Courtney Reid never thought her career would never be involved in horse racing. She thought her undergraduate and graduate work would land her a career in either the psychology or public health field.
However, her career has brought her to the point where she will likely have a significant future in racing. Over the last couple of years, Reid has made substantial jumps and strides where she is now the racing operations manager for the National Steeplechase Association.
“I wanted to be a clinical psychologist or sports psychologist,” Reid said. “I quickly found out there are not many sports psychology jobs out there. I chose public health instead because it had broad-based things I could do. I could work for different government agencies. That was the route I was going to take.”
Reid’s racing background is pretty much atypical to others involved in horse racing and steeplechase racing. Her career in racing began when she needed summer job while going to James Madison University as a psychology major in 2009. Her summer job involved issuing licenses from the Virginia Racing Commission at Colonial Downs.
With the help of former Virginia Racing Commission executive secretary and chief steward Bernie Hettel, Reid was hired on a full-time basis while working on her master’s degree in public heath from Liberty University. From there, Reid’s career has excelled and expanded.
Since November 2015, the 27-year-old Reid has been with NSA where she assists Bill Gallo, the director of NSA, in producing the American Steeplechase Racing Yearbook, helping in writing the condition book and revising rules for steeplechase racing, and planning many events throughout the racing season.
“She has been amazing here for us,” Gallo said. “She’s young and enthusiastic. She has a real passion for the game. She has been a positive influence on all of us and our racing operations. She is technologically savvy. What she has done here [in the racing office] compliments us. This gives her a more diverse background. Everything that she does here, we do on a smaller scale.”
When Reid came to Saratoga for the first time last year for her NSA responsibilities, she has also assisted the racing office in taking entries, managing the database, and working on other tasks. At the same time, she has found that working in the racing office being a learning opportunity to expand her skill set and meet more people in the sport.
“They were short-handed in the racing office,” Reid said. “Someone found out that I knew how to do all of that stuff. I loved it. It has been a great opportunity to learn and meet all of the players.”
Reid is aware of the significance of Saratoga racing. Because of that, she has learned to take time and be patient with her responsibilities since there is practically no room for error.
You can’t mess up,” she said. ”It’s a big dead if you mess up. You have to be really diligent, methodical, and careful about everything. Mistakes are not perceived well. I have a tendency to be quick with everything. So, it’s really important that I slow down.”
Reid also knows the importance of tradition at Saratoga, which includes steeplechase racing.
“The steeplechase is engraved in Saratoga,” she said. “Our horsemen love coming up here. They get treated well. We don’t have many Grade 1 races [like the A.P. Smithwick and the New York Turf Writers]. So when they are here, it’s a really good showcase for steeplechase racing in North America.”
At the same time, Reid admits that she has been star-struck by some of the horseman like Todd Pletcher, Chad Brown, and several current and former jockeys, including Hall of Famer and Saratoga legend Angel Cordero Jr., after working the Saratoga meet for two consecutive years.
“It’s like living in a movie, a good one,” she said. “Everyone is so happy up here. There is a good vibe. I like all of the jockeys here. They’re all cool. I love Angel Cordero. He always makes me smile in the office.”
Recently, Reid successfully completed the steward program after passing the exams at the Racing Official Accreditation Program (ROAP) School held at Santa Anita. At the end of the week-long intensive program, Reid completed an oral exam, video exam, and a 4½-hour written exam.
“It’s tough. It’s a grueling process,” Reid said. “Only 30 percent of the people pass it the first time.”
Now that Reid is a licensed steward, she believes her role in NSA will likely expand. As a licensed steward, she can offer seminars for officials who need accreditation.
“When you are an accredited steward, you have to do 16 hours of accreditation every two years as part of continuing education,” she said. “We find video around the world that are controversial as a learning opportunity. We use the disqualification videos for both flat and steeplechase.”
Looking at her future and everything she has accomplished to this point, Reid plans to stay on this route in the industry.
“I intend to be successful in the industry; I love it,” she said. “I want to thrive in it and make a difference. I have a passion for the thoroughbred racing industry. I didn’t think that was how my life was going to be. I don’t foresee myself not being in the industry.”
