Welcome to TDN AusNZ’s ‘It Takes A Team’, brought to you in conjunction with the Australian Stud and Stable Staff Awards supported by Godolphin. Here we highlight and celebrate some of the heroes of our industry. The strappers, riders, stud-workers and people behind the scenes of our champions. The people who are up late into the night foaling or up at the crack of dawn for trackwork, working tirelessly to keep our industry running.
Today, we speak with Jemma Cutting, Inglis' Marketing Executive. No stranger to hard work, Jemma has been set on a career in horse racing since she can remember, and even admits to taping major race meetings in what she calls a 'decade-long obsession'. We find out all about her role at Inglis, her history in production and the mentors who have helped her along the way.
TDN AusNZ: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in the industry?
Jemma Cutting: I spent most of my years growing up in Yeppoon, a coastal town in Central Queensland best described as ‘where the country meets the sea’. While plenty laugh at its name, I unashamedly love my hometown and still occasionally suffer the pangs of homesickness!
It was purely chance that I found horse racing. I ‘bush-bashed’ on horseback growing up and while my mum loves horses and my late father simply loved all sports, I had no connection to the industry. It’s a slightly embarrassing tale of what sparked my interest in racing. One weekend at the age of 12, I asked Dad to rent the Phar Lap movie and the week following, I decided to tape Channel 9’s Golden Slipper coverage on VHS (I can’t remember why!). This was the start of a decade-long obsession with taping major meetings. The 100+ tapes are now collecting dust under my old bed in Yeppoon.
My parents strongly encouraged me to forge a career in horse racing journalism/media, despite being (at the time) an unusual path for a girl with no tangible connection to racing and living eight hours drive from the nearest capital city. With their support, off I went to Brisbane to study Journalism at the University of Technology (QUT). Thanks to a chance meeting at age 18, I landed a casual job working every Tuesday at Doomben (Brisbane Turf Club) in finance which progressed to also operating the photo finish camera on racedays – which I continued to do until departing for Sydney in January 2011.
A newspaper clipping of Jemma Cutting in the Courier Mail aged 12
During my time in Brisbane I also juggled my degree with casual stable hand jobs – first at Deagon with Shaun Dwyer then Tony Crane at Eagle Farm – and as a producer and tote announcer on Radio TAB. In my final year of university, I did work experience with Sky Racing (Bernie Cooper, Christian Letford, Alan Thomas and Larry Olsen) on Eagle Farm racedays. There were rare occurrences of trackwork at Eagle Farm, followed by a shift at Doomben races, followed by a night shift on Radio TAB, followed by the 4am alarm for trackwork the next morning. I don’t know how I graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism, however racing is a small world and all the above saw me offered a role as a full-time producer at Sky Racing in mid-2010 – the job was waiting for me when I graduated later that year.
"There were rare occurrences of trackwork at Eagle Farm, followed by a shift at Doomben races, followed by a night shift on Radio TAB, followed by the 4am alarm for trackwork the next morning." - Jemma Cutting
I spent six and a-half years at Sky Racing, starting as a raceday producer and progressing to magazine programmes Bred To Win and Off The Beaten Track. I later began co-hosting Sydney Metropolitan trials and had roving reporter duties at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and Magic Millions. My last 12 months was spent as a newsreader with the Big Sports Breakfast alongside Terry Kennedy and Michael Slater.
I accepted a role with Inglis (Inglis Digital) in August 2017.
Jemma Cutting when working for Sky Racing
TDN AusNZ: What is your role now and what does it involve?
JC: Midway through 2020 I transitioned to the role of Marketing Executive and joined the Inglis Marketing team. My role involves creating some of the content on Inglis’ social media – Inglis Insights and vendor previews in the lead up to our major live sales.
I’ve hosted the Sales content since my first Classic Yearling Sale in 2018 working with Tim Patterson (Digital Media Creations), but this expanded dramatically last year when COVID-19 forced the Easter Sale to a virtual format, and we turned around a live stream broadcast within roughly 48 hours. I was very grateful for the several years in Sky Racing production! Inglis have always been innovative and this experience led to an expansion of our major sales coverage, with a dedicated commentary live stream that includes hosts on set, myself as a roving reporter, several cameramen and a producer.
Even though I have transitioned out of the Inglis Digital department I’m still actively involved in the fortnightly sales by managing Inglis Digital marketing content on social media and through the Inglis website, plus the press releases and conducting a Sale video with a Bloodstock team member.
Jemma, with Steph Carruthers, at her first Classic Sale
TDN AusNZ: What is your favourite thing about the role?
