Cover image courtesy of Inglis
The Ohio native’s love for horses was sparked as a pre-teen when she began riding quarter horses in western disciplines, and while her passion was always there, she never expected to forge a career in the thoroughbred racing industry.
Packard, a graduate of Ohio State University, started her first job in racing at a family friend’s boutique broodmare farm in Kentucky following the completion of her History and International Studies degree and hasn’t looked back since.
Duncan Grimley and Leanna Packard
“I came out to Australia (in 2012) and did a sales season at Eliza Park Stud and spent a couple of months at Sledmere (Stud) before I got offered a job at WinStar Farm. Then after two years there I was looking to come back to Australia as I really loved the industry out here,” Packard told TDN AusNZ.
“I loved how young and vibrant it was, there’s so much room for fresh ideas and the whole atmosphere of Australia I really enjoyed during my first time out here.”
Packard thoroughly enjoyed her tenure at WinStar Farm, saying the operations President/CEO and Racing Manager Elliott Walden is the reason why she transitioned into marketing roles.
Elliott Walden | Image courtesy of WinStar Farm
“Being at WinStar was such a great opportunity, you’re exposed to the highest levels of American racing, the best breeding and sales,” Packard said.
“I learned a lot from Elliott (Walden) and I don’t believe I would have had as much success at Newgate without working with him and (WinStar’s General Manager) David Hanley, who is the ultimate horseman.
“I learned a lot from Elliot (Walden) and I don’t believe I would have had as much success at Newgate without working with him and (WinStar’s General Manager) David Hanley, who is the ultimate horseman." - Leanna Packard
“Also, Amy Nave (Office Manager and Executive Assistant to President, Elliott Walden), she helped me in terms of ways to cater for clients and ensuring they have the best possible experience.”
Packard said her working relationship with Tom Ryan of SF Bloodstock paved the way for her to secure a position at Newgate in October 2014.
The Newgate experience
She never envisioned the rapid growth that Newgate has achieved in such a short period of time despite describing Field as a forward-thinking visionary.
“It was a matter of right place-right time with Henry (Field), Newgate was rapidly expanding that year I started, it was the first year they stood multiple stallions, in The Factor, Sizzling and Eurozone,” Packard said.
“When I came in Newgate was so small in comparison to where we are now. It has been exponential growth since I started, and I never imagined to be where we are now but that is a credit to Henry, he is a complete visionary.”
Leanna Packard and Henry Field
While a host of industry figures have played a part in Packard’s development, she described Field as the most influential since Walden, saying the astute studmaster has instilled her with a wealth of knowledge while providing the free rein to implement ideas she believes can push Newgate forward.
Packard describes herself as a ‘hyper-organised' person with great attention to detail and says that has held her in good stead.
“We work really well off each other, I’m a very planned, organised person that can put processes in place and see where Henry wants to go and then put the little pieces in place to get there,” Packard said.
“Henry and I are a really great team because he is so involved in the marketing side of things, we bounce ideas off each other constantly and then I work on translating what is in his brain to different mediums, whether that be print advertising or a digital campaign.
“Henry (Field) and I are a really great team because he is so involved in the marketing side of things, we bounce ideas off each other constantly and then I work on translating what is in his brain to different mediums." - Leanna Packard
“He is a complete visionary he never stops thinking and is constantly striving to be better and do better and I help execute that really well.”
While Newgate’s current stallion roster, which is headlined by Capitalist, Deep Field, Extreme Choice and Russian Revolution, speaks for itself, there is still a set plan and strategy that goes into showcasing each of its 11 resident sires in the best possible light.
Gallery: Some of the stallions standing at Newgate Farm
Packard said her and Field place great emphasis on Newgate’s social media presence.
“Our Twitter, it is a product of who we are, we are all involved in it and it enables us to know what is going on all the time and get real-time reactions about things,” Packard said.
“It is such a great medium to congratulate breeders and trainers who have bought progeny of our stallions and horses off the farm and while it’s so simple it’s important that people know that those who breed with us are so special.
“I want people to come in and feel at home, I don’t want anyone to feel like they can’t come into our space and feel like they don’t belong, and our stallion roster reflects that as we’ve got stallions at all different price points.”
Off and racing
Packard enjoys the dual nature of her role at Newgate, saying the chance to interact with clients and stables as a racing coordinator is rewarding.
Russian Revolution’s 2017 G1 The Galaxy H. victory is her favourite racing moment at Newgate thus far, saying that it was a massive result to achieve such an important outcome with a horse from the first crop of purchases in partnership with China Horse Club.
Russian Revolution when racing | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“I really enjoy it (racing coordinator), it is a whole different ball game from the racing to the marketing,” Packard said. “I like doing all of it and having a really varied role, I can come to sales, go around and look at horses with the team and then in the evening work on a video for a marketing campaign.
“I really enjoy working with the members of our colts partnership and other clients of Newgate and I enjoy trying to make everyone experience a really positive one.”
“I really enjoy working with the members of our colts partnership and other clients of Newgate and I enjoy trying to make everyone experience a really positive one.” - Leanna Packard
Packard urges those unsure of how they can carve out a career in the thoroughbred industry to put themselves out there and ask questions.
She believes the industry needs to do more to involve younger people but feels positive inroads have been made in recent years.
“I have found that it can be a very intimidating industry to start out in but if you start asking questions or ask to shadow someone at a sale or pick their brain on some things the industry can be a very welcoming place,” Packard said.
“We’re really happy to help young people or anyone that wants to learn more or get involved as we take such joy from what we’re doing.”
