I wanted to take a moment to express our sincerest gratitude for the incredible experience you provided to our group, Great Strides Equestrian Foundation, during the summer tour at Amplify Horse Racing. The tour... was nothing short of extraordinary, and it left an indelible mark on our girls. They thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it. In particular, the opportunity for them to visit the horses in the barn, venture into the paddock and explore the silks room was an exhilarating experience for them. The chance to witness the behind-the-scenes workings of such a prestigious racing establishment was truly eye-opening, and it allowed them to gain a deeper appreciation for the world of horse racing.

I brought 7 middle school students from Hamilton Central School to Saratoga Springs, NY to take the Amplify Racing Tour. This tour was truly a once in a lifetime experience!... The entire day was filled with smiles, shocked faces and statements like 'this is the best day ever!' For these kids it was our last day of our summer camp and Sena (one of the campers) stated 'I’m so glad that this was how we ended our camp. It was the best experience.' Another camper, Natalie, stated 'I can’t believe we got to see so much of the track and industry, I will remember this forever!' We are so thankful for this opportunity and for Annise putting this together because we truly did have an amazing day! We will remember this trip for a lifetime!

“The best experience [of working with my mentee] was seeing how a person who had several doubts ended up being clear about what he wants to do within the industry… I felt my small contribution [was helping him to make] an important decision, [but] the merit goes to him since he is a well-organized and reasonable person, he analyzes things well and the steps to take in his decisions.”

“[The best piece of advice I gave my mentee was to] keep in touch and have your resume always up to date. You miss opportunities when you don’t stay in touch with those you’ve met and networked with. It can be a text, e-mail, card, or letter of hello, thank you, congratulations, etc., just anything to stay connected. Also, you never know when an opportunity may present itself and quickly turning around your resume could seal the deal. Additionally, that is where your networking comes in, you call upon those folks to see if they know the decision makers for a job and leverage the relationship to work in your favor.”

“Mentorship is a powerful resource that has made a positive impact in my life, so having an industry specific mentor to assist me with my career goals was invaluable… Amplify has been and continues to be very helpful in assisting me towards my career path and achieving my goals.”

“The best part is that even when the mentorship was over, [my mentor] Tammy [Gantt] has remained open to everything from life updates to questions. She really "got" me as a person. We only achieve greatness with the support of others and I'm grateful for this experience!”

“It’s cliché but it's so true, follow what it is you're passionate about and you’ll never work a day in your life. I don’t really see what I do (farm manager) as a job. I have an amazing lifestyle, being on a beautiful farm, working with great people and around incredible horses. I’m just lucky enough to get paid to do it.”

“Beyond the official mentorship timeframe, my mentor and I have stayed in communications and I still seek her advice, update her on what's happening in my life, talk about growth opportunities, and have conversations on a wide array of topics. I'm grateful that it has gone far beyond the 3-month timeframe, and that Amplify paired me with such an impressive, thoughtful, and kind person.”

“The [mentorship] program helped me to land the job where I am now, so it definitely had a large impact on my experience in this industry; bringing up Amplify in my interview was helpful and [my mentor] Amy Lanigan was someone those people knew already, so it was like having an easy job referral contact as well as a mentor.”

“I was uncertain on how to get involved in my area of interest in the Thoroughbred industry, but now I not only know that there is an opening for me, but an entire career. I would not have been able to see or realize that without Amplify Horse Racing, and will forever be indebted to the experiences it has given me.”

"I just wanted to... let you know how much I’ve enjoyed working with [my mentee] through the mentorship program! She’s really worked hard and done everything I’ve asked. She is a wonderful young lady, and whether she stays in the horse business or not, she will be a great veterinarian one day. We FaceTime every Wednesday at 1 o’clock and she’s never late. She always has a smile. She always has a list of questions. It’s been a very good relationship and one of the most productive mentorship relationships I’ve had in a short time! Thanks for all you’re doing for creating such a wonderful program and connecting us."

“The biggest positive we had with Timothy Littau was watching him develop from an Amplify mentee to becoming a significant contributor to our team at The Saratoga Special and This Is Horse Racing. Timothy went from writing short stories in The Special to full stakes and racing recaps, previews and long-form features, all with a smile and positive upbeat attitude.”

“It is typically challenging for younger people to break [into] the Thoroughbred industry, but the mentorship program makes that experience more accessible.”

“One piece of advice I gave my mentee in their goal of becoming more involved in the Thoroughbred industry is not to be discouraged by any opportunity they might initially pursue that doesn’t ultimately work out. There are many facets and jobs that comprise the entire Thoroughbred industry, so your dislike of an experience in one area shouldn't discourage you from pursuing another path.”

“I began my Thoroughbred racing career during the summers working for my riding instructor’s husband, who was a racehorse trainer at Delaware Park. He would pick me up every morning and take me to work with him to hotwalk, groom and ride the racehorses. Looking back, I realize how rare and absolutely privileged that opportunity was…

“Programs such as Amplify can provide other young people with the same early experiences, connecting them with the life and soul of the horses and people involved with racing. A broad range of experiences, dedication, hard work, open minds and a willingness to learn are all imperative traits needed to succeed. Future success of horse racing depends on a healthy respect for existing values and traditions along with a willingness to embrace the ‘new age’ of our industry.

“Our survival is dependent on this and Amplify is in the perfect position to assist in this goal.”

“My mentee and I were located several hours apart, so we connected via Zoom or phone. We finally met in person at Santa Anita Park the week of the inaugural Horse Racing Women’s Summit. Our committee was busy pulling together the last-minute items when she arrived, so she jumped right in to help – I was so appreciative! She was also able to attend the summit, and we had a lot of nice time to connect in person. We stay connected to this day!”

“Amplify was an integral step for me in my development as a horseman – I would recommend the mentorship program to any young person considering a future in Thoroughbreds.”

“Working with a mentor, and mine specifically, was an experience that I don’t think you can duplicate on your own. Having someone to guide you through the inner workings of their job and to help you explore other sides of the industry that you may not have previously considered is [second]-to-none.”

“The program has been instrumental in nurturing my passion for horse racing and opening up many exciting opportunities for me to become more deeply involved in the industry.”