Racing's Future: Julie Witt

"Racing’s Future" is a Q&A series in which I aspire to help everyone in the industry. In addition to shining a spotlight on youth who plan to have a career in horse racing, I hope that the opinions expressed in their responses will offer industry leaders insight into what a younger audience believes the sport should improve upon. 

Originally from Freehold, New Jersey, 18-year-old Julie Witt has been hooked on horses for as long as she can remember but her love of racing started about twelve years ago. She is currently spending most of her time in Lexington, Kentucky – where she attends the University of Kentucky. She plans to graduate in May 2019 with degrees in Equine Science/Management and Animal Science with a Pre-Vet concentration and her Honors certificate. She has interned during Monmouth Park’s race meets for the past three summers with North Atlantic Equine Associates, a veterinary practice, and plans to continue that when she returns home this summer. In addition, Julie started prepping broodmares for James B. Keogh of Grovendale LLC. in October of 2015, and continued doing so until the end of the sales in Kentucky. She worked several days at the 2016 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages sale and will continue working with Keogh for this upcoming sales season. She is planning to prep yearlings in the morning, broodmares in the evening and work as many sales days as her class schedule allows. At the beginning of April, she began working weekends for Coolmore America’s Ashford Stud as a mare and foal groom, and is hoping to continue that as well when she returns to Kentucky for school in the fall. She is also a volunteer for Old Friends, and while she mostly works with the farm staff to take care of the horses, she has been shadowing to become a tour guide as well in the future.

How did you become interested in horse racing?

I’ve been, for a lack of a better word, horse-crazy since day one, despite being born into a completely non-horsey family – though they have been very supportive of my passion. I was born with an eye condition that left me with almost no vision in my right eye, and when I watched my first Kentucky Derby in 2004, I found out that Smarty Jones also had nearly lost his vision, so I formed an attachment to him and fell in love with the sport.

What do you love about horse racing?

Pretty much everything. The horse is the biggest reason I love the sport, but I also love the people. Racing brings such a wide variety of people together for the love of the horse – people who otherwise would never be in the same room in most cases. Working with horses also teaches you that you can never stop learning, and you really can learn something from everyone.

Who are some of the people you admire in the industry and why?

Of people I personally know, I would have to say for sure the staff at Old Friends, particularly Michael Blowen, Tim Wilson (the farm manager), and Carole Oates (assistant farm manager), who do so much for an amazing cause. I also admire Julie Krone, Rosie Napravnik, and Sandy Hatfield for setting an example for every woman hoping to make it in the industry, and Michael Matz, Shug McGaughey, John Shirrefs and Graham Motion for being such high caliber horsemen.

What aspects of horse racing do you wish you knew more about?

Hands down the international side of the industry. I always knew horse racing stretched globally, but didn’t fully grasp it until I came to Lexington and have met/worked with so many people of an international background. I read the international section of the TDN a lot and am hoping to study abroad/work in Australia and Ireland to learn more about racing abroad. Overall, though, there’s so many aspects of the industry to learn about and I am trying to become as well rounded as I can, though I think I have given up on being a good handicapper!

What racetracks have you been to?

Monmouth Park, Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, and Keeneland

What is your favorite racetrack? Why?

Monmouth Park will forever be home. I have grown up watching the races there and it is where I got my start really being involved in the industry. The atmosphere is very laid back and friendly, the beach is a stone’s throw away, and Haskell Day is probably my favorite day of the year. I love Keeneland as well and it is very unique with how open it is. I love watching morning workouts near the clockers and eating breakfast at the track kitchen; you never know who you are going to run into!

Of the racetracks you have not been to, which one do you want to visit most?

In the U.S., Saratoga, which I am planning on visiting for the first time this summer, and Santa Anita. Internationally, I would love to see the races at Meydan, Ascot, the Curragh, and Randwick.

What are your favorite moments in your “horse racing life” thus far?

I have been blessed with a lot of really great moments over the years so it’s rather hard to choose. The Breeders' Cup at Monmouth Park was the first chance I got to really see in person high class racing and it is probably still my favorite Breeders' Cup. I made signs for Rachel Alexandra when she ran in the 2009 Haskell and Jess Jackson invited me into the winner’s circle.

