Students and professors from SUNY Cobleskill joined NYTB Executive Director Najja Thompson (right) last weekend at Saratoga Race Course and helped pick the Best Turned Out Award on behalf of B.E.S.T. for Saturday’s card. Susie Raisher Photo.
By Tom Law and Alec DiConza
Students involved in the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc., and State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill’s accredited course designed to expose Animal Science program students to the Thoroughbred industry were on hand Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.
The students started the day with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Oklahoma Training Track led by former NYTB President and longtime New York owner and breeder Tom Gallo. The morning training part of the tour included a visit with Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, discussion with retired leading jockey Richard Migliore and later a tour of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame led by Tom Durkin.
The students spent the day at the races with visits to the paddock and helping the Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T.) selection of the “Best Turned Out Award” for the day.
“I love it. We got to talk to a bunch of cool people like one of the jockeys earlier (and) we went to the museum,” said SUNY Cobleskill student Amber Reilly, also a member of the school’s equestrian team. “It was really fun to learn new things. And then we got to come here, meet a bunch of cool people, do a bunch of things I’ve never done. It’s just been a really good experience today.”
The program is offered to 15-20 junior undergraduate students that have met prerequisites. The course, which runs from late August to early December, falls in line with the NYTB’s goals to make outreach with upper-level science students majoring in equine studies and finding the next generation of the industry’s workforce and leaders in racing and breeding.
“This is the second year we’ve worked with SUNY Cobleskill, with Ray Whelihan and of course the Thoroughbred industry course, with New York Thoroughbred Breeders,” said NYTB Executive Director Najja Thompson. “This is a great experience for the students, to see the end product of the racing industry today at Saratoga Race Course. They got to visit Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, hear from champion New York jockey Richard Migliore and just experience the morning and afternoon racing.
“Expanding upon that program, they’ll also visit a breeding farm as well as experience the October fall sale here in Saratoga. It’s all about exposing students to the Thoroughbred industry in every aspect, and of course using that to get more people interested in participation and jobs within our industry, which is important.”
Raymond Whelihan, SUNY Cobleskill Associate Professor in Animal Science, collaborated with Gallo to develop the program and said it continues to be fine-tuned along with some growth.
“Definitely there is growth and getting a sense of the prior knowledge the students have and how we can help them build off it,” Whelihan said. “I think it goes a little bit smoother the second year, for sure. The New York breeders are the ones just providing all these opportunities. This is incredible.
Gallo spearheaded an effort years ago to introduce NYTB-led educational seminars, with an ultimate goal of using the seminars to educate young people that might be interested in the Thoroughbred industry. Gallo came away from this year’s event excited about the potential of the students and the program going forward.
“These kids are already in the equine studies program and deeply involved with horses,” Gallo said. “When we talk about schedules, care, maintenance, preparation for the races and all those things that go on with the horses, they’re deeply interested and engaged with the program.
Gallo thanked NYRA, BEST, Mott, Migliore, Durkin, the National Musuem of Racing and others involved in putting on Saturday’s event.
“It’s a pleasure to do,” Gallo said. “For me it’s not work at all. I love the fact we have young minds and young people that are really interested. The biggest thing is seeing what they get out of it, the excitement and the way their questions are pointed, very commonsense questions, one horseman to another type questions. Every question is a valid question.
“The challenge for us is to expand the program. We have a great product. What I’ve noticed in the Thoroughbred industry, everybody that comes to the racetrack now were exposed to the racetrack when they were young. You don’t have to talk a child into liking a horse. There’s a magnetic attraction there. That said, if we can introduce larger number of students to this program it will expand exponentially by telling other people. It’s great PR for our business. They see the standard of care these horses get.”
