Meet Nexus Member Isabella Leslie, a student at the University of Louisville who made the switch from Saddlebreds to Thoroughbreds!
Isabella Leslie fell in love with horses at a young age while growing up in coastal Georgia. From the time she was 18 months old, days at the barn with her father became a regularity. This evolved into showing Saddlebreds by the time she was six, competing in shows until just two years ago.
During the summer of 2018, Isabella traveled to Kentucky to work for Saddlebred industry leader Marilyn Macfarland. There, she became friends with Hanna Salmon, who took her to the racetrack on Isabella’s day off. Immediately, the racing industry captured Isabella’s heart.
“I fell in love with it and decided that’s what I was meant to do,” Isabella said. “I never thought I would leave the Saddlebred world, but I truly fell in love with racing.”
Isabella made the choice to attend the University of Louisville to ride on their saddle seat team, but ultimately she faced the decision of where she would dedicate her time. That’s when she realized that, for her, racing came first.
“I’ve never looked back,” she said.
While studying equine business at UofL, Isabella has dived headfirst into the Thoroughbred industry. Her roles within the industry include stints with Casse Racing, where she wears many hats from hotwalking to ponying, and NBC Sports, where she helps with race day coverage and serves as the stage manager for Lafitt Pincay. Combining these experiences and her studies, Isabella aspires to one day have a career in bloodstock.
“I love watching a horse grow—from the sales, to the track, to race day, and to hopefully their first win,” Isabella said. “I also love the international side of bloodstock and all the people I have met, along with the places racing in general has taken me.”
As a member of Nexus, Isabella is passionate about getting young people involved in the Thoroughbred industry. In her own experience, all it took to fall in love with the sport was a visit to the backside—a method she believes could be the key in helping others develop a passion for the sport.
“I think the first step in getting people our age into the industry is bringing them to the track,” Isabella said. “Experiencing the races and watching the horses is such an adrenaline rush. I also think bringing people onto the backside and letting them see how well cared for and loved these horses are is so important. That’s what made me fall in love with the sport in the first place, seeing how much everyone adores the horses and how the horses really enjoy racing.”
To Isabella, getting involved in racing is simpler than some may realize.
“One of the most common things I hear is that it's so hard to get into the industry,” she said. “From experience with other sides of the horse business, I think racing is the exact opposite. All it takes is one conversation with the right person, and drive and passion for the sport. Coming out to the track and meeting people is where it starts.”
It is Isabella’s hope that others will fall head over heels for racing and its horses like she has—a love that can lead to unforgettable experiences within the industry.