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HRWA is where women in horse racing rise.

From new talent to seasoned leaders, the Horse Racing Women’s Association empowers women in racing to grow stronger, together.

Born from a moment, built into a
movement.

In 2022, a room full of brilliant, passionate women lit the fuse. That first summit at Santa Anita Park brought together trailblazers from every corner of the sport and showed us what’s possible when women in horse racing unite.

Since then, The Horse Racing Women’s Association (HRWA) has hosted four annual conferences, each one more powerful than the last. We’re expanding to reach more women across horse racing hubs in North America.

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Our Mission

To engage, elevate & invest
in women in horse racing

The HRWA exists to make the industry stronger by backing the women who make it great. Our mission is to engage women through genuine connection, elevate them with visibility and support, and invest in their growth with real tools and opportunities.

We’re here for the woman just starting out, the one ready for a seat at the table, and the one who’s already leading and wants to lift others along the way. If you have a passion for horse racing and a vision for the future, we’re here to support those goals every step of the way.

Become A Member

We're here for women to not only belong in racing but be empowered to lead it.

The HRWA has evolved into a year-round community that brings women together from every part of the racing world. What we’re building goes beyond individual programs or events.

With an expanding membership program and powerful in-person experiences, we’re creating space for women to grow personally and professionally, and help lead the future of racing.

Our Executive Committee

The women driving the vision

Every movement needs a guiding force and this is ours: a collective of dedicated women, all volunteering their time and talent to shape HRWA’s path forward.

Woman in black shirt with colored horse pattern

Stephanie Hronis

Executive Committee

Horse owner, CTHF Board Member, TOC Board Member, Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation Advisory Board Member, Shamrock Community Foundation Founder/Owner

More About Stephanie Hronis

Stephanie’s engagement with horse racing began in 2012 when Hronis Racing owned 19 horses and periodic weekends were spent at the track. Since then, with her husband, Kosta, and his brother, Pete, horse racing has become a significant part of their family. They enjoy watching their horses run at their California home tracks of Santa Anita Park and Del Mar. They are tremendously grateful for their Champions, Flightline, Full Serrano, Accelerate, Stellar Wind, Rock Your World, Higher Power, Catalina Cruiser, Cistron, Gift Box, Iotapa, and Lady of Shamrock that have been a part of their racing journey along with all of their equine athletes, present and past.

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Jordyn Egan

Membership & Operations Committee Chair

Executive Director of California Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Foundation, Board Member Amplify Horse Racing.

More About Jordyn Egan

Jordyn is the Executive Director of the California Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Foundation and serves on the boards of Amplify Horse Racing and Racing Forward. A graduate of the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program, she was selected for the Godolphin Flying Start management training program. After completing Flying Start, Jordyn joined the racing department at Darley in Lexington, KY before relocating to the Mid-Atlantic region to earn her MBA from the University of Delaware. From 2013 to 2021, she served as Director of Special Projects for the Maryland Horse Breeders Association.

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Kellie Hill in grey shirt and black vest

Kellie Hill Galligan

Sponsorship Committee Chair

Sr. Vice President of MedWest Realty and CEO of Stay Classy Horse Racing.

More About Kellie Hill Galligan

Kellie Hill Galligan is a veteran commercial real estate broker with over 25 years of experience, renowned for her expertise in healthcare real estate. She is a trusted advisor to healthcare professionals and investors, specializing in data-driven strategies to identify the right locations and opportunities. Beyond her real estate career, Kellie is a trailblazer in another traditionally male-dominated arena—thoroughbred horse racing. As Chair of the Sponsorship Committee for the Horse Racing Women’s Association she champions women’s leadership while advancing the sport she is deeply passionate about. Whether guiding clients to make informed real estate decisions or advancing opportunities for women in racing, Kellie embodies the belief that passion and hard work always pave the way to success.

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Jodie Vella-Gregory with long dark hair in pink dress

Jodie Vella-Gregory

Event Logistics Committee Chair

Vice President, Industry Relations at 1/ST Racing | Board of Directors, The Retired Racehorse Project | Advisory Committee, Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation

More About Jodie Vella-Gregory

Jodie Vella-Gregory is Vice President of Industry Relations for 1/ST RACING, where she leads initiatives to enhance the experience for horses and horsemen and women and expand diversity across the sport. A lifelong equestrian and former Alberta Young Rider, she has held positions at the Breeders’ Cup and Santa Anita Park, as well as in equine rehabilitation and veterinary care. Jodie is also co-founder of Racing Forward and the Horse Racing Women’s Association, Vice President of the Retired Racehorse Project’s Board of Directors, Safety Net Advisory Committee member and mentor with Amplify Horse Racing.

