Leslie White Carpenter, Jill Abbott and Molly Oakman have been added to the board of directors of the National Steeplechase Association.
Carpenter, race director for the Willowdale Steeplechase in Kennett Square, Pa., for the past eight years and the former director of the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup in Unionville for two, brings a background in development, public relations, and corporate marketing along with a lifelong love of horse sports to the 15-member board. During her leadership tenure at Willowdale, the meet has tripled in attendance, sponsorship, revenue, and reserves.
A longtime major-event planner at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, Abbott has been race director at the 1,000-acre preserve's largest fundraiser, the Winterthur Point to Point, for 15 years.
Oakman, director of equestrian operations at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Columbus, N.C., has served as executive director of the Tryon Block House steeplechase since 2017.
All three new board members will begin their official duties this week at the NSA's annual Race Chairman's Committee meeting Thursday, and the NSA's annual meeting Friday.
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