Question for the Jockey Club Round Table:
Why are we not doing more to attract children to the love of a horse?
Good morning,
My name is Tom Gallo, and I am a lifelong member of the Thoroughbred industry. I have been involved in, and earned my living from, this industry for more than 50 years. During that time, I have served on the New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) Board of Directors for 32 years and continue to serve today. I recently completed a 10-year term as President, have chaired the NYTB Political Action Committee for more than 20 years, and previously served on the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) Board of Directors when each state breeders' organization was represented on the national board.
Over the years, I have witnessed not only a decline in the foal crop but also a gradual erosion of public interest in horses and horse racing. Recognizing this challenge, I worked with the Dean of the Equine Studies Graduate Program at SUNY Cobleskill to develop an educational initiative sponsored by NYTB. We are now in our third year of introducing graduate equine studies students to the many disciplines and career opportunities within the Thoroughbred industry. The course carries college credit and provides students with firsthand exposure to breeding, racing, training, and horse care.
I also applaud the excellent work being done by Amplify Horse Racing, whose educational and workforce development programs have earned widespread recognition throughout the industry. Amplify is successfully exposing young adults to careers and opportunities in Thoroughbred racing on a broader scale.
While both programs are making a positive impact, they are not enough. The students participating in these programs already have some level of interest in horses. As a result, we are drawing from a limited and finite pool of individuals. If we want to grow our industry, we must expand that pool.
The purpose of this letter is to propose a way to broaden our reach, engage a larger percentage of young people, and organically build awareness, appreciation, and enthusiasm for horses and horse racing.
Virtually every successful sport understands the importance of introducing children to the activity at an early age. Baseball begins cultivating interest through T-ball and Little League as soon as a child can swing a bat. Football has youth leagues that introduce children to the game as early as seven or eight years old. These programs are often supported by local communities, schools, and recreational organizations because they understand that today's young participants become tomorrow's players, fans, coaches, and supporters.
The business world understands this concept as well. Consider McDonald's and its long-standing children's marketing initiatives. Companies invest heavily in attracting young consumers because they recognize that early positive experiences often create lifelong customers. Whether we like the comparison or not, the principle is the same: cultivate interest early and that interest tends to endure.
This is where I believe the horse industry has fallen short. For decades, we have largely ignored the opportunity to cultivate interest among young children, despite having the perfect vehicle to do so.
My wife and I have owned a farm for 46 years, and throughout that time we have hosted school field trips in partnership with local educators. On some occasions we have welcomed as many as 60 or 70 kindergarten, first-grade, and second-grade students at one time, along with parents and chaperones. The teachers were often amazed to see dozens of young children sitting quietly on hay bales, completely focused on what was being said. Why? Because standing beside me was a horse.