Goldstein to be Honored at Horse Racing Women's Summit
Jane Goldstein was recently recognized with a special award at the inaugural edition of the Horse Racing Women's Summit (HRWS) in late September. The presentation honored Goldstein for her role as a groundbreaking leader and inspirational example to women in horse racing.
The HRWS, which typically takes place at Santa Anita Park Sept. 28-30, featured speakers and networking opportunities for women currently engaged in the Thoroughbred horse racing industry.
A native of New Orleans, Goldstein had an early introduction to the racetrack. Her father, legendary writer and reporter with the Times-Picayune newspaper, first took her to the races at the Fair Grounds when she was a young girl. As a horse lover, she immediately fell in love with horse racing.
Who is Jane Goldstein?
Jane Goldstein attended the University of Kentucky and Louisiana State University. Following graduation, she combined her love for horse racing with writing when she was hired to work in the publicity department at the Fair Grounds.
She later worked in the publicity departments at Laurel, Pimlico, Monmouth Park, Hialeah, and Keeneland racetracks, as well as serving on the special Kentucky Derby "notes team" at Churchill Downs from 1970 to 1976. She also wrote freelance articles for various racing publications.
In 1972, Goldstein met Alan Balch, who was then director of public relations at Santa Anita Park. In 1975, Balch hired her as assistant news director at Santa Anita, promoting her to director of publicity in 1976. The first woman in the country to head a track publicity department, she continued to run the publicity and communications arm of Santa Anita until her retirement in 1998.
In 1984, Goldstein was named the venue press chief for the equestrian sports of the Olympics Games at Santa Anita and Fairbanks Ranch. She was also the first woman to serve on the selection committee of the Thoroughbred Racing Association's Grantland Rice Memorial Scholarship at Vanderbilt University, granted to a young man or woman interested in sports journalism. In 1985 she was inducted into the Fair Grounds press box hall of fame. Goldstein currently serves as a trustee of the California Thoroughbred Foundation, a non-profit corporation dedicated to the advancement of equine research and education.
What is the HRWS?
Founded as an initiative of the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) Owner Relations Committee, the Horse Racing Women’s Summit blossomed into an event gathering national attention. The multi-day event brings together people from all facets of the horse racing industry with the mission of connecting and empowering women in horse racing.
This event was designed for women from all facets of the industry including racing, bloodstock, breeding, ownership, aftercare, marketing and more.
