When Red Mile Gaming and Racing held its Kentucky Futurity Day on Oct. 3, the event provided a red-carpet experience for University of Kentucky student attendees. The day began with behind-the-scenes tours, free admission and concessions and culminated in a $5,000 USD scholarship cheque presentation from The Red Mile with presenting sponsor Woodford Feed.
The daylong experiential student event, named “Harnessing the Future: UK Ag Equine Programs Day at The Red Mile,” marked a new era of opportunities within harness racing for UK’s equine and pre-vet students interested in equine careers. The event was held during the Kentucky Futurity, one of the three jewels in the Trotting Triple Crown and one of harness racing’s most historic and prestigious events.
“We are so grateful to The Red Mile, the Lexington Trots Breeders Association and Woodford Feed for investing in our Equine Science and Management (ESMA) and equine pre-vet students through scholarships. We are equally excited about the new opportunities for our students to become immersed in harness racing,” said Jill Stowe, director of UK Ag Equine Programs and holder of the Stanley Smith Dickson Professorship. “We look forward to growing this partnership to the mutual benefit of both our students’ career development and the harness racing industry’s future.”
Besides free admission to the races and a voucher for concessions, the facility also offered four special behind-the-scenes tours for students. Those included a look at veterinary care, track maintenance and racing surface management, marketing the event, and calling the race action.
One of the most popular tours included Protecting the Equine Athlete: Veterinary Care & Racing Regulation, which gave an overview of the veterinary, regulatory and safety procedures that support equine welfare and racing integrity. Students learned about pre-race protocols, testing, oversight and the collaboration among veterinarians, officials, horsemen and track personnel.
The other popular tour for attendees was the Beyond the Finish Line: Events, Marketing & Public Relations tour, which gave participants a look into how a major race day is developed, promoted and presented to the public. Attendees learned about event production, sponsorship, media relations, guest experience, social media and the storytelling that connects new audiences with the sport.
"It was a pleasure to welcome the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment students, faculty and leadership to The Red Mile for Kentucky Futurity Day," said Emily Ratcliff, director of sponsorships at The Red Mile. "The equine industry is such an important part of Kentucky's identity, and we have a responsibility to introduce the next generation to the many opportunities it offers.”
A Martin-Gatton CAFE alum, Ratcliff helped make the day a special experience for students.
“We wanted these students to experience firsthand the people, passion and opportunities that make Kentucky's equine industry so extraordinary,” she said. “The $5,000 [USD] college scholarship is an extension of that commitment, and we hope it opens a door for students to pursue their passion and build a future in an industry we are so proud to represent."
Several UK ESMA alums currently work in the harness racing industry, including Joanna Ricci, a 2020 grad. Ricci is currently a compliance manager with MyRacehorse and helped lead tours at the event for the participating students. Trainer Jay Hochstetler is a 2015 graduate of the ESMA program.
(With files from The Red Mile; photo of Robert Cleveland, owner of Woodford Feed, and Shannon Cobb, the COO of The Red Mile, presenting a $5,000 USD scholarship cheque to Jill Stowe, director of UK Ag Equine Programs and other members of the program)