A school for horse racing: Louisville’s equine business degree
It's fitting that the University of Louisville’s Equine Industry Program is located about a mile and a quarter down the road from Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.
The Equine Industry Program is a four-year track that which offers an equine business degree with courses covering a wide range of topics for future racing professionals. It is the only AACSB-accredited undergraduate business degree in the world with an equine focus.
"For students looking for a career in the equine industry, the Equine Industry Program provides a wealth of experience from the classroom to the opportunities for hands-on experience," said Sean Beirne, director of the Program. "This degree provides a powerful boost to any career in any equine discipline."
Graduates Working in all aspects of the racing industry
Students have parlayed their experience into a variety of areas, from training to broadcasting to financial analysis. On the business side, Equine Industry Program graduates are working at places such as Churchill Downs, the Daily Racing Form, TVG and in industry organizations and entrepreneurship. Working more directly with horses, others have gone to jobs with breeding farms, bloodstock and other horse farms. Opportunities also abound in legal, veterinarian and professional occupations.
“Being based in Louisville — near Churchill Downs and Keeneland and in Kentucky — is certainly advantageous for the program,” said graduate Gary Palmisano, who now serves as special assistant to Churchill Downs track president Kevin Flannery.
Horse Racing Nation's connections
In fact, with the Horse Racing Nation offices just another couple miles away from the University of Louisville, several Equine Industry Program students have worked for Horse Racing Nation during school before going into writing, management and broadcast positions at NYRA, Churchill Downs, Blood-Horse, TVG and AQHA, to name a few.
“We have found the Louisville Equine Industry Program students to be highly motivated and eager to learn more about racing,” said Mark Midland, CEO of Horse Racing Nation. “They have gone on to terrific careers in all aspects of racing across the country and around the globe.”