Horse Racing Women's Association

What Horse Racing Women's Association does

The Horse Racing Women's Association (HRWA) is a US nonprofit community association founded in 2022 and operated as a program of Racing Forward (Tax ID 88-3447863). It serves women across the North American Thoroughbred racing industry — spanning executives, owners, trainers, media professionals, backstretch workers, and emerging professionals — through year-round programming centered on an annual conference, regional "Day at the Races" events, virtual leadership sessions, and a mentorship guide produced with Amplify Horse Racing. HRWA generates revenue from annual membership dues sold through the JoinIT platform, conference and event tickets sold via Eventbrite (with early-bird, member, and student pricing tiers), corporate sponsorships across Title, Diamond, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Silks tiers, and tax-deductible donations processed via Stripe that fund the Pay It Forward scholarship program.

The organization is led by an Executive Committee of volunteers (Stephanie Hronis as Chairwoman, with committee chairs for Membership, Sponsorship, Event Logistics, Marketing & Communications, Community Initiatives, and Emerging Professionals) supported by GSS The Marketing Agency as website developer. HRWA operates without proprietary technology; its infrastructure is built on standard membership, ticketing, and donation SaaS. Strategic anchor partners include FanDuel TV (title sponsor for five consecutive years), Keeneland (co-title sponsor for 2026), 1/ST, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Century Mile Racetrack, Lane's End Farm, and Breeders' Cup. The 2025 rebrand from the Horse Racing Women's Summit to a year-round association, combined with the 2026 inaugural Western Canada event and the fifth annual conference at Harper Hall in Lexington, signals continued expansion of programming cadence, geographic reach, and enterprise partner integration.

Name

Horse Racing Women's Association

Legal name

Horse Racing Women's Association

Website

https://womeninracingsummit.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

HRWA is a nonprofit membership association founded in 2022 that engages, elevates, and invests in women across the North American Thoroughbred racing industry through an annual conference, regional events, mentorship resources, and a Pay It Forward scholarship program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association / Industry Community Organization (Thoroughbred horse racing)

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Training, Stables & Equine Services (MPAEADAI)

Keywords

• Horse racing association
• Women in racing
• Professional networking events
• Industry membership programs
• Mentorship and leadership

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues that fund Pay It Forward scholarships, events, and organizational initiatives.
2. Event Tickets: Revenue from conference tickets and Day at the Races events, including early bird pricing and corporate table packages.
3. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships at various levels (Title, Diamond, Gold, Silver, Bronze) and silks sponsorships.
4. Donations: Tax-deductible donations through Stripe, supporting Pay It Forward program and community initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HRWA is a nonprofit membership association that provides year-round programming for women in the Thoroughbred horse racing industry, anchored by an annual conference and complemented by regional Day at the Races events at partner racetracks, a Winning Strategies professional development series, a membership platform with discounts and exclusive access, a Pay It Forward scholarship ticket program, and a mentorship guide co-developed with Amplify Horse Racing. The organization is operated as a program of Racing Forward (Tax ID 88-3447863) and is funded through membership dues, event ticket sales, tiered corporate sponsorships, and donations.

