Keeneland Establishes International Scholarship Program

Edited Keeneland press release
Keeneland Association, in conjunction with Communicating for Agriculture's International Exchange Program, has created a Keeneland Scholars Program to provide internships abroad for young professionals in the Thoroughbred industry.

The announcement was made at the Hipodromo Argentino de Palermo SA in Buenos Aires during a seminar presented by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders.

The program will fund visa and travel expenses, allowing scholars to spend up to 12 months living and working in the Thoroughbred industry abroad. Each will receive practical training in a variety of areas, including farm management, general horsemanship, veterinary techniques, racehorse management and training, sales preparation and organization, bloodstock transactions and marketing.

"Our goal with the Scholars Program is to foster relationships with young people who have been selected as future Thoroughbred industry leaders in their home countries," said Chauncey Morris, Keeneland sales marketing associate. "We anticipate that in future years the program will expand worldwide to include greater numbers of scholars and encompass emerging breeding and racing markets as well as established ones."

In 2006 the program will award two scholarships –- one enabling a South American intern to train in the United States, and another allowing an American to gain experience abroad. Foreign scholars will work exclusively within the Kentucky Thoroughbred industry.

"Communicating for Agriculture is excited to work with Keeneland Association to promote international training," said Peter Risbrudt, chief finance officer of the CA Scholarship and Education Foundation. "The Keeneland Scholars Program is an investment in the future of the Thoroughbred industry and we applaud this wonderful effort."

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