Ryan Mahan grew up at the racetrack, helping his stepfather, a veterinarian, perform surgery on racehorses. He wanted to follow his stepfather’s career path, but Mr. Mahan was instead lured into the auction business. He started by selling everything from used furniture to livestock. He now conducts horse auctions for companies like Keeneland Thoroughbred Racing […]

Gary Mandella was born in Redlands, California, and began working for his father, Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, at age 12 during his summer breaks from school. He went on to gain valuable experience through summer internships with Charlie Whittingham in 1993 and Claiborne Farm in 1994. In 1999, Gary joined the newly formed […]

Dan Metzger is the president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.  He is a 1984 graduate of the University of Kentucky and started his career at Cawood Ledford Productions in Lexington and later worked at Breeders’ Cup Limited for over 10 years.  Dan represents TOBA on a number of committees, including the International Grading […]

Liam, originally from Toronto, Ontario was introduced to horse racing at an early age making trips to Woodbine with his grandfather. He developed a keen interest in racing and began working at the racetrack during his high school years. While attending Bishop’s University in Lennoxville, Quebec Liam travelled to Lexington to intern with Juddmonte Farms […]

Mandy Pope grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina where her love for horses began by riding ponies and showing hunters by the age of seven. She graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science degree in business management. After graduation her involvement and love of show horses brought her to Ocala, Florida where she […]

Cathy grew up in Louisville, Kentucky spending much of her childhood tagging along with her horse owner dad to races. She holds a bachelors of business administration from Georgetown University and a masters of public administration from the University of Louisville. Throughout a variety of entrepreneurial professional pursuits, Cathy remained dedicated to service through board […]

Brook Smith lives in Louisville, KY. After graduating from Clemson University with a degree in finance, he returned to KY and launched a career in the insurance industry, specifically surety, as a broker with his agency Smith Manus (now Acrisure) and as a risk taker when a partner in Lexon Insurance Group (sold to Sompo). […]

Born in Montana and raised in Phoenix, Jesse was introduced to the sport by his grandfather Burton Farley, a trainer in the Northwest and at Turf Paradise, and by his aunt, longtime racing official Coralee Farley. At 19, he became the Track Announcer at Fair Meadows in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2007 and was named Track […]

Gretchen was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and attended the University of Pennsylvania and Neumann College. She began riding at age three and fox hunted mainly with Huntingdon Valley as a child, and then Pickering, Radnor and Andrews Bridge. She became involved with race horses as an adjunct to the hunters and managed the farm and […]

Ellen Moelis is from New York and originally pursued a career in modeling. She graduated from the Barbizon School of Modeling. Shortly after graduation Ellen decided to pursue a business career and joined Allison Management Corporation, a firm specializing in real estate property management. Over a career of 30 years, she rose to become President […]