Product overview

The Horse Racing Women's Association (HRWA) is a nonprofit membership organization and community platform that provides events, conferences, networking opportunities, and professional development resources for women in the horse racing industry. The organization operates primarily as a community-driven association offering membership-based access to events, mentorship resources, and networking programs. The core offerings include annual conferences, regional Day at the Races events, the Winning Strategies professional development series, and the Pay It Forward scholarship program. HRWA is a program of Racing Forward and is powered by a membership platform for engagement and donation processing via Stripe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HRWA Membership Annual membership in the Horse Racing Women's Association via the JoinIT platform, providing members with early access and special pricing for the annual conference and networking events, regional meet-ups, members-only virtual events, an HRWA lapel pin, and exclusive early access to event ticket launches.
• Annual HRWA Conference HRWA's flagship annual conference bringing together trailblazers, decision-makers, and future leaders in women's horse racing. The 2026 edition at Harper Hall in Lexington, Kentucky includes ticket tiers such as Early Bird Member $350, Early Bird Non-Member $395, Member $450, Non-Member $495, Student $225 with valid ID, and Corporate Table $3,000 for 8 attendees. Elana Meyers Taylor (five-time Olympian) is the scheduled keynote speaker.
• Day at the Races Regional Events Regional networking and education events hosted by HRWA at partner racetracks, including Santa Anita Park, Del Mar, Saratoga, and Century Mile in Western Canada. These events have drawn attendees such as 45 guests at the Santa Anita 2026 season opener in March 2026 and 80 guests at the inaugural HRWA x Century Mile event in July 2026.
• Pay It Forward Scholarship Program Program providing scholarship tickets to individuals who would otherwise be unable to attend HRWA events, funded by company and individual sponsorships and processed via Stripe donations. Supported by HRWA membership dues allocation and direct donations.
• Winning Strategies Virtual Leadership Series Members-only virtual professional development sessions described as a leadership series in HRWA's program documentation. Provides year-round learning and connection opportunities between in-person events.
• Amplify Horse Racing x HRWA Guide to Mentorship Mentorship guide jointly developed by HRWA with Amplify Horse Racing as an official mentoring partnership resource, supporting HRWA members and followers as mentors, mentees, and in personal and professional development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Women account for 33% of trainers at Century Mile Racetrack
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KeenelandcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 June 2026Keeneland signed as co-title sponsor for 2026 alongside FanDuel TV. Keeneland has supported HRWA since the inaugural summit in 2022 and provides the venue for the Backstretch Women's Luncheon and networking activities during the 2026 conference.
• FanDuel TVcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 March 2026FanDuel TV returned as title sponsor of the 2026 HRWA Conference for the fifth consecutive year. The partnership supports HRWA's mission to elevate women in horse racing through sponsorship of the annual conference.
• 1/STcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond sponsor of HRWA. 1/ST Racing is a major racing organization whose executives, including Jodie Vella-Gregory (VP of Industry Relations), are co-founders of HRWA.
• Del Mar Thoroughbred ClubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond sponsor and venue partner for HRWA events including Day at the Races events and presented the 2025 fourth annual conference. Del Mar hosted a special HRWA event on October 30 coinciding with Breeders' Cup.
• Century Mile Racetrack and CasinocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold sponsor and venue partner for HRWA's first international event in Western Canada. Century Mile hosts the HRWA x Century Mile Day at the Races event, with women representing 33% of trainers at the facility.
• Lane's End FarmminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor of HRWA, supporting the organization's events and programs.
• Kiger InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor of HRWA, providing sponsorship support.
• Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor of HRWA.
• The Horse'sminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver sponsor of HRWA.
• Hronis RacingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver sponsor of HRWA. Stephanie Hronis serves as HRWA Chairwoman.
• Breeders' CupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver sponsor of HRWA.
• GSS The Marketing AgencyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor of HRWA and website developer. Shona Rotondo, founder of GSS, serves as Marketing & Communications Committee Chair.
• Gulfstream ParkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor of HRWA.
• National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor of HRWA. Michele Ravencraft, Senior Vice President at NTRA, serves on HRWA Membership Committee.
• Amplify Horse RacingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial mentoring partner of HRWA. Jointly developed The Amplify Horse Racing Guide to Mentorship as a resource for HRWA members and followers. Jordyn Egan serves on both HRWA Executive Committee and Amplify Horse Racing board.
• Thoroughbred Owners of CaliforniaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilks sponsor of HRWA.
• Horse Racing AlbertaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with HRWA for the inaugural Western Canada event at Century Mile, providing support including $20 early-bird ticket savings.
• HBPA of AlbertaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with HRWA for the inaugural Western Canada event at Century Mile.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP): Professional association for equine veterinarians. Sits in the broader equine industry with a membership-and-education model comparable to HRWA's, but focuses on veterinary practice rather than Thoroughbred industry women.
• Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance: Industry-wide nonprofit setting standards and accrediting aftercare organizations for retired Thoroughbreds. Operates as a broader industry association within the same Thoroughbred ecosystem but focuses on equine welfare rather than workforce demographics.
• Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA): National association representing Thoroughbred owners and breeders. Operates within the same Thoroughbred ecosystem with a similar membership-and-education model, but serves ownership/breeding segments rather than women specifically.
• National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA): Industry trade association representing Thoroughbred racing interests nationally. Sponsors HRWA at the Bronze level and shares board-level overlap (Michele Ravencraft serves on HRWA's Membership Committee), but covers the entire industry rather than women specifically.

Regional players

• Maryland Horse Breeders Association: State-level Thoroughbred industry association. Comparable as a regional nonprofit racing-industry membership body; HRWA's Jordyn Egan previously served as Director of Special Projects at this organization before joining HRWA's leadership.

Direct peers

• Amplify Horse Racing: Nonprofit dedicated to engaging and educating young people about horse racing careers. Official mentoring partner of HRWA, with overlapping focus on workforce development in the Thoroughbred industry and joint programs (Amplify Horse Racing Guide to Mentorship).
• Women Leaders in Sports (formerly NACDA/NAADD): Nonprofit advancing women leaders in sports broadly. Highly comparable in mission (advancing women in a male-dominated sports industry via networking, education, recognition) but operates across multiple sports rather than within Thoroughbred racing specifically.
• The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation: Nonprofit serving the welfare of the Thoroughbred racing industry's backstretch community. HRWA's Community Initiatives Committee Chair, Shannon Kelly, also serves as Executive Director of this organization, evidencing close programmatic alignment on industry workforce support.
• New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program: Largest nonprofit racehorse adoption program in the U.S. Shares the Thoroughbred racing nonprofit ecosystem, similar volunteer-driven model, and overlapping board connections with HRWA (Alison Zeitlin serves on both boards).
• Retired Racehorse Project: Nonprofit focused on transitioning Thoroughbred racehorses to second careers. Shares the same Thoroughbred racing ecosystem, similar volunteer/nonprofit structure, and overlapping leadership networks with HRWA (Jodie Vella-Gregory serves on its board).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/horseracingwmn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@HorseRacingWomen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/horse-racing-women-s-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/horseracingwomen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Horse Racing Women's Association