“We are excited to embark upon this critical work with The Jockey Club. Because The Jockey Club's operations touch virtually every aspect of our industry, this partnership opens up many more professional opportunities for our scholars and fellows to explore. So, we salute The Jockey Club for demonstrating this commitment to our mission. Undoubtedly, this partnership will lead to a more inclusive future for our industry,” said EBS Chairman Greg Harbut.

Named in honor of Edward Dudley Brown, who was born into slavery in Lexington, KY, and went on to become one of the most accomplished horsemen in the history of Thoroughbred racing and founded by Living The Dream Racing & Stables, the Ed Brown Society (EBS) celebrates the rich history of African-Americans in the equine industry, while creating opportunities for young people of color to gain industry exposure, training, and experience, through internships and scholarships. EBS focuses on identifying and qualifying students of color, with demonstrated interest, skills and commitment, to become successful professionals in all aspects of the Thoroughbred industry.

“The Ed Brown Society shares The Jockey Club's commitment to bringing talented young people into the Thoroughbred industry,” said James L. Gagliano, president and COO of The Jockey Club. “This partnership is an excellent example of how collaboration among industry groups can help grow the sport.”

For more information about EBS visit www.EdBrownSociety.org .

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Founded by Living The Dream Racing & Stables, a group of racing syndicates managed by Greg Harbut and Ray Daniels, the Ed Brown Society celebrates the rich history of African-Americans in the equine industry by identifying and supporting college students of color who have demonstrated the skills necessary to become successful professionals in a variety of different roles within the sport.

“Horse racing is a powerful economic engine that creates jobs and opportunities in every corner of New York State,” said Dave O'Rourke, NYRA President & CEO. “The Ed Brown Society is focused on ensuring those opportunities are shared equitably to increase diversity for the betterment of the sport. NYRA applauds the Ed Brown Society for what they have accomplished, and we look forward to anchoring this important work here in New York.”

NYRA will work with the Ed Brown Society to develop Ed Brown Scholars and Fellows who will qualify for paid internships at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. To support these opportunities, NYRA has made a significant  financial contribution to the Ed Brown Society.

“As a third-generation horseman, and one of the few African American professionals in the industry, I am very excited to begin this important work in New York,” said Ed Brown Society Chairman Greg Harbut. “NYRA is committed to our mission of expanding diversity, equity and inclusion in horse racing, which is exactly what this partnership will accomplish.”

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Ed Brown Fellow Selman graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Georgia last year with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science.

Ed Brown Scholar Davis will graduate this summer from Kentucky State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications.

“We are very excited to embark upon year two of our groundbreaking partnership with 1/ST and to facilitate this tremendous opportunity for Zaharia and Shaska, as they undoubtedly gain professional experience that will place them on the pathway to successful careers in the Thoroughbred industry,” said Ed Brown Society Chairman Greg Harbut.

The Ed Brown Society, founded in 2020, celebrates the rich history of African-Americans in the Thoroughbred industry and creates opportunities for young people of color that will qualify them for professional careers in the industry. 1/ST became the first member of the Ed Brown Partnership in January 2022.

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The Ed Brown Society announced six new Ed Brown Scholars on Tuesday evening at the Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center during opening night of an art exhibit celebrating African American equestrians. The event was co-sponsored by the Ed Brown Society, Breeders' Cup Festival Week and Commerce Lexington.

Jaida Alee, a sophomore at the University of Kentucky majoring in Equine Science and Management; Chanler Robinson, a junior at Ohio State University majoring in Animal Science; Sophia Vega, a freshman at the University of Kentucky majoring in Animal Science; Harrison Goode, a junior at the University of Kentucky majoring in Equine Science and Management; Jeffrey Mitchell, Jr., a doctoral student at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine; and Deanira Smith, a doctoral student at the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine were all recognized as Ed Brown Scholars for the remainder of the 2022-2023 academic year. Each Ed Brown Scholar was awarded a $3,000 scholarship and will gain industry exposure, training and experience, through the EBS career development program.