Watching, even though it was at home, Itsmyluckyday’s Woodward victory at Saratoga. Mr. Plesa is a client of the vet practice I intern with, so I had worked with Itsmyluckyday during the time he was at Monmouth. Seeing him finally get his, and Mr. Plesa’s, first grade one after his hip injury and just missing it in the Whitney was pretty spectacular, and now I get to see him as a stallion here in Kentucky, which is pretty cool because I get to see it all come full circle.

I got to see American Pharoah at the Belmont Stakes, during his stay at Monmouth Park for the Haskell, and at the Breeder’s Cup, including getting my photo taken with him at the barn the day after, all of which I will never forget. I’ve been lucky enough to meet a lot of really cool horses including ten Horse of the Years and work with two Kentucky Derby winners in Silver Charm and War Emblem. And even though it was freezing, working the Keeneland January Sale and showing my first horse was a great experience – again something I am never going to forget.

Who are your favorite racehorses of your lifetime? Before your lifetime?

Of my lifetime, Silver Charm, Smarty Jones, Zenyatta, Itsmyluckyday, and American Pharoah, all of whom I have been fortunate enough to meet. Before my lifetime my favorite is Ruffian, who would probably have to top my list as my all-time favorite though it is very tough to decide.

If you could change something about the industry, what would you change?

Welfare, including aftercare. I think the sport is making leaps and bounds in both aspects, but there is a lot of room for improvement. I think the welfare side of things can benefit from more research and unification on the national level in particular. We owe everything to the horse and it is our duty to take care of them and do what is in their best interest.

What do you think is preventing horse racing from being a more popular sport?

A lack of education. I think a lot of people get the wrong idea about racing because of a handful of articles/videos etc. that are rather biased and skewed. People also have a pre-conception that going to the track won’t be fun, but every person I have brought to the track for the first time has fallen in love with it.

What do you think is the most common misconception about horse racing?

It’s said time and time again but that racing is cruel. There are a few bad apples in every sport, including every discipline of the horse industry, and sadly the media latches on to them.

How would you convince someone who is not an avid follower of horse racing to begin following the sport?

Take them for morning workouts and to the backside, then to the races that day. To me, there is nothing more beautiful than watching horses work in the morning and the business of the backside, then going to watch those horses race that day. It also gives you an appreciation for how much work it takes to get a horse to the track in the afternoon, and an attachment to the horse you can’t really get just from watching on the rail.

What career do you plan to pursue in the horse racing industry?

The current plan is for me to finish my undergraduate school here at UK and then apply to both vet school and the Darley Flying Start course. If I am fortunate enough to get in to both, I will choose Darley Flying Start and evaluate afterwards if I still want to apply to vet school. I am fairly certain I want to be an equine vet and work with the Thoroughbred industry but I am keeping an open mind.

How are you currently contributing to the horse racing industry?

I intern with North Atlantic Equine Associates back home at Monmouth Park and will continue that this summer. This past year, I prepped broodmares for James B. Keogh and worked a couple days at the 2016 Keeneland January Sale. When I come back to school, I will continue working for him, prepping yearlings in the mornings, broodmares in the evening, and as many days at the sales as I can, given my school schedule. In April I started working weekends as a groom with mares and foals at Coolmore America’s Ashford Stud, which has been one of the most amazing experiences. The plan is for me to hopefully continue that when I return to school as well. I am also a volunteer with Old Friends, and no matter how busy I get I will always make time for them. Aftercare is extremely close to my heart and everyone on the farm does an absolutely incredible job from giving the tours to taking care of the farm’s residents. I mostly help caring for the horses, but have been shadowing a tour guide so in the near future I can give tours as well. I am a member of UK’s Horse Racing Club and helped organize a volunteer day at the farm, which is now going to become a regular event every semester.

What is one thing you aspire to personally accomplish someday in the horse racing industry?

On a racing level, I would love to have a horse win, or even just run in, the Haskell. Most people say the Derby, which I would love to make the walk over for as well, but the Haskell is so close to my heart that it is the ultimate dream for me. On a personal level, I hope that I can one day be in a position to help give young racing fans the chance to be involved in the industry like so many have for me. I cannot thank Dr. William Keegan, James Keogh, and Bob Davis enough for the opportunities they have given me in the sport, so one day I hope I can be that type of person to someone.