This year, the Kentucky Racing Health Services Center (KRHSC) is celebrating 20 years of addressing the health care needs of this often-underserved population. A partnership between the UofL School of Nursing and the Kentucky Racing Health and Welfare Fund (KRHWF), the health services center provides care to backside workers and their families for a $10 co-pay. Access to primary health care remains a challenge for backside workers due to financial constraints, language barriers and demanding work schedules.

In May 2018, O, The Oprah Magazine featured the Kentucky Racing Health Services Center in its “Health Heroes” section, highlighting the clinic’s significant impact on the health and well-being of racetrack workers. This impact is the result of the continuity of care supported through careful mentoring and succession planning of center leadership, beginning with founding director and dean of the School of Nursing, Whitney Nash, and continuing to the center’s next director, Sara Robertson and now Dedra Hayden. This has proved to be an exemplar model of the school’s efforts to promote outstanding faculty and foster the professional development of nursing leadership.��

Open three days a week, KRHSC has six APRNs (Advanced Practice Registered Nurses) and certified specialists in adult geriatrics, women’s health and midwifery, family practice, and psychiatric mental health. Throughout the past two decades, the staff has engaged in more than 26,000 patient encounters, making a significant impact on the community.

UofL News spoke with Hayden about this major milestone.

UofL News: What was the vision for creating the KRHSC and how has it evolved?

Hayden: The original vision was to serve as a safety net for uninsured backside workers, primarily addressing minor illnesses and injuries. Over the past 20 years, the center has expanded its scope, integrating preventive care, specialty women’s health providers, mental health support, and chronic disease management into our services. We have expanded our interprofessional collaboration within UofL including Latin American and Latino Studies, the School of Dentistry and the Office of Community Engagement. Several pre-nursing, dental, and medical students have completed language internships with us.

UofL News: What kinds of health concerns can the KRHSC help address for backside workers?

Hayden: A typical patient at KRHSC is Hispanic, non-English speaking, and works in the Kentucky horse racing industry, often without health insurance. They come from countries where health care is not a priority because the priority is to survive. Therefore, we start from the beginning and ensure they are up to date on all preventive care services. Common health concerns include musculoskeletal injuries, respiratory conditions, diabetes, hypertension, and mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression.

UofL News: As director and a nurse practitioner for the center — what is the best part, what is the toughest part?

Hayden: The opportunity to provide accessible health care and advocate for patients who might otherwise struggle to receive care has been incredibly fulfilling. The best part of the job is patient success when you develop trust and goals of care are met. The toughest part is observing patients who experience unfairness outside of our clinic. We are quick to step in as an advocate.

UofL News: What does the clinic mean for the community?

Hayden: It’s an essential resource for the community because we are improving health outcomes and fostering a sense of security for backside workers. It takes a long time to gain trust in our community. Its presence reinforces the importance of equitable health care access for all, regardless of socioeconomic status.

UofL News: Are there particular patients who stay with you – who you remember because of their story?

Hayden: I have so many stories. I was treating a patient who came to the U.S. and was experiencing depression. I learned she had left her children in her home country to come to the U.S. to work and was sending all her earnings back home to them. That was a tough one. Another impactful story was when a cancer patient was refused lifesaving radiation treatments. I brought the patient in and cleared him for therapy and was quick to call the radiation center and advocate that this patient be seen as soon as possible.

UofL News: Any other thoughts you’d like to share?

Hayden: It is an honor to be the director at the center. Without the unwavering support from the School of Nursing administration, the university and the Kentucky Racing Health and Welfare Fund, we could never accomplish our mission. Even more importantly, the entire team of accomplished APRNs that I have the privilege to work with, who provide evidence-based care to every single patient, make our mission possible. Hats off to Krista Roach, Karen Turner, Sarah Carter, Sarah Cohron, and Courtney Albers. Thank you for helping make it all possible!

Among them are: social media coordinator for and , U.S. assistant racing manager at AMO Racing, graduate and all-female camel racing winner.

