Administrators from SUNY colleges with NYTB board member Tom Gallo and NYRA analyst and retired NY Champion jockey Richard Migliore on their visit to Saratoga Race Course. Photo: Skip Dickstein/NYTB Photos.
One day before the start of this year’s Saratoga Race Course meet, on Wednesday, July 10, The New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc., led a group of senior administrators and Presidents from the State University of New York System to experience morning training at Saratoga Race Course and learn more about the various segments of the Thoroughbred Industry.
The tour was organized by NYTB board member and education committee chairman Tom Gallo and NYTB Executive Director Najja Thompson. Visitors included SUNY administrators and representatives from SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Niagara, SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Oswego and Clinton Community College. The group spent the early morning watching training at the Oklahoma training track and learning about the journey of a racehorse. From being foaled to training and racing on track and the care equine athletes receive day-to-day and also in thoroughbred retirement.
Retired Champion Jockey & NYRA TV Analyst Richard Migliore speaking with SUNY administrators at the Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga Race Course. Photo: Skip Dickstein/NYTB Photos
Speakers included were NYRA TV Analyst and retired NY Champion Jockey Richard Migliore, NYRA Executive Vice President of Operations and Capital Projects Glen Kozack, and NYRA Board members and Education committee chair Tom Gallo.
Last year, NYTB launched an accredited Thoroughbred industry course with SUNY Cobleskill designed to expose upper-class students in the Animal Science program to all aspects of the Thoroughbred industry and this year NYTB is looking to build and expand on that program in partnership with more schools.
“Our goal in welcoming administrators across the SUNY system to experience and learn more about our industry. Additionally, the immersive tour and experience was an opportunity to expand on the Thoroughbred Industry course we partnered on with SUNY Cobleskill last year with more schools across the state,” said NYTB Board member Tom Gallo.
“It was a wonderful experience for me and my colleagues,” said Ken Knelly administrator in charge for Clinton Community College. “Thank you to the NYTB and NYRA for making it possible. We look forward to continuing to work together to ensure more students can learn about the various jobs and careers in the thoroughbred industry.”
