Breeders’ Cup, ABR Launch Spanish Stream for Challenge Series

Breeders' Cup and America's Best Racing launched “Breeders' Cup En Vivo,” a series of six live digital handicapping shows in Spanish covering 13 of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races.

Co-hosted by Emanuel Aguilar, Annise Montplaisir, Roberto Rodriguez, Claudia Spadaro, and Darwin Vizcaya, the six shows will be streamed live across both America's Best Racing and Breeders' Cup's Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube channels. The following tracks and races will be covered by Breeders' Cup En Vivo:

  • Aug. 28 – Del Mar: GII Pat O'Brien S.
  • Sept. 11 – Kentucky Downs: GIII FanDuel Turf Sprint and Calumet Turf Cup
  • Sept. 19 – Woodbine: GI Natalma S. and GI Summer S.
  • Oct. 1 – Santa Anita: GI American Pharoah S., GII Chandelier S. and Speakeasy S.
  • Oct. 9 – Keeneland: GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, GI Keeneland Turf Mile and GII Thoroughbred Club of America S.
  • Oct. 10 – Keeneland: GII Bourbon S. and GI Juddmonte Spinster S.

The first episode, which will air Aug. 28, can be viewed here. Start time for the Pat O'Brien S. show will be announced later this week. Viewers can set a reminder to watch and will be notified once Breeders' Cup En Vivo is streaming live.

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Amplify Introduces Mentorship Program

Amplify Horse Racing, founded in 2019 as an initiative to welcome and educate newcomers about the Thoroughbred industry, has launched a mentorship program aimed at pairing young adults with Thoroughbred industry professionals. Objectives include improving accessibility into the Thoroughbred industry and developing understanding of what it is like to work in the sport by leveraging the experience of current industry professionals. The program is open to individuals between the ages of 18 and 22 who have a strong interest in a career in the Thoroughbred industry. No experience is required.

The initial pilot program will pair 10 mentors with mentees through two mentorship approaches. The first is in person, with five mentees based in Kentucky paired with mentors who are also in the state. The second, designed to limit geographic barriers, is virtual with five mentees from anywhere in the U.S. paired with suitable mentors.

“Ever since Amplify Horse Racing started in 2019, the goal of its founders and early supporters has been to offer a mentorship program,” said Annise Montplaisir, president of Amplify. “Throughout Amplify's growth and assessment of how best to recruit newcomers, it has become evident that mentorship has had an important role in getting many young professionals and industry leaders involved in the sport. We hope that through the creation of a formal program, we can make that process easier for others.”

The pilot program will take place from August through October. Mentorship program applications are available at amplifyhorseracing.org/mentorship. For more information or to learn how you can become a mentor, contact Annise Montplaisir at info@amplifyhorseracing.org.

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Amplify Horse Racing Launches Mentorship Program

Amplify Horse Racing, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to amplify education and careers in the Thoroughbred industry, has launched a mentorship program aimed at pairing young adults with Thoroughbred industry professionals.

The objectives of the program are to improve accessibility into the Thoroughbred industry, and develop understanding of what it is like to work in the sport by leveraging the passion, knowledge and experience of current industry professionals.

The initial pilot program will facilitate 10 mentor-mentee pairings through two mentorship approaches:

  • In-Person: Five mentees based in Kentucky will be selected and paired with mentors who work in the state. This pilot will focus on in-person meetings and engagement.
  • Virtual: Five mentees will be selected from anywhere in the U.S. and paired with suitable mentors. These pairs will meet virtually, removing geographic or transportation barriers that could limit interested young adults from connecting with the Thoroughbred industry.

The Amplify Horse Racing Mentorship Program is open to individuals aged 18-22, who demonstrate a desire to learn and a strong interest in working in the Thoroughbred industry. There are no restrictions based on academic achievement or Thoroughbred industry experience.

The initial mentorship program, which Amplify Horse Racing is using as a pilot, will take place from August through October 2021. Upon completion of the program, feedback will be gathered from participants to assess the viability of offering the program multiple times annually and including youth mentees.

“Ever since Amplify Horse Racing started in 2019, the goal of its founders and early supporters has been to offer a mentorship program,” says Annise Montplaisir, president of Amplify Horse Racing and equine education coordinator for the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP). “Getting involved in the Thoroughbred industry can feel like a winding path without a clear first step. Throughout Amplify's growth and assessment of how best to recruit newcomers, it has become evident that mentorship has had an important role in getting many young professionals and industry leaders involved in the sport. We hope that through the creation of a formal program, we can make that process easier for others.”

Mentorship program applications are available at amplifyhorseracing.org/mentorship. For more information or to learn how you can become a mentor, contact Annise Montplaisir at info@amplifyhorseracing.org.

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Montplaisir: How Educating People Can Better Our Horses’ Lives

In my new role as Equine Education Coordinator for the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP), I've been tasked with building awareness for the equine industry's educational and employment opportunities. This includes creating relationships with youth organizations, leading outreach through events, and serving as an ambassador for the initiatives we have in place.

The industry struggles with recruitment and retention of workforce, and I repeatedly hear sentiments that today's youth can no longer relate to this 'way of life'. Countering that notion, I believe in maintaining a positive growth mindset, and in the transformative power of education. I also believe we already have a template for recruiting and developing people in the way we develop racehorses.

We begin working with horses at a young age, through lots of human contact and handling with foals, ground work with weanlings, and starting yearlings under saddle.

When working with a young horse, it is rewarding to see and feel the learning cogs starting to turn – the softening into your hands, ears intent on a human teacher rather than calling out for equine friends, head lowering and stretching out from poll to tail. Early training facilitates progression, establishes trust, and builds confidence.

We do not expect horses to succeed without a proper foundation, so why would we expect that of humans?

To find future racehorses, we go to sales and select prospects. When it comes to finding people for the workforce, the process should not be much different. Many of the under-30s I know who are working in the equine industry stumbled upon it by chance. Their stories range from turning on the television and catching a big race, going on a class tour to a farm, or introduction through a family friend or relative who was a casual fan. This process could be improved through intentional, strategic recruitment. Connecting with schools, integrating equine into existing curriculums, and demonstrating how horses can improve educational attainment are all ways to get kids thinking about careers with horses.

Even when we have our prospective racehorses, they are not loaded onto the horse van and shipped directly to the racetrack. They spend ample time at training centers, learning with other youngsters about how to gallop in company and on their own.

The Thoroughbred industry values experience in its employees, and I can't count the number of times I've heard the phrase, “Young people need to pay their dues.” However, I have never had someone define to me exactly what this means. We cannot expect people to just figure out how to find a mentor, which technical training or university programs they should apply for, and where to locate internships. We must formulate a training plan, and outline the pathways required for gaining experience and upward mobility in jobs. This sets people up for positive experiences and success.

Finally, when we have our horses fit and ready for the track, we don't expect them to win races without daily training. In addition to that training, they also receive time off and rehab to keep them mentally and physically healthy. No matter someone's age, knowledge level or job title, continuing education should never be overlooked. There is no ceiling blocking anyone from being a more diligent employee, involved team member, compassionate manager, and devoted steward of the horse.

It comes down to this: the better we educate the industry's workforce, the better the horses will be cared for. Hands guided by knowledge and experience are developed through a strong foundation – and maintained through continued training.

Annise Montplaisir is the equine education coordinator for the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) and is a graduate of the Godolphin Flying Start program.

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