It’s easy to wonder what led Leslie from the Bluegrass State’s horse tracks to camel racing in Dubai. This week, she’s back in Louisville providing professional social media coverage of the Run for the Roses. ��

UofL News caught up with the accomplished alumna to hear more about her journey and the influence of the university.����

UofL News: What initially sparked your interest in the Equine Industry Business Program at UofL?��

Leslie: I was intrigued by the program because there isn’t anything else like it. Being able to get a business degree while specializing in the equine field was something that really drew me in. I also liked that it was a very close-knit program and the class sizes were small.��

UofL News: Can you share with us the journey that led you from studying equine business at the University of Louisville to becoming involved in camel racing and eventually winning the C1 Championship in Dubai?��

Leslie: I worked in the Thoroughbred industry throughout college and took every opportunity to meet new people. Working for Thoroughbred racehorse trainer Mark Casse, I met a lot of connected people who had an influence on where I am today. In 2022, I went to Dubai for America’s Best Racing and it was then that I was first introduced to camel racing. I went out to film a segment on unique things to do in Dubai at the only camel riding school in the UAE, and that is where I met Linda Krockenberger, who co-founded the school and started the C1 Championships. We joked that it would be cool for me to one day compete in a race, and little did we know it would lead to this. Two years later the dream became a reality, and it turned out better than we both could have imagined.��

UofL News: Do you have any memorable experiences or lessons from your time as a student at the University of Louisville that have stuck with you since graduating?��

Leslie: I enjoyed meeting students with similar passions, even if we weren’t focused on the same discipline – we all shared the love for the horse. I really enjoyed my time on the UofL Saddleseat Team, in which we took home the national title. I have had a passion for horses since I can remember, but being surrounded by like-minded people on a daily basis certainly helped ignite my dream of working in the Thoroughbred industry. Terri Burch welcomed me into the program with open arms and for that, I’m forever grateful.��

UofL News: Have you ever participated in any Kentucky Derby events or festivities? Did the university’s proximity and ties to Churchill Downs help your career?��

Leslie: Yes, I was very lucky to work for Mark Casse when we had several horses competing in the Derby. War of Will in 2019 (who went on to win the Preakness Stakes), Enforceable in 2020 and Soup and Sandwich and Helium in 2021.��

I was at the track every morning before heading to school, so being nearby was ideal, especially when my alarm went off at 4:30 each morning. I had to have a nap every day in between classes, but the hard work definitely paid off.��

UofL News: What advice would you offer to prospective or current students in the Equine Industry Business Program at UofL who may be considering various career paths within the industry?��

Leslie: Take every opportunity. Even if you feel as though the event, person or whatever it may be might not benefit you, you never know who you’ll meet. I exhausted myself, but it was the best thing I could have done for my career. If I hadn’t jumped at every opportunity, I wouldn’t be in the position I am today. I never gave up, and I knew that going to college while working and traveling wouldn’t be easy, but I was lucky to have a support system that helped me follow my dreams.��

, UofL associate professor of nursing, director of the�� and cancer survivor is the��Horses and Hope special ambassador��at the Kentucky Oaks, and will walk in the parade as a volunteer.��Hayden is an advocate for racetrack workers and the lifesaving cancer screenings provided through UofL Health by Horses and Hope.

Horses and Hope is a project of the to increase cancer education, screening and treatment referral among Kentucky’s horse industry population and other groups. Screenings and events are held across the state in collaboration with the Horses and Hope Cancer Screening Van operated by the UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center. For more information, call 1-877-326-1134 or visit .

The Kentucky Oaks Survivors Parade celebrates breast and ovarian cancer survivors and encourages those still fighting cancer as they march on Churchill Downs’ historic racetrack prior to the running of the Longines Kentucky Oaks. The 2023 Survivors Parade will honor 149 survivors and fighters.

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Sheffield, a junior studying equine business administration, is a seasonal event coordinator at Churchill Downs, where she plans and orchestrates corporate and personal events. This is no easy task given all the moving parts and details to manage. She also is a for the Keeneland Association, where she is learning the behind-the-scenes operations of the horse industry. To build on her experience, Sheffield plans to work with the this upcoming summer in Washington, D.C. Her passion for horses and connections in the industry is leading her to follow a career path in the field.

Versocki is from the small town of Saratoga, New York. The UofL sophomore plans to double major in equine business administration and marketing.

