Tomorrow’s Front Runners: Through Amplify, 15-Year-Old Ashton Brooks Targets Career in Racing

[Wandering Eyes]

Tomorrow's Front Runners is a TDN series spotlighting young people who got involved with horse racing through Amplify Horse Racing and are now pursuing careers in the industry. Amplify is a 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to amplifying education, mentorship and career opportunities for young people in the Thoroughbred industry.  

At just 15 years old, Ashton Brooks has always known that her life was destined to revolve around horses. The only question was how she could translate her passion into a profession.

Brooks has been riding horses since almost before she could walk. She estimates that she was perched on one of her mother's off-track Thoroughbreds by the time she was six months old. Today, she competes across Central Kentucky in barrel racing competition aboard her own retired racehorse, a 15-year-old gelding named Cotton Chrome (Zanjero).

Last spring, Brooks's mother saw a post on Facebook about Amplify Horse Racing's mentorship program, which connects youth and young adults interested in pursuing a career in racing with experienced industry members who can help guide their careers. Brooks was on the younger end of the program's age range, but her passion stood out.

“They accepted me and I was over-the-moon excited,” Brooks shared.

She was paired with Jen Roytz, an industry veteran and longstanding advocate for aftercare. Having previously served as the executive director of the Retired Racehorse Project, Roytz now owns and operates Brownstead Farm with her husband, Dr. Stuart Brown. The farm specializes in Thoroughbred breeding, sales and retraining.

Roytz has been involved with Amplify since the launch of their mentorship program and has already worked with five different mentees.

For Brooks, the partnership was a perfect match.

“We clicked pretty quickly,” she said. “Getting to know Jen and learning from her has been amazing.”

Although the focus of Brooks's internship was retraining and aftercare, Roytz said their mentorship also involved learning about developing young horses before their racing careers.

“We spent time going to Keeneland during morning training hours to watch horses exercise and talk about how they're ridden,” said Roytz. “Ashton even got to meet her favorite trainer, Jena Antonucci. She also learned how to handle foals and prep yearlings at our farm and we visited the Keeneland sales. Each time we met, we also tried to do a lesson with an off-track Thoroughbred, learning how to teach them to lunge and how to introduce them to things like trotting poles and hacking out.”

Constitution

) " width="1155" height="840" /> Brooks works with graded stakes-winning millionaire Law Professor | courtesy Jen Roytz

While their official Amplify mentorship ended after three months, Roytz and Brooks still have a close relationship. Brooks goes out to Roytz's farm on the weekends to work in exchange for riding lessons.

“Ashton has a great natural way with horses, especially foals and youngsters, and it was very impressive to see how easily she picked up new skills and retained anything we discussed,” said Roytz. “She also seems to do her own research too, which says a lot about her interest and dedication to her future in the industry. How hard she works, the good questions she asks and her eagerness to stay involved makes me excited for what her future will be with Thoroughbreds. The industry would be lucky to have more people like Ashton wanting to be part of it.”

During her time as an Amplify mentee, Brooks was able to take several industry tours. She went to Coolmore's Ashford Stud,  Godolphin's Jonabell Farm and Hagyard Equine Medical Institution.

“That sparked something in me that was like, 'Man, I really want to become a veterinarian,'” she shared.

Brooks is just a sophomore in high school, and while she's always known that she wanted a career involving horses, Amplify has exposed her to the many opportunities racing has to offer.

Brooks's mother, Brooke Brooke, explained how Amplify has been an eye-opening experience for her daughter.

“I've said a million times that I wish this kind of program had been available when I was her age because I would have absolutely dove head in,” she said. “Giving youth a hands-on experience in the industry at such a young age and showing them how they can get involved, it's amazing. Kids really don't realize that they do have an opportunity to do these things. They think they don't until they're older or that they have to stumble upon it somewhere. This is just open for any youth to get involved. They don't have to pay a whole bunch of money. It's free. The generosity of the people in the industry is amazing too.”

How many horse-crazy kids across the country share a similar story to Brooks's? And how many might never consider a career in horse racing because the industry feels distant or intimidating, or they simply don't know about the many opportunities it has to offer? Amplify aims to reach those young enthusiasts early, showing them how they can get involved and how their  passion for horses can lead to a real career.

“I've had the opportunity to meet a number of kids and young adults who have taken part in Amplify–both those I've mentored and others through some of the networking events Amplify hosts,” said Roytz. “Amplify has done a tremendous job of connecting with kids and young adults who are interested in horses or Thoroughbreds specifically, but wouldn't otherwise have a natural path into or even exposure to horse racing.”

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