Amplify Horse Racing

Tomorrow's Front Runners is a new TDN series spotlighting young people who got involved with horse racing through Amplify Horse Racing and are now pursing careers in the industry. Amplify is a 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to amplifying education, mentorship and career opportunities for young people in the Thoroughbred industry. Paola Castro was introduced to the world of horse racing two years ago on a visit to Churchill Downs. After touring the backside and the Derby Museum, she swore that she would be back again someday to watch the Kentucky...

Horse racing frequently talks about the importance of fan building, ownership development and growing our workforce. But imagine if the leading organizations in Thoroughbred racing truly joined forces to invest in tomorrow's fans, workforce, and owners. That's exactly what the golf industry did in 1997. The USGA, LPGA, Masters Tournament, PGA of America, and PGA TOUR collaborated to launch First Tee, a youth development non-profit with a mission to make golf accessible and affordable for all children. The USGA alone committed $3 million in the program's first three years--an amount...

Though Lexington, Kentucky is commonly known as the 'Horse Capital of the World,' serving as a central hub for the Thoroughbred industry, there are many who live in the area that have no knowledge of how multi-faceted the world of horse racing truly is. In an effort to bridge that gap, first-year trainees on the Godolphin Flying Start (GFS) course—currently based in Lexington—coordinated with leaders across the greater equine industry to host a "Thoroughbred Industry Day" for the Leadership Lexington group on Thursday, May 8. Spanning eleven months, Leadership Lexington...

Amplify Horse Racing has been named one of three top national awardees of the 2025 CareerViewXR Production Grant, a program developed by CareerViewXR, a division of Be More Colorful, joinging Keystone LifeSci Collaborative and Oklahoma Connections Academy to garner the award out of a pool of applicants from across the country. All three winners will collaborate with CareerViewXR to develop their own custom video-based field trip which connects students with real-world career paths in their communities and beyond. Amplify's video will place a spotlight on the Thoroughbred industry by showcasing a...

Amplify Horse Racing, which promotes education and career opportunities in the Thoroughbred industry for youth and young adults, is accepting applications for the spring 2025 intake of its mentorship program through Tuesday, Jan. 28, the nonprofit said in a release early Wednesday morning. The program offers an introductory step for young people interested in learning more about the Thoroughbred industry by pairing them with experienced professionals who provide valuable career guidance. The spring session will run from Mar. 1 through May 31. The suggested age range for mentee candidates is...

It has been just over a year since Light Up Racing (LUR), inspired by the Australian-based initiative Kick Up for Racing, was launched in an effort to 'illuminate the path to transparency, awareness and accountability in horse racing' in the United States. As Light Up Racing's pilot year has come to a close, it's safe to say the grassroots initiative has not only become a necessary voice in changing the industry narrative, but also in bridging the gap between those within the industry and those outside of it. "As an...

When Amplify Horse Racing was founded as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2020, our goal was to engage youth with the Thoroughbred industry. As 2024 draws to a close, I reflect with immense pride on how Amplify isn't just engaging youth with the Thoroughbred industry-we have become the national youth arm of the U.S. industry. By the end of the year, Amplify will have directly reached over 28,000 individuals through classroom lessons, events, interactive activations, and conference presentations. We recently wrapped up one of our busiest programming weekends of the year,...

Fifth Grade Field Trips return to Keeneland this week, with 2,100 students from public and private schools in Fayette County coming to the track this week to participate in a two-hour interactive tour designed to expand their knowledge of Keeneland and the Thoroughbred industry in Kentucky. "Fifth Grade Field Trips offer students in the area a unique and exciting opportunity to engage with the rich history of Keeneland," Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin. "These tours allow for hands-on experiences on our grounds that help showcase the diversity of careers...

Amplify Horse Racing has launched its new Impact Campaign, an initiative aimed at raising $1 million to engage youth across the nation with horse racing, the organization said in a press release on Wednesday. The campaign will extend Amplify's reach and impact as the national youth arm of the Thoroughbred industry. Campaign goals include enhancing educational programs through curriculum creation and implementation, and the development of a mobile education unit, just to name a few. "Amplify is doing hugely important work for the industry by cultivating youth and young adult...

The Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation has awarded $61,500 in education grants to seven organizations. The following organizations received scholarships and education funding from TERF this year: $5,000 to Amplifying Horse Racing; $10,000 awarded to Belmont Child Care Association, Inc.; $10,000 to Maryland Horse Foundation; $5,000 to MidAtlantic Horse Rescue; $7,500 to Retired Racehorse Project; $9,000 to Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation; and $15,000 to Wilson College. Founded by Herb and Ellen Moelis with the mission to support Thoroughbred health and welfare, TERF provides scholarships to students pursuing veterinary careers; educates racing...

by Sara Gordon and Katie Petrunyak How do we guarantee a future for horse racing? Many will offer answers such as increased equine and track safety, improved wagering opportunities, and modernizing and embracing technological advancements. And though those are all extremely important, it will all be for naught if there is no incoming generation to grow the fan base and ultimately, hopefully, join the industry's workforce. That's where Amplify Horse Racing comes in. Founded in 2019 by Annise Montplaisir, now the Executive Director, and Madison Scott, a member of the...

Amplify Horse Racing has been named the official mentoring partner of the Horse Racing Women's Summit. The announcement of the partnership coincides with release of "The Amplify Horse Racing Guide to Mentorship," which is designed as a resource to support HRWS members and followers on their own journeys as mentors, mentees, and the pursuit of personal and professional development. "We believe that engaging, elevating and investing in women will transform horse racing," said Jordyn Egan, HRWS Executive Committee member and Amplify Horse Racing board member. "Our official partnership with Amplify...