“The Equine Industry Program at UofL is the best in the country,” said Versocki, whose love for horses started at a young age.

Fueled by her passion for the horse industry and with the help of the UofL’s equine program, Versocki landed the Churchill Downs internship as a luxury concierge. She assists with numerous social occasions, many of which deal with high profile celebrities including horse owner Tom Pletcher who has three horses racing in this year’s Kentucky Derby.

Both College of Business students credit UofL’s Equine Industry Program for giving them opportunities to succeed in the field they love. In addition to their work at Churchill Downs, they’ve received opportunities to participate in other internships, as well. They also acknowledge the mentorship of K. Amy Lawyer, director of the Equine Industry Program.

“She’s one of my favorite people – I can turn to her for anything,” Sheffield said.

Sheffield says she plans to pick Tapit Trice to win the 2023 Kentucky Derby, and Versocki is betting on Forte. Win or lose, their Churchill Downs experience has proved to be a sure bet.

The offers the only equine industry degree from an accredited college of business in the world, giving students the opportunity to turn their love of horses into a viable career. The program provides a uniquely qualified workforce to Kentucky’s horse racing industry, as well as equine businesses across the globe.

For 37 years, the UofL College of Business has been delivering equine degrees with a rigorous business focus and dedication to the combination of horse commerce, business enterprise and academics. The goal of the Equine Industry Program is to produce graduates with sound business and management skills and equipped with an industry-specific, multidisciplinary education who can innovate and contribute to the industry as employees or business owners in any breed or discipline.

The 362 program alumni include Gary Palmisano, executive director of racing for Churchill Downs Incorporated; K. Amy Lawyer, who now directs the UofL Equine Industry Program; Thoroughbred trainers Lindsay Schultz and Jason Barkley; Corey Barberito, assistant trainer for Dallas Stewart; Hannah Boyle, social media director at Churchill Downs; Sean Collins, assistant tour manager at the Kentucky Derby Museum; Paige Thompson, who recently opened White Tail Eventing in Cincinnati and Ali Sturtevant, who will graduate from veterinary school this spring.

“I am so grateful for all the opportunities that UofL has made possible for me during my academic career,” said Savannah Newton, communication major and director of research for The Bird’s Nest. “The Derby has 149 years of history within the Louisville community and the university is both a blend of innovation and tradition. I am honored to be a part of the legacy.”��

Karen Freberg, professor in strategic communication and director of The Bird’s Nest says she appreciates the partnership with Churchill Downs.

“This will be an incredible real-world experience for our students at the University of Louisville to showcase their creative, strategic and marketable skills in social media, public relations and event planning for their future internships and future jobs,” Freberg said.

The agency offers a variety of services for clients in social media, branding, video production, event planning, public relations, digital content, research, advertising and influencer marketing. The Bird’s Nest charges a modest fee for services negotiated between the agency and the client. All fees are used to support student initiatives such as supplies, professional development, scholarships, conferences and student work. Read more about The Bird’s Nest.

“Louisville Live,” the University of Louisville’s annual preseason basketball event featuring the Cardinals’ men’s and women’s teams, will be staged at legendary Churchill Downs Racetrack on Saturday, Sept. 18 during an evening of thoroughbred horse racing.
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Gates open at 5 p.m. for��Downs After Dark: Horses and Hoops, a partnership between UofL and Churchill Downs presented by Budweiser.�� The first race starts at 6 p.m. with Louisville Live launching at 7:15 p.m.�� A portable court will be placed outdoor on the Plaza inside Gate 1 of Churchill Downs with multiple team activities planned.
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General admission and first floor seating tickets for the evening of racing and Louisville Live start at $12 and may be purchased��.�� The event is free for UofL students, with additional information on claiming those tickets to be provided later.
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UofL’s 1986 NCAA Championship men’s basketball team will participate in Louisville Live, signing autographs at the event before the current Cardinals take the court. ��The 1986 team will also be honored on the previous night at the Cardinals’ Sept. 17 football game against UCF in Cardinal Stadium.
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UofL’s 1985-86 team posted a 32-7 record, winning its last 17 games to earn the NCAA title.�� The ’86 Champs were guided by then future Hall of Fame Coach Denny Crum and featured four starters that currently rank among the top 11 scorers all-time at UofL:�� Pervis Ellison (2,143 career points), Milt Wagner (1,836), Herbert Crook (1,723) and Billy Thompson (1,685); and starting guard Jeff Hall was also a career 1,000-point scorer (1,294).�� Louisville defeated Duke 72-69 in the 1986 title game (3-31-86) in Dallas, Texas, as Ellison became the second freshman in NCAA history to be named the Most Outstanding Player after producing 25 points and 11 rebounds against the Blue Devils.
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The 2020-21 season marked the 35th anniversary of UofL’s 1986 NCAA Championship, the Cardinals’ second NCAA title.�� The pandemic did not allow for gatherings or on-court presentations during the past basketball season, so the team planned to gather for a reunion at a later date.