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Woman in black dress

Shona Rotondo

Marketing & Communications Committee Chair

Co-Founder of GSS, The Marketing Agency, Strategist at Experiential Squared

More About Shona Rotondo

Shona Rotondo is the founder of GSS The Marketing Agency, a female-owned and operated company that specializes in strategic marketing in the digital age. As a lifelong equestrian with a rich background in marketing and communications, Shona spent over a decade in agency roles navigating the evolution of social and digital marketing for companies like Reebok, IBM, and the Breeders’ Cup World Championships before starting GSS. Shona also contributed to the launch of MyRacehorse, a pioneer in fractional ownership of racehorses, where she served as Head of Marketing for three years. Shona is on the advisory board of the Belmont Child Care Association, the Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation, and a member of the Executive Committee for the Shalamar Foundation, a family-run foundation that awards scholarships to children in rural New York.

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Alexa Zepp with rose colored dress, standing next to racetrack

Alexa Zepp

Marketing and Communications Committee Chair

Strategic Partnerships, Sponsorships, & Emerging Media Manager at America’s Best Racing | Founder and President of Haphazard Racing Inc.

More About Alexa Zepp

Alexa Zepp is a dynamic leader at the intersection of horse racing, media, and partnerships. She serves as Strategic Partnerships, Sponsorships & Emerging Media Manager at America’s Best Racing, where she drives revenue growth, builds brand engagement, and hosts ABR broadcasts. She is also the founder of Haphazard Racing Inc., a data-driven racing syndicate built on transparency, community, and innovative horse selection strategies. Alexa is passionate about expanding racing’s reach to new audiences, strengthening industry partnerships, and championing women as they pursue their ambitions in racing and beyond.

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Amy Zimmerman, woman with blond hair

Amy Zimmerman

Special Advisor

Amy is the SVP & Executive Producer for Santa Anita Park and a member of Santa Anita’s staff since 1986.

Woman with short blonde hair in tan suit jacket

Amy Gregory

Emerging Professionals Committee Chair

Retired Director of Communications for Keeneland

Our Committee Members

The passionate committee members powering the HRWA

Dark haired woman next to horse

Elizabeth Alderson

Social Committee
Student at the University of Kentucky Equine Science and Business Management major

Woman with long dark hair

Grace Barrier

Social Committee
Marketing Coordinator, American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Hronis Racing Social Media Manager

Hannah Bloom, wearing taupe shirt

Hannah Bloom

Marketing & Communications Committee | Social Media Strategist, HB Social

Codie Campbel wearing dark shirt

Codie Campbell

Logistics Committee | Student at University of Kentucky

Paola Castro, in red shirt and black blazer

Paola Castro

Marketing & Communications Committee | DVM Candidate at the Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine

Sarah Gordon, woman with long brown hair, red shirt, and lanyard

Sara Gordon

Marketing & Communications Committee | Social Media Manager at the TDN

Naomi Hurdle, woman with long dark blonde hair, leaning on board fence

Naomi Hurdle

Sponsorship Committee

Marguerite Johnson wearing plaid blazer

Marguerite Johnson

Logistics Committee | Senior, University of Kentucky

Shannon Kelly, wearing white shirt and dark flowered skirt, leaning on fence

Shannon Kelly

Community Initiatives Committee Chair | Executive Director, The Jockey Club Safety Net Fdn. | Director of Industry Relations, The Jockey Club

Anne Litz in blue and gold patterned dress

Anne Litz

Membership Committee | Executive Director of the Maryland Horse Industry Board

Kaitlin Christopherson leaning on stair rail

Kaitlin C. Lively

Marketing & Communications Committee I CEO & Co-Owner GSS, The Marketing Agency

Cara Metts, in light blue blouse, sitting on brown couch.

Cara Metts

Membership Committee | Breeder’s Cup Participant Concierge Team

Ashlyn Moore, woman with long dark hair, wearing flowered dress

Ashlyn Moore

Sponsorship Committee | Manager Executive Operations, 1/ST

Michele Ravencraft Blond woman wearing dark glasses with crystals

Michele Ravencraft

Membership Committee | Senior Vice President, NTRA

Courtney Reid, woman with long dark hair wearing black bouse with floral pattern

Courtney Reid

Sponsorship Committee | Breeders’ Cup Senior Director, Racing and Industry Relations

Woman with long wavy hair wearing blue shirt over black polo.

Mattie Richards

Social Committee
U of A RTIP student

Woman with long dark hair, wearing pink dress

Haley Ropel

Social Committee
Owner of Haley Anne Digitals, Student at the University of Kentucky

Jenn Roytz, woman with long dark hair, wearing patterned shirt and black vest

Jen Roytz

Logistics Committee | Co-Owner/Manager, Brownstead Farm

Gwen Schmidt

Social Committee
Equine Science & Management student at the University of Kentucky

Woman with short dark hair and glasses, wearing blue shirt

Tashua Spiess

Social Committee
U of A Racetrack Industry Student

Alison Zeitlin, woman with long blonde hair, wearing black blazer over green shirt

Alison Zeitlin

Membership Committee | Board of Directors for New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program | Stites & Harbison PLLC, Attorney