Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Contact: Shannon Luce (859) 224-2716
The Jockey Club announced today the recipients of its five academic scholarships, which will be awarded for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Lauren Maas was selected to receive The Jockey Club Scholarship ($7,500 per semester), which is awarded to a student on an academic path toward employment in the equine industry. Lauren has a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science with an equine emphasis from UC-Davis and is a candidate for a Master’s of Science in Animal Biology with the thesis, “Arrhythmogenesis and Sudden Cardiac Death in Thoroughbred Racehorses.” After receiving her Master’s, Lauren will attend veterinary school at the Royal Veterinary College in London, England.
The Jockey Club Advancement of Women in Racing Scholarship ($10,000 per semester) is being awarded to Sophia Vega. Sophia plans to graduate from the University of Kentucky in the spring of 2026 with a degree in Animal Science / Pre-Vet with an equine emphasis. She works as a nursing technician at Rood and Riddle equine Hospital and is an Ed Brown Society Scholar. Her goal is to become an equine veterinarian specializing in equine orthopedic and soft tissue surgery.
Paola Castro will receive The Jockey Club Vision Scholarship ($10,000 per semester), which is awarded to an undergraduate student who is from a minority racial or ethnic group. Paola is studying large animal Pre-Vet with a minor in Chemistry at Texas Tech University and expects to graduate in May 2026. Her goal is to become a veterinarian specializing in performance horses. Paola has been active with the Horse Racing Women’s Summit and Amplify Horse Racing.
The Jockey Club Benevolence Scholarship ($7,500 per semester) provides needs-based assistance with preference to backstretch and horse farm employees and their family members and was awarded to Elizabeth Rosas. Elizabeth is a high school student from Elmont, N.Y., and she will be attending Hofstra University this fall majoring in business administration and management. Elizabeth’s father is an assistant trainer, and her fondest memories are of visiting the stables with him. Elizabeth is studying business and hopes to create an eco-friendly clothing brand.
Nathan Klein is the recipient of The Jockey Club Jack Goodman Scholarship ($3,000 per semester), which is open to students enrolled in the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program (RTIP). Nathan plans to graduate from RTIP in May 2026 with a Bachelor of Science in Equine Science. He has worked in a variety of positions at Rillito Racetrack in Tucson and called two full cards at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Arizona, while making simulcast calls in English for Brazilian and Argentinian racetracks. He was also a full-time intern at Colonial Downs in Virginia. Nathan’s goal is to become a racetrack announcer.
“We have been providing scholarships for several years, and the group of applicants this year was a strong as ever,” said James L. Gagliano, president and COO, The Jockey Club. “It’s encouraging to know so many intelligent, dedicated students are focused on the equine industry, and we hope many of them will have an impact on the Thoroughbred industry in the years to come.”
Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year will open this fall.
