Meet Dawn Mellen, the 2016 Tim Reynolds Memorial Fan of the Year

To know why I have so much admiration for Dawn Mellen, you need to understand how far aftercare for thoroughbreds has come in recent years, and how far it still has to go. Few things, if any, within the industry are more important, in my opinion, than to secure the well-being of our equine athletes, especially after their racing careers have come to an end. Not only is it the right thing to do on every level of humanity, but it is also vital in keeping the sport we love, a viable sport. So many great organizations have come to be in the few decades to get us going in the right direction of taking care of our horses, but without the tireless efforts of the people behind these organizations, all would be lost. Because of this, more than any other reason, I am thrilled to introduce to you Horse Racing Nation’s 2016 Tim Reynolds Memorial Fan of the Year, Dawn Mellen.

Since its inception, seven years ago, the award has successfully recognized some of the most positive and active fans, all with the common bond of a pure love for horse racing. Once again, there were countless wonderful people that were considered for the honor this year, but none were more deserving than Dawn. Simply put, she is an inspiration. 

Many of you will recognize the name. Dawn Mellen is the founder and the President of After the Finish Line. A non-profit organization currently doing fantastic work in doing right by the horses. Rescuing, rehabilitating, and retiring horses in need, I think this message from the homepage of the website says best what After the Finish Line is all about.

It is our privilege to be associated with these magnificent Thoroughbreds. They are celebrities that draw fans to racetracks across the country. In their time of need let's respect them for their achievements. Their abilities differ greatly. Yet they all gave us their best effort on the racetrack. We will be their voice in time of need. Together we can help support the rescues that accept Thoroughbred horses in their programs. 

The eloquent message says a lot about what After the Finish Line is about, but more than that it, speaks to the heart of Dawn Mellen. Dawn describes herself as a fan of the horses, both during their racing career and even more so when their racing and breeding careers are over. She is also a fan of the fans. Through her non-profit, and as a partner in the ownership of horses, she loves to share photographs and videos of these magnificent Thoroughbreds on social media.

“I enjoy sharing my experiences with the racehorses in the barns, standing trackside, in the saddling area or the paddock before the races, or outside the receiving barn after the races. Since the fans generally only see the horses with their game face on, this is a wonderful way to show them the up close and personal side of the horses.”

Like many of us, Dawn traces her love for horses and racing back to a parent. She remembers going to Yonkers Raceway with her father as a young girl on the East Coast. Her father once owned a trotter named Miss Hill, with many other partners. Growing up, she didn’t become an immediate regular at the races, but she was an avid rider; taking lessons, and jumping, often riding Off Track Thoroughbreds.

It was when Dawn moved to Southern California, where she starting going to the morning workouts and the races at the Del Mar Racetrack regularly. “I was in awe of their beauty and their personalities that showed they were proud animals that deserved respect whether or not they won.” Dawn admits that watching racing can make her nervous, as she always has the best interest of the horse in mind, whether she is involved with the horse or not.

I first met Dawn about seven years ago, and as the driving force behind After the Finish Line, I have been a follower of her on social media, and an admirer of her work, ever since. A fan, an owner, and an aftercare leader, she is always positive, and seemingly always in a good mood. Dawn can often be found at the races and on the backside for big races around the country, especially in Southern California.

The last time I ran into Dawn was just a few months ago at the 2016 Breeders’ Cup, and she happily told me about the project she was working on to raise money in benefit of aftercare for horses. She was both proud and fired up about what she was doing.

Through her passion, she was able to combine being a fan of the sport with an emphasis on the welfare of the horses, by hosting a Charity Auction of Breeders' Cup Hats last November at Santa Anita. She attended the morning workouts and visited as many trainers and owners on the backside, during the week leading up to the races, as she could, in hopes of collecting a few hats to auction off.

Explaining her non-profit, After the Finish Line, was hosting an eBay auction of Breeders' Cup hats to benefit Thoroughbred aftercare, Dawn was thrilled to see the positive reaction from the connections of many of the best horses in the world. She collected many hats given to the trainers and owners, with the horses’ names, which are not available for the fans to purchase.

“I wanted to give the fans the opportunity to bid on the hats of their favorite horses. The response from the fans was better than I could have ever expected,” explained Dawn happily. Not surprisingly, the successful project will be repeated next year at Del Mar, where she will once again work her tail off to likely make it an even bigger victory for everyone – especially the horses.

As you can tell by now, Dawn Mellen deeply cares about the horses. More than that, she has dedicated herself to helping horses, and the horses are better off because of her tireless efforts. What more can you ask for in a Fan of the Year? We here at Horse Racing Nation salute you, and the world of horse racing salutes you. Congratulations, Dawn Mellen, you are the Fan of the Year!