Status: Sophomore
Graduation Date: May 2009
Home State: Pennsylvania
Specific Racing Interest: Training Thoroughbreds
The first time she read a book about Thoroughbred racing, Nikki vowed to be the first female trainer to win the Triple Crown…with a filly. Ever since that day, Nikki has done everything she could to become a part of the industry. Unable to make it to the track as often as she liked, Nikki studied the Philadelphia Park simulcasts and taught herself about furlongs, lengths, and horses that looked washy. She eventually talked her family into a pretty pony with a reputation for making riders regret they ever thought he was cute enough to want to ride. She has worked with young foals and mares as well as had the opportunity to walk hots for Vladimir Cerin at Del Mar two years ago. She now owns a filly by Tinners Way and is currently in the process of retraining her. Nikki’s dream is to work with racehorses every day and she hasn’t lost that hope of one day winning the Triple Crown.
Status: Sophomore
Graduation Date: May 2009
Home State: Pennsylvania
Specific Racing Interest: Racing Journalism
Internship Experience: Bay Meadows Race Track
Jon Forbes is now in his second year in the Race Track Industry Program. Jon became interested in racing by spending many weekends at Bay Meadows with his father while growing up. This year, Jon spent the spring meet at Bay Meadows not as a patron but as an Operations and Marketing intern. Depite having thoroughbred racing as his first interest, Jon is trying to learn more about quarter horse, standardbred, and greyhound racing. Jon hopes to one day share his knowledge of racing by writing for a racing publication.
Status: Sophomore
Graduation Date: May 2009
Home State: Illinois
Specific Racing Interest: International Racing
Asif’s home track is Arlington Park Racecourse in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He fell in love with horses when he was seven years old, when he witnessed a horse being born for the first time at his uncle’s Arabian Farm in Dallas Pike, West Virginia. Being part of such a captivating experience, he felt honored that the horse was given his name. The horse, Asif, grew up to be the most valuable stallion at his uncle’s farm. Aside from spending time with horses at his uncle’s farm, he also volunteered at Janesway Farms in Wayne, Illinois. Horses have always been Asif’s sacred sanctuary. This is why he moved and gave up everything to be a part of the program at The University of Arizona and pursue a career in the horse racing industry. Asif feels strongly that working with horses is his destiny.
Status: Sophomore
Graduation Date: May 2009
Home State: Rhode Island
Specific Racing Interest: Marketing, Racinos, Regulation
Willa’s interest in racing started during her childhood in San Francisco, CA. Her father would take her to the track and when her family moved to Rhode Island they started to go to Saratoga every summer. As she got older, she started to think that she wanted to work in some aspect of the horse racing industry. In looking at schools, she found The University of Arizona. When she got here, Willa found she wasn’t exactly sure what part of racing she wanted to get involved with so she’s exploring all possibilities.
Status: Sophomore
Graduation Date: May 2009
Home State: Arizona
Specific Racing Interest: Management, Marketing, Regulation
Andrew’s interest in the RTIP was sparked as he was enrolling at The University of Arizona, looking to attain a specialized degree in business related academics. After completing a marketing internship and visiting the marketing team at the Del Mar Race Track this past summer, Andrew is eager to apply his skill set and knowledge to the RTIP. As a member of the honorary club, “Spires” and The University of Arizona’s College of Agriculture’s Ambassadors program, Andrew hopes to take his knowledge gained in the classroom, through internships, and through philanthropy, to be successful in the racing industry.