The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation has named Jamie Haydon vice president and Holly White director of development, effective April 17. The announcement was made by Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation chairman Dell Hancock.
Both will report to Hancock and Edward L. Bowen, the president of the foundation, and will be based in The Jockey Club's Lexington office.
Haydon, a graduate of the University of Kentucky and a resident of Versailles, Ky., joined The Jockey Club staff in 2008 as the manager of industry initiatives after stints with the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority, Four Star Sales, and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.
In the new position, he will help oversee daily administration and operations of the foundation. He will also continue to lend support to the foundation's equine health and safety initiatives, such as the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit and The Jockey Club's Thoroughbred Safety Committee.
White, a graduate of Alfred University and a resident of Bloomfield, N.Y., previously served in various fund-raising capacities for the Rochester Regional Health Foundation, the University of Rochester, Keuka College, and the St. John's Foundation. She also served as a public relations assistant for the Equine Marketing Group and Reichert Celebration and for the Alfred University Equestrian Center.
"These two appointments will fortify our foundation at a time when we have just announced a record level of funding," Hancock said. "Jamie brings a wealth of knowledge about the Thoroughbred industry and a long list of contacts while Holly is well versed in fund-raising and maintains a long-lasting commitment to equine health and soundness. We are fortunate to have both of them, and we welcome them to the foundation."
Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation's board of directors recently approved a 2017 budget of $1,483,542 to fund 11 new equine research projects, eight renewing two-year studies, and two career development awards. The total was the highest ever provided in one year by the foundation, which dates from the creation of the original Grayson Foundation in 1940.
Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation traditionally is the leading source of private funding for equine research and since 1983 has provided $24.8 million to fund 346 research projects at 43 universities. Additional information about the foundation is available at grayson-jockeyclub.org.