Chairman Greg Harbut said, “At the Breeders' Cup, many will place their wagers on who they believe will be the winners of world championship races. In that same spirit, the Ed Brown Society is making this investment in young people of color who are running strong academic races in pursuit of their equine careers, and we believe they will finish strong.”

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As a cornerstone of the partnership, Ed Brown Society (EBS) will identify, recruit and place qualified minority students for paid professional internships within the Keeneland team. Upon the completion of their internships, EBS will provide ongoing direction to these interns as they progress toward permanent professional placements in the Thoroughbred Industry. Ed Brown Society and Keeneland will also collaborate on existing initiatives such as Keeneland's Fifth Grade Field Trips, College Scholarship Day and Keeneland's College Ambassador Program with an effort to promote diversity and inclusion.

The Ed Brown Society (edbrownsociety.org) is named for the noted African American horseman, Edward Dudley Brown from Lexington who achieved great success as a Thoroughbred jockey, trainer and owner from the latter 19th century through the time of his retirement in 1903. Brown, who trained Baden-Baden to win the 1877 Kentucky Derby and developed future Derby winners Ben Brush and Plaudit, was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1984.

“Ed Brown Society and Keeneland have a collective commitment to expose the sport to new and diverse audiences and create more opportunities for people from all backgrounds,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “We are proud to expand our relationship with Ed Brown Society at the Partner level and excited to invest in a more diverse next generation of industry leaders with the EBS internship program.”

“Like so many African Americans, who have accomplished great things in horse racing, Ed Brown was a native of Lexington, KY. So, it is a fitting milestone to embark upon this crucial endeavor with Keeneland. We gladly welcome Keeneland to the Ed Brown Partnership, which should open doors in the Horse Capital of the World for more students of color to pursue professional careers in the industry that I love,” said Greg Harbut, Chairman of the Ed Brown Society.

Details are also in the works for a Keeneland sponsored Ed Brown Race Day during the 2023 Spring Meet.

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The Lexington Black Prosperity Initiative (LBPI) and the Blue Grass Community Foundation (BGCF) have announced an award of $50,000 to further the mission of the Ed Brown Society. The award consists of pooled funding from LBPI, BGCF and the Walton Family Foundation, through the Better Together Grants program. The Ed Brown Society (EBS) will use these funds to provide scholarships and professional development opportunities to students of color pursuing professional careers within the equine industry.

EBS Chairman Greg Harbut said, “We're excited about what this award will mean to the development of the next group of Ed Brown Scholars that we will be announcing soon. The highest level of commitment an entity can show to the work of the Ed Brown Society is demonstrated by becoming an Ed Brown Partner. 1/ST and Churchill Downs have each made that commitment. Yet, today is a milestone moment because, with this tremendous gift, the Lexington Black Prosperity Initiative and the Blue Grass Community Foundation have earned the distinction of the Ed Brown Partnership designation. We are delighted to now have an Ed Brown Partner at home, in Lexington–The Horse Capital of the World.”

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Does Kentucky need to do something to stop the outflux of horses leaving the state after being claimed? And will any attempt at corrective action by rewriting regulations result in unintended consequences that could create their own problems?

Those questions were up for debate last week when the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC)'s rule committee met to kick around ideas that could surface in a near-future proposal.

Commissioner Frank Jones, Jr., the rules committee chair, said that last year 779 Thoroughbreds were claimed out of Kentucky races. Of that number, 412 made their next start outside of the state.

“It's diluting the inventory of horses that we have,” Jones said.

“The claiming rule is a very, very intricate and difficult thing to wholesale [amend],” Jones said, adding that by his recollection over the decades, “this claiming rule has probably been changed about six times.”

But, Jones added, “You put the lid on the pot; the pot keeps boiling” with new issues.