JC: The live sales are the highlight of my job at Inglis, I love seeing everyone (I love a good chat) and having horses here on the complex. With my role specifically, I do enjoy the challenge of live camera/TV work. Getting out to farms to film during inspections or filming Inglis Insights stories give me a chance to flex the creative muscles and while I’m self-taught as an editor, I get so much enjoyment editing a story together. The Inglis Marketing team (Sebastian Hutch, Jessica McKeown, Lily France and Peter Fitzgerald) work exceptionally well together and we complement each other in terms of strengths and weaknesses. I thought a career in straight broadcast was what I wanted but I think now I’ve found my niche.
"The Inglis Marketing team (Sebastian Hutch, Jessica McKeown, Lily France and Peter Fitzgerald) work exceptionally well together and we complement each other in terms of strengths and weaknesses." - Jemma Cutting
TDN AusNZ: And what do you find is the most challenging aspect?
JC: I have watched the editing process for many years at Sky and with Tim at Inglis – so I understand what the end product should look like. I’m just lacking some of the knowledge and skills to turn something around quickly in the edit. Perfectionism manifesting as procrastination, combined with a natural inclination to downplay my own ability and achievements, is probably the biggest challenge in every job I’ve undertaken.
TDN AusNZ: What does a normal day/week look like for you?
JC: It depends on the time of year! Every week there is an Inglis Digital press release, especially as that platform has exploded in the past two years, plus planning future Inglis Insights, vendor videos, live stream broadcast and other projects with the Marketing team. During the sales weeks I’m busy assisting with Sale content, then the interviews with vendors and buyers for the sales day live broadcast and preparing for the Inglis sales day reviews with Mark Webster or Sebastian Hutch.
Jemma with Black Caviar
TDN AusNZ: What is one the biggest highlights of your career?
JC: I don’t really have a singular moment. I did have to pinch myself when my Bred To Win role allowed me to visit major stud’s for the first time and give the likes of So You Think a pat. I think I prefer to reflect on all these moments and remind myself that I’ve come a long way from the days of watching racing on TV in Yeppoon.
Being offered the Big Sports Breakfast newsreader role was a proud moment and running Olympic Games updates during 2016 Rio was a specific highlight in that role.
TDN AusNZ: Have you always wanted to work in the industry?
JC: As I mentioned above, I’ve never considered working in another industry. My sights and goals have changed as the years have progressed, moving into the bloodstock space and out of straight race broadcasting has been one example of this. However, my 'back-up' at university – if I hadn’t qualified for Journalism – was to become a primary school teacher.
TDN AusNZ: Do you have any mentors who have helped you along the way?
JC: There are honestly countless people in television and in the racing/breeding industry who have generously assisted me over the years, particularly Andrew Bensley and Terry Kennedy in broadcast.
To single out one major, career-altering mentor, I quite literally wouldn’t be where I am now without Angus (Gus) Roland, the former Bred To Win producer at Sky Racing. He put me forward to take over producing the show in mid-2012 when he was promoted internally, and it was daunting to follow someone with encyclopaedic recall who was passionate about breeding.
I was self-conscious about being a 24-year-old female and having to conduct interviews and being responsible for a cameraman filming these major stallions, when I didn’t know the language. Although every industry person I met on these shoots, couldn’t have been more friendly and encouraging.
"I was self-conscious about being a 24-year-old female and having to conduct interviews and being responsible for a cameraman filming these major stallions." - Jemma Cutting
Gus taught me as much as he could and even lent me books to encourage my growing interest in the breeding side of the industry and we remain good friends to this day. The natural networking and information I absorbed through Bred To Win, led to my employment at Inglis.
Inglis have a wonderful team and there is a genuine comradery amongst the staff, which makes it a supportive and fun environment to work in; I count many of my colleagues as friends. It would be remiss of me not to mention Mark Webster, Jonathan D’Arcy, Nick Melmeth and Sebastian Hutch who have allowed me to play to my strengths within the company and ensure I continue to evolve and learn.
Jemma interviewing Henry Plumptre at Darley
TDN AusNZ: Do you have any hobbies outside of the thoroughbred industry?
JC: It’s hardly outside the industry but I spend most of my spare time riding my off the track Thoroughbred Sir Gwynn in Terrey Hills. I took up eventing with him and while I’m a complete amateur and he costs me most of my pay cheque, I enjoy the challenge and visiting almost daily feels like an escape from city life.
Aside from Sir Gwynn, I spend my remaining time with my fiancé Dean and friends – I have an active social life!
TDN AusNZ: What words of advice would you give to someone looking to undertake a marketing career in the thoroughbred industry?
JC: I didn’t actively seek a marketing career, it’s probably a combination of luck, persistence and hard work that has seen me get to where I am now. I’ve had to network, work hard, be willing to learn and not be shy to ask questions. Creativity is key and as simple as it sounds, a smile goes a long way! Those key points would apply to many career avenues in and outside our industry.
