With a double main in psychology and political science from the College of Alberta in Canada, Jodie Vella-Gregory contemplated a profession in felony psychology, however upon commencement in 2007 she spent a summer season in Lexington and every part modified.
Now because the vice chairman 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 Park’s Traditional Meet in Southern California getting underway Dec. 26. One of the crucial 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 Stakes Introduced by Baccarat at its Hallandale Seaside observe Jan. 25. Vella-Gregory performs an integral position in catering to attendees, each inside the business and outdoors, to make sure that everybody has an pleasant and memorable expertise.
Vella-Gregory’s solutions are edited for readability and house.
BloodHorse: How had been you launched to racing?
Jodie Vella-Gregory: Although I didn’t 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 using once I was 5. I grew up three-day eventing in Canada. I used to be on the Younger Riders Workforce. I competed on fairly just a few off-the-track Thoroughbreds. Among the horses I used to be competing on I’d lookup the place they got here from.
I didn’t actually know a lot in regards to the depth of the racing business so I got here to Kentucky to soak it up after ending college. I bought the chance to do a working-student place in Lexington (Bluegrass Thoroughbred Providers) due to some household associates. Whereas I used to be there I additionally volunteered at KESMARC (Kentucky Equine Sports activities Drugs and Rehabilitation Middle). That summer season my eyes had been opened as much as a variety of completely different avenues in horse racing. I labored the gross sales, I bought to go to Keeneland and Churchill Downs. It wasn’t till that summer season that I spotted you possibly can make a profession in horse racing. There’s actually one thing for everyone.
By the top of that summer season, I had been supplied 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 in regards to the business that hooked you?
JVG: I realized a lot whereas working at Rood & Riddle. The care, time, power, and cash that goes towards (the welfare) of those horses. I had no thought what was obtainable to those wonderful athletes.
I used to be given fairly just a few alternatives once I was at Rood & Riddle. I bought to do the TOC2 testing on the Breeders’ Cups once they had been run at Churchill. I additionally bought to go to the (Kentucky) Oaks and Derby as a part of that workforce as effectively. Seeing the thrill and power from being across the stables… that began pushing me extra towards desirous to be on the racing aspect of issues.
I’m the place I’m immediately due to the assist of individuals round me and the groups which have given me probabilities to push ahead concepts and I’m grateful for that.
BH: What are your duties because the vice chairman of business relations at 1/ST Racing?
JVG: The factor that I like about my job is that it’s by no means the identical day twice. I do a variety of communication with the high-level racing stakeholders and business individuals on our marquee occasions. I’ve a variety of communication and work with the occasion attendees and that’s throughout all our properties at 1/ST. For our marquee occasions, I’m the conduit between our expertise and racing groups. I’m ensuring that the people who find themselves coming, stakeholders or individuals, are being effectively 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 way of using horses) once they come out to trip at Santa Anita.
BH: It seems like a job that pulls you into many alternative instructions. Are you a high-energy particular person?
JVG: I believe those who meet me would say I’m an extroverted particular person, however I wouldn’t say that I’m. I do, although, take pleasure in being round folks and I like studying and listening to from folks.
When the occasions come, the power is so excessive. I thrive off of that. When that crowd is cheering; I nonetheless get chills although I see a variety of races as a result of (my workplace) is at Santa Anita. It simply by no means will get previous. I simply love seeing folks on the observe. This business is such an emotional one generally. I simply know the way a lot goes into getting a horse into the gate and I need to rejoice that. I believe for essentially the most half all of us are ambassadors for the game in no matter position we fill inside the racing world.
One of many issues 1/ST is massive on is ensuring that everyone that involves the observe – it doesn’t matter what capability they’re coming in – are getting a extremely good expertise. We clearly need to ensure that the people who find themselves coming regularly are having a tremendous time. The folks we’re making an attempt to herald and elevate, possibly those that haven’t been to the races earlier than, we would like them to have a tremendous time so they arrive again.
BH: What about your job provides you satisfaction?
JVG: Working to extend variety within the business is expensive to me. I work with the Ed Brown Society (which creates alternatives for younger folks of shade to realize business publicity, coaching, and expertise in racing) and the Compton Cowboys, as I discussed earlier. I additionally helped to start out the Horse Racing Girls’s Summit. I additionally take pleasure in working with the backstretch group and ensuring we now have a variety of charitable initiatives happening there. At every of our tracks we now have an aftercare liaison, simply to ensure that 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 Workforce 1/ST Racing. Is horseback using nonetheless part of your life?
JVG: Fortunately, I get to be round wonderful horses on a regular basis, however I don’t 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. Possibly I’m a assured particular person or simply loopy. My boss, Aidan Butler (president, 1/ST), needed 1/ST to have a workforce on the Actual Rider Cup as a result of he actually cares in regards to the horses, and he made certain all of our tracks supported the workforce, which additionally included (former jockey and senior vice chairman/racing operations) Aaron Gryder and Dionne Benson (1/ST Racing chief veterinary officer). I haven’t jumped a horse since however my plan is to compete in additional Actual Rider Cups.