NEWS
Jamie Haydon
Posted: Thursday, June 24, 2010 12:25 PM
JAIME HAYDON
Jockey Club
Most of the paychecks Jamie Haydon has collected in life have revolved around the Thoroughbred industry.
From working on the Keeneland Race Course maintenance crew as a youth to marketing and promotions positions with Breeders’ Cup Ltd. and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, to stints with Four Star Sales and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Breeders’ Incentive Fund, Haydon already has seen the industry from many angles. He currently works at the Jockey Club as manager of industry initiatives.
In his Jockey Club position, Haydon coordinates and assists the Jockey Club’s Thoroughbred Safety Committee and provides administrative support for the Jockey Club’s role in the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, the Racing Officials Accreditation Program, and the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit.
With the NTRA, Haydon helped organize the first National Handicapping Championship. Haydon is optimistic that many of racing’s current problems can be solved. He also enjoyed working for Thoroughbred breeders to sell horses.
“In my role at the Jockey Club with the Thoroughbred Safety Committee, we have spoken with a vast cross section of the industry in the past two years,” Haydon said. “In each case, the problems are identifiable and it seems as if there is a spirit of collaboration that did not exist before. This industry and the team at the Jockey Club have some incredibly passionate and intelligent people who are ready to move our sport into the future.”
Date of birth: January 15, 1976
Birthplace: Lexington
Residence: Versailles, Kentucky
Title: Manager of industry initiatives
Company: Jockey Club
Education: Bachelor of Arts, University of Kentucky
Family: Married
Career: Previously worked as promotions manager for National Thoroughbred Racing Association, sales director at Four Star Sales, and director of incentive and development for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission
Favorite horses: “Personal Ensign for her guts; Lure for his ‘come-catch-me’ style; and Zenyatta for her size, balance, and grace.”
Last movie you saw at the theater: No Country for Old Men
Outside interests: Saltwater fishing, cycling, gardening, University of Kentucky sports, vacationing
Personal motto: “The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.”
Best advice someone gave you: “I’m not sure you would call it advice, but a colleague of mine in the Thoroughbred industry once said to me: ‘We have the best jobs in the greatest sport in the world so let’s have fun.’ I believe that.”
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