One suggestion was to mandate that an outfit had to have started a horse at the race meet in question prior to being allowed to drop a claim slip for another horse at that track.

But Commissioner Greg Harbut was quick to point out that a problem with that methodology is that larger stables with many starters would have an edge over smaller outfits with only a horse or two.

“I believe that would give certain individuals a distinct advantage over other stables,” Harbut said, alluding to the likelihood that a sizable outfit might be able to achieve getting starters in on the first day of a meet, while smaller-scale owners and trainers are at the mercy of the condition book to determine when their individual horses might get in.

Harbut instead suggested that the rule tweak could be re-phrased to make it so that licensees who are stabled in Kentucky get preference at the claim box.

“I think if they're licensed and stabled here, it does show an intent to support Kentucky racing. I think that's all that we are looking for,” Harbut said.

Jones said that while a “residency” idea might have some traction, regulators have to tread carefully. Previous attempts at rulemaking to force claimed horses to stay in Kentucky for a longer period of time are “when we run into possible anti-trust” challenges, Jones said.

Jones also added that a residency rule might not be able to stop Kentucky trainers who claim horses for out-of-state outfits for a fee.

“Some people that are claiming horses in Kentucky, [then] you look up in 30 or 40 days and the same horse is entered in someone else's name,” in Indiana or in another nearby state, Jones said.

“There are some trainers who will claim horses for a $500 fee [and] it's been like that for at least the last five or 10 years,” Jones said.

“You will always have individuals that are going to skirt around the rules,” Harbut acknowledged, noting that regulations alone won't stop “individuals that still want to be aggressive” about claiming.

“The ownership landscape has changed in the last five to seven years,” Harbut explained. “A lot of entities are teaming together, not only in racing, but at horse sales and other things of that nature.”

Commissioner Bill May suggested that the committee step back and take in the overall landscape prior to recommending any changes.

“Is it a big enough issue that we need to actually memorialize it in the regs?” May asked. “We don't need to get in the business of writing a reg for every scenario that comes along, because we're never going to be able to address every issue.”

May continued: “I don't have the answer to whether or not [the claiming outflux] is a big problem. But if it's not a big issue, if it's only going to affect one or two people, I'm not sure it's worth fooling with. But if it's going to affect a multitude of people, then it needs to be addressed.”

Harbut brought up a related point: How many of those claimed horses eventually returned to Kentucky after briefly leaving the circuit?

Jones didn't believe that stat that had been compiled within the report he had been referencing.

“The reason I ask is that I know at the end of the racing season here in Kentucky, we no longer run dirt or turf, so a lot of those trainers that support Kentucky year-round go off to other jurisdictions such as Oaklawn, Fair Grounds, [where they] have the option of running on dirt or turf,” Harbut said.

“They, in turn, bring those horses back to Kentucky,” Harbut said.

Harbut said he would like better understanding of that seasonal give-and-take aspect of the claimed horse outflux before moving forward with any rules rewrite. The committee took no action on formally adopting any changes to the existing claiming rules.

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Wednesday's press conference marked the one-year anniversary of Beshear's declaration of Derby Week 2021 as “Ed Brown Society Week.”

“The Ed Brown Society has an incredibly important mission: Providing mentorship to the next generation of African-Americans in the multi-billion-dollar horse racing industry,” Beshear said. “Thank you and congratulations to both of these institutions for moving our commonwealth forward with this innovative partnership.”

“Churchill Downs is committed to strengthening diversity both within our own organization and across the entire industry,” said Cathy Shircliff, Director of Community Relations. “We look forward to deepening our partnership with the Ed Brown Society to further their work to create inclusive opportunities for young people of color in the horse racing industry. This company hopes to be one of the many launch pads to the success of future Ed Brown Scholars.”

Ed Brown Society Chairman Greg Harbut, whose great-grandfather was the world-renowned groom of Man O' War, said, “As a third-generation horseman, and one of the few African American professionals in the industry, I am extremely excited about the work of the Ed Brown Society and I am delighted that Churchill Downs has joined us to advance our mission.”

