HRWS Hosts Successful First Event of 2024 at Keeneland

April 18, 2024

Lexington, KY–The Horse Racing Women’s Summit (HRWS) held their first event of the year Thursday, April 18 at Keeneland Race Course, bringing together women across all aspects of the industry for panel discussions focused on navigating sales and bloodstock decisions.

The day kicked off with a keynote conversation led by Shannon Arvin, the President and CEO of Keeneland Association, and Julie Cauthen, a bloodstock agent and member of the Keeneland Inspection Team, that was moderated by Gabby Gaudet, a reporter/analyst for FanDuel/TVG and Keeneland.

Along with sharing the story of their long-standing friendship, Arvin and Cauthen touched on the differences in the trajectories of their careers, what led to where they are today, and the decisions they’ve had to make throughout their lives while balancing careers and family.

“I’m all for leaning in but I feel it’s also important at times to lean out,” said Arvin on the topic of ‘work-life balance.’ “Just because you make a choice at one point in your life, it’s not indicative of the rest.”

When asked about their perspective on the sport being considered male-dominated, Cauthen replied, “Women are at every farm in Kentucky…I found it really encouraging. It’s still largely male-dominated, but when you go to the farms, there are a lot of us. You should be proud of what you do, it's really impressive.”

The first panel of the day featured panelists Allaire Ryan, Director of Sales at Lane’s End Farm; Caroline Wilson of SF Bloodstock; Jill Gordon, Owner of Highgate Sales; and Dr. Kathleen Paasch, DVM, a Veterinarian and Shareholder at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital.

Moderated by Alexa Zepp, a Quality Assurance Analyst and Handicapper for Daily Racing Form, the panelists touched on their experiences in the world of sales, including how they’ve established themselves in that aspect of the industry and the intricacies of working in a fast-paced, ever-evolving environment.

“I think if you dwell on things, you can easily get caught up…I try not to go there and to be respectful of my peers and the jobs that they do and the services they offer, because at the end of the day we’re all relevant in what we do,” said Ryan.

The second panel featured speakers Kitty Day, Owner of Warrendale Sales; Cherie DeVaux, a Graded Stakes-Winning Trainer; Meg Levy, Owner of Bluewater Sales; and Dr. Natanya Nieman, DVM, General Manager and Resident Vet at WinStar Farm.

Delving into the overarching topic of bloodstock, panelists shared their perspectives on how the sales world has evolved, the way their roles vary when attending and working at sales, and how the role of women has transformed across the sales grounds.

“I don’t think that we can deny the business is still male-dominated. In the end, we’re all human and we have to interact with the structure that is there and figure out strategies to both get to the position we want and be successful,” said Levy.

“Don’t compromise who you are as a person, your values or your goals. Sometimes you have to take a step back to take two steps forward. If one door closes, it might not have been your path,” added DeVaux, when asked for one piece of advice to share.

The next HRWS event is Tuesday, July 23 at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, Ny. To purchase tickets, click here.

“We believe that by engaging, elevating and investing in women, we can change the sport of horse racing,” said Stephanie Hronis, Chairwoman of the HRWS, in closing.

Quotable Quotes 

“I’m all for leaning in but I feel it’s also important at times to lean out.” - Shannon Arvin

“You’re not going to be the best mother every day, the best racetrack executive every day, the best horse person every day…It’s quality over quantity.” - Shannon Arvin

“If you can make that choice, be with the people that make you feel valued and that you respect, and then that path to advance is easier.” - Julie Cauthen

“Go out there and be confident. It’s hard work but it’s good work.” - Julie Cauthen

“You don’t have to have that singular figure in your career or your life to guide you. You just gather things from people along that way and that makes you a more well-rounded individual and well-rounded professional.” - Gabby Gaudet

“I think if you dwell on things, you can easily get caught up…I try not to go there and to be respectful of my peers and the jobs that they do and the services they offer, because at the end of the day we’re all relevant in what we do.” - Allaire Ryan

“I know my own capabilities, I know when I’m at my best and I also know when I’m overextended and not at my best.” - Allaire Ryan

“I think you just have to keep going. A lot of doors are going to close in your face, but newsflash, there are a lot more doors that you can open.” - Jill Gordon

“I try to say to myself, ‘It’s okay to not know.’ It is very easy to find the answer.” - Caroline Wilson

“You can have it all but you can’t have it all once. Everybody needs help sometimes, you just can’t do it all.” - Meg Levy

“It’s great to do something that you love, it’s great to be in this business because I absolutely love horses, but we all have to get paid what we’re worth and what is fair.” - Meg Levy

“Don’t compromise who you are as a person, your values, your goals. Sometimes you have to take a step back to take two steps forward. If one door closes, it might not have been your path.” - Cherie DeVaux

“Trust yourself and have faith in what you’re doing. You do have the ability, you do have the knowledge, and you can do really whatever you want to do with it.” - Dr. Natanya Nieman, DVM