoice that. I feel for essentially the most half all of us are ambassadors for the game in no matter function we fill inside the racing world. 

One of many issues 1/ST is large on is ensuring that everyone that involves the observe—it doesn’t matter what capability they’re coming in—are getting a very good expertise. We clearly need to make it possible for the people who find themselves coming regularly are having an incredible time. The individuals we’re attempting to herald and elevate, possibly those that have not been to the races earlier than, we would like them to have an incredible time so they arrive again. 

BH: What about your job offers you satisfaction?

JVG: Working to extend variety within the business is pricey to me. I work with the Ed Brown Society (which creates alternatives for younger individuals of colour to realize business publicity, coaching, and expertise in racing) and the Compton Cowboys, as I discussed earlier. I additionally helped to begin the Horse Racing Ladies’s Summit. I additionally get pleasure from working with the backstretch neighborhood and ensuring we have now a number of charitable initiatives happening there. At every of our tracks we have now an aftercare liaison, simply to make it possible for if anybody wants assist putting a horse after racing they’ve a useful resource; I oversee that program. 

BH: I see that you just competed on the 2022 Actual Rider Cup, a charity leaping occasion, as a part of Staff 1/ST Racing. Is horseback driving nonetheless part of your life?

JVG: Fortunately, I get to be round wonderful horses on a regular basis, however I do not get to trip as a lot. I’ll get again to it in some unspecified time in the future. I hadn’t jumped a horse in 4 years till the day earlier than the Actual Rider Cup in 2022. Perhaps I’m a assured individual or simply loopy. My boss, Aidan Butler (president, 1/ST), wished 1/ST to have a workforce on the Actual Rider Cup as a result of he actually cares concerning the horses, and he made positive all of our tracks supported the workforce, which additionally included (former jockey and senior vp/racing operations) Aaron Gryder and Dionne Benson (1/ST Racing chief veterinary officer). I have not jumped a horse since however my plan is to compete in additional Actual Rider Cups.