Women helping women will be a key component of the inaugural Women’s Equestrian Summit, scheduled for September 28-30 at Santa Anita . Parkand they will also help race staff through a connection with the Fashi Fashion Fillies Goes West luncheon.
The Jockey Club is one of the sponsors of the conference, and the next Fashion Fills luncheon, benefiting the Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation, will be held in conjunction with the Jockey Club. conference. The summit opened on September 28 with a welcome reception at Santa Anita’s 100-1 Club, followed by the conference’s executive boards and a series of female executive speakers on the day. September 29. It will end on September 30, with Christina Blacker of FanDuel TV giving a disability conference that morning, the opening day of the fall meeting in Santa Anita. The Fashionable Pancake Luncheon will take place the same day in Santa Anita’s Chandelier Room and summit attendees will receive a $50 discount if they wish to attend.
Shannon Kelly, executive director and secretary of the Safety Net Foundation, explained how the two events evolved together.
“Initially, Fashionist Fillies was at Saratoga for 30 years,” Kelly said. In 2019, we move to the second day of the Fasig-Tipton sale (in Saratoga) and have a banner year for the event. Stephanie Hronis attended with Jodie Vella-Gregory and a few others. They said, ‘Why don’t we do this in California?’ So that’s how Fashionist Fillies Goes West was created. “
The first California edition of Fashionist Fillies was held in March 2020, just before the pandemic broke out in the world. Since then, another tournament has been held together with the 2021 Breeder’s Cup in Del Mar. As the plans for the conference came together, with Hronis and Vella-Gregory as two of the organisers, it naturally evolved into the Safety Net Foundation hosting another fashionable luncheon in town. Goes West at the same time.
The Safety Net organization benefits employees in the racing industry. As Kelly explains, it works in conjunction with other organizations to help those in need. For example, in California, the Winners Foundation helps people with substance abuse problems, and the California Thoroughbred Riders Foundation runs the medical clinic on the backside of Santa Anita. If someone providing those services themselves has difficulty other than those within the scope of those organizations, the Safety Net may intervene.
The summit and luncheon will honor Jane Goldstein and Samantha Siegel, respectively. Both women have made major contributions to racing, both nationally and in California.
Goldstein is a retired publicity director at Santa Anita and the first woman to head the track publicity department in this country. In 1984, she was appointed head of press for the Olympic Games equestrian sports venues at Santa Anita and Fairbanks Ranch. Goldstein is the former Paddock magazine editor of the Oak Racing Association and a trustee of the California Thoroughbred Foundation.
Samantha Siegel celebrates with track runner Joseph Talamo after a Really Good Deal 2018 bet at Del Mar
Siegel is a purebred owner/breeder who has raced as Jay Em Ess Stable. The horses she has advocated for herself or partnered with her parents, Mace and Jan Siegel, include the champion Declan’s Moon ; Millionaire Rail trip , Suave , Arson Squad and By the moon ; and level 1 winner Including me out . Siegel sits on the boards of California Master Owners, the Edwin J. Gregson Foundation, and the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA).
Not only will Kelly host the Fashion Luncheon, but she will also be participating in the conference as a panelist.
“We have women in roles across all industries who are doing amazing and powerful things,” Kelly said. “But we want to make it more common to see women in those roles. I think this is the first step; these are women who have succeeded in this work. This is what they are passionate about. You can do what you’re passionate about and talk about it confidently. If you feel that you have an idea, speak up. Be confident in what you see. Use your experience and speak. with it. “
You can find more information about the inaugural Equestrian Women’s Summit at www.womeninracingsummit.com and during the Fashionisties Goes West luncheon at www.tjcfoundation.org.
