Julianna Witt is the recipient of the first The Jockey Club Scholarship, and Scott Little is the winner of The Jockey Club Jack Goodman Scholarship, it was announced today. Both scholarships cover the 2017 – 2018 academic year.

The Jockey Club Scholarship provides $15,000 ($7,500 per semester) to a student who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree or higher at any university and has demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in the Thoroughbred racing industry.

The Jockey Club Jack Goodman Scholarship awards $6,000 ($3,000 per semester) annually to a student at the University of Arizona’s RTIP and is based on academic achievement, a proposed career path in the Thoroughbred racing industry, and previous industry involvement. Goodman, a resident of Tucson, is a longtime member of The Jockey Club and is one of three founders of the RTIP.

Witt, a Freehold, N.J., native, is double majoring in equine science/management and animal science at the University of Kentucky and plans to graduate with a Bachelor of Science and a minor in agricultural economics in 2019. She has worked on numerous farms prepping horses for the sales, working the sales, and as a mare and foal groom. She also volunteers with Old Friends. Witt is committed to working in the Thoroughbred industry and is considering the Godolphin Flying Start program, the Irish National Stud, or pursuing a master’s in equine reproduction.

Little, a native of Abilene, Texas, is on the dean’s list at the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) and aspires to work in track management to increase customer service and promote fan development. He has a background in hotel and resort management and has worked in the racing office and as a track ambassador through guest services.

“The Jockey Club is proud to support students who are interested in improving the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industries,” said James L. Gagliano, president and chief operating officer of The Jockey Club. “Julianna Witt and Scott Little exemplify the type of people we want joining us in this great sport.”

The Jockey Club, founded in 1894 and dedicated to the improvement of Thoroughbred breeding and racing, is the breed registry for North American Thoroughbreds. In fulfillment of its mission, The Jockey Club, directly or through subsidiaries, provides support and leadership on a wide range of important industry initiatives, and it serves the information and technology needs of owners, breeders, media, fans and farms. It is the sole funding source for America’s Best Racing, the broad-based fan development initiative for Thoroughbred racing. You can follow America’s Best Racing at americasbestracing.net. Additional information is available at jockeyclub.com.

The University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program has placed almost 600 alumni in the racing industry. Alumni currently work in all aspects of the horse racing industry, including breed registries, racetracks, owners and breeders associations, sales companies, bloodstock agencies, racing commissions, tote companies, breeding farms and equine publications. Additional information is available at ua-rtip.org.