The Next Generation with Samantha Bussanich

Twenty-three-year-old Samantha Bussanich was not born into the Thoroughbred industry, but became interested in the sport at a young age. She's now an employee for Mark Casse, the founder of Nexus Racing Club, and is a soon-to-be trainee for Godolphin Flying Start.

One of Sam's favorite moments in racing was when she joined Casse trainee War of Will (War Front) in the winner's circle for the Preakness S. in 2019. She wanted other young people to experience that same thrill in racing, so she and two friends founded Nexus Racing Club, an organization dedicated to promoting youth participation in racing through partnerships with established owners.

“So two friends and I co-founded Nexus Racing Club in 2017. We thought there needed to be a better way to get new people involved in the industry because the barrier of entry was so high to get into the sport. So Nexus Racing Club partners with owners, and we have leases on racehorses. We also do a lot of networking opportunities to just try and reach out to young people ages 18 to 30, to get them involved in the sport. We think it's really important because it is hard to get into this sport , and [so we want to] teach them the sport in an easy way because sometimes it does get a little complicated.”

Read more on the TDN.

The TDN has partnered with Amplify Horse Racing to present “The Next Generation,” an ongoing video series featuring young people who were not born into the Thoroughbred business, but are now excelling within the industry.

Breeders' Cup Connections Wrap

Breeders' Cup Connections: Katie Tolbert and Highland Falls

Breeders' Cup Connections: How Jeramie Fennell Found Redemption on Horseback