Big Blue Nation rooting for UK-bred Averly Jane at the Breeders’ Cup
Channel: University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton
Date: 2021-11-04

Big Blue Nation rooting for UK-bred Averly Jane at the Breeders’ Cup

By Holly Wiemers
 When the starting gates open Friday for the Juvenile Turf Sprint race during the Breeders’ Cup in Del Mar, California, a special filly named Averly Jane will have a large contingent of University of Kentucky fans and connections rooting her on. 
Those connections are deep. From the UK alumnus who heads the racing partnership group that owns her, to the numerous faculty, staff, alumni and current students who were part of her life from foaling through the sales ring, the filly has impacted many people associated with UK. 
 Bred and raised by UK’s Maine Chance Farm, a unit of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment’s Animal and Food Sciences Department, Averly Jane is undefeated in her first four starts. A $35,000 graduate of the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, she is currently owned by Hat Creek Racing and trained by Wesley Ward. A sea of ecstatic UK fans were on hand in the winner’s circle after her decisive win in the Oct. 10 Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland that earned her an automatic berth to Breeders’ Cup.
While this highly visible racing success of Averly Jane is very exciting, the greatest legacy for the university comes from preparing students to become skilled and successful contributors to the equine workforce after they graduate.
“For our college, education is at the core of Averly Jane’s success and our program is committed to the state’s signature industry by developing a knowledgeable, skilled workforce and providing critical research and outreach efforts,” said Nancy Cox, UK vice president for land-grant engagement and dean of the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. “Faculty and staff within our equine programs are truly dedicated to the success of our students and the health and safety of our animals.”
UK’s Maine Chance Farm is a place where undergraduate students come to learn through hands-on educational opportunities. Some have extensive experience handling or riding horses prior to coming to UK, while others step onto the farm with a love for horses and a desire to work in the industry but very limited experience. By the time they graduate, all have been provided both a foundation of knowledge and relevant hands-on experience in equine-related career paths.
 “It’s great to watch the race, but I really reflect on what that means for the students in terms of how they view their experience here, either as working students or students that come to the farm for classes,” said Laurie Lawrence, professor in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences.
 “I got the experience to help train Averly Jane,” said Megan Gansen, a junior majoring in animal science. “She was a super eager horse. She was amazing and it’s amazing to watch and see, especially when they give us a shout out when she’s about to run. They say that she was raised by UK and it’s just awesome to know that I was able to be a part of it.”
 “Something like the Breeders’ Cup is pretty phenomenal for anybody, not just our program,” said Tim Jedra, animal resource manager for UK’s Maine Chance Farm. “Averly Jane exceeded our expectations, just like a lot of our students do when they move on into the industry.”

 Article continues here: