Tired of all the bad news? So were we. So, in our new series, we focus on the positive, asking people from non-horse racing families two questions: how they get hooked, and how they'll hook someone else on horse racing this year.
CHRISTA MARRILLIA, VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, KEENELAND
What was the experience that made you fall in love with horse racing?
So like many who grew up in Central Kentucky, my passion for the sport sparked from my experiences at Keeneland. In high school, I would skip class to go racing with friends and admittedly, this pastime continued throughout my days at the University of Kentucky. For just a few short weeks in the spring and fall, Keeneland was, and still is, the heartbeat of Lexington. And I couldn't get enough. While it was the pageantry and excitement surrounding the Keeneland meets that attracted me, I wasn't hooked until I landed an internship at Keeneland my senior year at UK. This experience afforded me the opportunity to take a look behind the “Keeneland green curtain” and opened my eyes to the depth and true beauty of this industry. I immediately appreciated the reverence for these amazing animals, the thrills of the sport (both on the racetrack and in the sales ring) and the sheer passion of the people–far beyond the gates of Keeneland. From the billionaire to the blacksmith–the common bond and love for the horse was contagious. I was hooked and the rest is history!
Would you commit to converting one person into a fan this year, and if so, what is the experience you would give them to do it?
Challenge accepted! I have the privilege of hosting out-of-town media and newbies to the sport quite frequently, and I actually have a secret sauce for creating a new fan which I'll share with you.
1. Book a window seat on an AM flight into Blue Grass Airport. Our guest will take in the stunning landscape, rolling hills and manicured horse farms from above. It looks like a picture from Town & Country.
2. Make the quick journey from the airport across the street to the Keeneland Track Kitchen. Order the sausage and biscuits and casually point out the Hall of Fame trainers enjoying the same.
3. Grab a coffee to-go and walk the barns to the track. On your way, watch a horse enjoy a post-workout bath. Speak to the care these animals receive from their capable teams.
4. When you get to the track…just stop and take in the beauty of the morning works. Stop talking and let them experience it with all their senses. It's magic.
5. Wrap up the morning and send our guest on a horse farm tour or to an aftercare facility. I hang back at Keeneland so I often coordinate these mid-morning experiences with my friends at Horse Country.
6. Back to the track for racing! Stop by Wagering Central for a betting tutorial with a Keeneland BETologist, download our race day mobile app, hand them a cup of burgoo and few pre-loaded wagering vouchers and you have the ingredients for a perfect day at the races.
7. After enjoying a bit of the action, I'll stop by the box or table for a surprise trip to the paddock and to watch a race from the winner's circle. I love getting a new guest close to the athletes where they might shake hands with a jockey and feel the thunder of the hooves racing by as they hold onto the rail. A keepsake picture with Steve the Bugler is also a must. We now have a fan.
8. After racing, I either join our guest or send them on their own to experience Lexington's downtown culinary scene. Dudley's on Short for dinner followed by a nightcap (clearly bourbon) nearby provides the perfect setting to share stories of the day and plan their next trip to the races.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