Also Wednesday, the Ed Brown Society announced the hiring of Executive Director Daryl Love. Love most recently served as the Executive Director of Career Services at Kentucky State University, a role that will be utilized greatly in the placement of Ed Brown Scholars within partner organizations like Churchill Downs.

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The multi-year commitment of $150,000 made by 1/ST will cover all costs associated with the paid internship program which will enable the Ed Brown Society to identify, recruit and place qualified minority students from both historically black colleges and universities and predominantly white institutions. Chosen interns will be compensated and will have all housing and travel expenses covered as part of the program. The Ed Brown Society will provide ongoing direction to the interns as they progress toward permanent professional placements.

The first two interns will begin their placement this spring at 1/ST RACING's Gulfstream Park. This collaborative internship program will offer African American students the opportunity to learn more about the Thoroughbred horse racing industry as they work alongside members of the experienced 1/ST team.

The program's first interns will be announced as part of the 2022 Pegasus World Cup Kick-Off Celebration taking place on Thursday at the Historic Ward Room House and Red Rooster in the Overtown neighborhood of Miami.

In addition to the internship program, 1/ST will collaborate with the Ed Brown Society to host “Ed Brown Race Days” across 1/ST RACING venues in California, Florida and Maryland to further support and promote diversity and inclusivity in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing.

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Founded by Living the Dream Racing and Stables and led by respected industry connections Greg Harbut and Ray Daniels, the Ed Brown Society celebrates the rich history of African Americans in the equine industry and creates opportunities for young people of color to gain industry exposure, training and experience through internships and scholarships.

The multi-year commitment of $150,000 made by 1/ST will cover all costs associated with the paid internship program which will enable the Ed Brown Society to identify, recruit and place qualified minority students from both historically black colleges and universities and predominantly white institutions. Chosen interns will be compensated and will have all housing and travel expenses covered as part of the program. The Ed Brown Society will provide ongoing direction to the interns as they progress toward permanent professional placements.

The first two interns will begin their placement this spring at 1/ST Racing's Gulfstream Park. This collaborative internship program will offer African American students the opportunity to learn more about the Thoroughbred horse racing industry as they work alongside members of the experienced 1/ST team.

“1/ST is pleased to be the first industry partner of the Ed Brown Society. We are impressed with the commitment of the organization and Living the Dream Stables to racing as a whole and increasing diversity in particular. We are looking forward to working with Ray, Greg and the rest of their team in the years to come,” said Jason Wilson, Chief Operating Officer, 1/ST Content.

“As a third-generation horseman, and one of the few African American professionals in the industry, I am extremely excited about the work of the Ed Brown Society, and I am delighted that 1/ST has joined us to advance our mission,” said Ed Brown Society Chairman Greg Harbut, whose great-grandfather was the groom of world-renowned Thoroughbred Man O' War.

The introductions of the first interns and acknowledgement of the partnership between 1/ST and the Ed Brown Society will be made as part of the 2022 Pegasus World Cup Kick-Off Celebration taking place on Thursday, January 27th at the Historic Ward Room House and Red Rooster in the Overtown neighborhood of Miami featuring D-Nice, Darin Atwater and the Soulful Symphony.

In addition to the internship program, 1/ST will collaborate with the Ed Brown Society to host “Ed Brown Race Days” across 1/ST Racing venues in California, Florida and Maryland to further support and promote diversity and inclusivity in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing, including for the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In at Santa Anita.

The Ed Brown Society is named in honor of Edward Dudley Brown. Born into slavery in Lexington, Ky., Dudley Brown went on to become one of the most accomplished horsemen in the history of Thoroughbred horse racing. Founded by Living The Dream Racing and Stables, Greg Harbut and Ray Daniels also furthered the cause of minority participation in the industry through their respective ownership interests in the 2020 Kentucky Derby runner, Necker Island.

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