Career change!

Question
Hi Stephanie,
I have been in real estate my entire working career (I am 47 years old). I have found my passion for horseracing in the last five years, since buying a mini-ranch and owning five horses. Now that real estate is struggling, I want to get into the horse race industry and will move to Kentucky for the right opportunity. Any ideas of how to get started or who to approach when you are experienced with horses but not racehorses?

Answer
John,


Unfortunately pretty much the only way to get started with an outside trainer or stable if you have no experience under your belt is to start at the bottom, as a groom or hotwalker, and work your way up as you gain experience.  This could take quite a while, and the work would be hard for very little pay, with little or no insurance or benefits.  But if you choose to continue, then you might try mailing your resume and a cover letter explaining your dreams to major farms or training stables in the area that you wish to live.
The other way would be to buy your own racehorses, and have a go at it yourself.  Try to find a trainer who you admire, and ask to shadow him or her on the backside for some time, or offer to give them a horse to train on the condition that you be allowed to take part in the day to day activities of the barn.

Good Luck in you new career,

Stephanie Frost
www.alchemybloodstock.com