With a double main in psychology and political science from the College of Alberta in Canada, Jodie Vella-Gregory contemplated a profession in legal psychology, however upon commencement in 2007 she spent a summer season in Lexington and every little thing modified.
Now because the vp of trade relations for 1/ST Racing, Vella-Gregory is within the midst of a busy time of yr 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 anticipated occasions of the yr for 1/ST Racing is when Gulfstream Park hosts its signature race, the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Offered by Baccarat at its Hallandale Seashore observe Jan. 25. Vella-Gregory performs an integral function in catering to attendees, each throughout the trade and outdoors, to make sure that everybody has an pleasurable 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 she or he 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. A few of the horses I used to be competing on I might lookup the place they got here from.
I didn’t actually know a lot concerning the depth of the racing trade 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 Companies) due to some household pals. 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 loads of totally 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 noticed you could possibly make a profession in horse racing. There’s actually one thing for everyone.
By the tip 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 concerning the trade that hooked you?
JVG: I realized a lot whereas working at Rood & Riddle. The care, time, vitality, and cash that goes towards (the welfare) of those horses. I had no thought what was accessible to those wonderful athletes.
I used to be given fairly just a few alternatives after I was at Rood & Riddle. I bought to do the TOC2 testing on the Breeders’ Cups after they had been run at Churchill. I additionally bought to go to the (Kentucky) Oaks and Derby as a part of that staff as effectively. Seeing the thrill and vitality from being across the stables… that began pushing me extra towards desirous to be on the racing facet of issues.
I’m the place I’m at the moment due to the help 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 vp of trade relations at 1/ST Racing?
JVG: The factor that I really like about my job is that it’s by no means the identical day twice. I do loads of communication with the high-level racing stakeholders and trade members on our marquee occasions. I’ve loads 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 members, are being effectively taken care of.
I additionally work on on-track experiences, such because the Compton Cowboys (which gives a constructive affect on inner-city youth by way of driving horses) after they come out to trip at Santa Anita.
BH: It feels like a job that pulls you into many various instructions. Are you a high-energy particular person?
JVG: I feel those that 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 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 although I see loads 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 trade is such an emotional one generally. I simply understand how a lot goes into getting a horse into the gate and I need to have fun that. I feel for essentially the most half all of us are ambassadors for the game in no matter function we fill throughout the racing world.
One of many issues 1/ST is huge 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 make it possible for the people who find themselves coming frequently are having a tremendous time. The individuals we’re attempting to usher in and elevate, perhaps those that haven’t been to the races earlier than, we wish them to have a tremendous time so they arrive again.
BH: What about your job offers you satisfaction?
JVG: Working to extend variety within the trade is pricey to me. I work with the Ed Brown Society (which creates alternatives for younger individuals of colour to realize trade 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 loads of charitable tasks occurring there. At every of our tracks we now have 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 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. Perhaps I’m a assured particular person or simply loopy. My boss, Aidan Butler (president, 1/ST), wished 1/ST to have a staff on the Actual Rider Cup as a result of he actually cares concerning the horses, and he made certain all of our tracks supported the staff, which additionally included (former jockey and senior vp/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.