But our connection runs far deeper than sheer proximity. In fact, UofL’s Board of Trustees nearly purchased Churchill Downs in the 1960s, hoping to generate a steady revenue stream during a period of financial struggles. However, according to “The University of Louisville” by Dwayne D. Cox and William J. Morison, the plan was called “shameful and godless” by a local minister and deemed impractical.

Despite that failed plan, there remains quite a few UofL ties, either directly or peripherally, to the track’s flagship event, the Kentucky Derby – the most famous horse race in the world.

As it turns out, UofL has faculty, staff, alumni and a whole lot of students involved in The Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports. Through Thurby, Oaks and Derby this week, members of Card Nation will sling drinks, clean up trash, evoke emotion by playing “My Old Kentucky Home” and more.

To get a sense of just how unique a perspective we have to this , look no further than Remington Smith, an assistant professor of Communication in the College of Arts & Sciences. Smith recently received the Reel South Short award for his documentary, “The Derby.” The Indie Grits Festival and PBS Reel South give the Short award to the best short documentary filmed in or about the south.

“The Derby” showcases Guatemalan backside workers, bourbon-drinking visitors in Millionaires Row and everything in between; a juxtaposition of “the haves and the have nots,” .��Smith spent about three years on the project.

“I grew up poor and working class, so I’m always interested in the lives of people working, especially at big events like the Kentucky Derby. The main thing was I didn’t want to focus on the usual suspects at the top for Kentucky Derby coverage (horse owners, jockeys, etc.). I wanted to show you the moments only people who live and work here will tell you about,” Smith said.

The 15-minute documentary is .��

Of course, one of the signature features of the Derby is the mint julep, which showcases Kentucky’s rich bourbon tradition. Those mint juleps, as well as the many other cocktails sold at the venue, have to get to fans somehow. That’s where UofL’s ROTC cadets step in.

For the past eight years, our cadets have worked behind the scenes with the venue’s alcohol vendor to make those drinks. According to Captain Steven Richards, assistant professor of Military Science, the work is hard, but the cadets get compensated.

“They’re on their feet all day Thursday through Saturday working alongside each other in a big assembly line. It’s all hands on deck from 6:30 a.m. to about 6 in the evening. They are long days of hard labor, but they’re valuable,” Richards said. “Teamwork is a huge part of what we’re trying to build here and they get a lot of camaraderie from this.”

The money that the cadets earn from this work typically goes toward their Military Ball and other ceremonial occasions such as graduation and commissioning. Derby weekend is the only event in which they work to build up these budgets.

“Obviously the Derby brings a lot of economic stimuli to Louisville and we’re fortunate to be able to tap into that a little bit and to benefit from that,” Richards said. “I’m really happy that this translates to our students and supports them directly.”

Unsurprisingly, UofL’s Equine Program has some involvement in this weekend’s festivities. Madison Jackson is interning in the race office, while Adrianna Lynch is shooting photos for BloodHorse magazine, ��and Tricia Warrens is doing work for Upson Downs Farm, a breeding farm in Goshen, Indiana.

A number of graduates from the Equine Program are also heavily involved in the Derby, either through event marketing (Gary Palmisano), as a blood stock agent (Josh Stevens) or in another capacity.

Speaking of alums, the Hite Art Institute has two from the Graphic Design program who are on the creative team at Churchill Downs. Emily (Schmidt) Shepard, BFA ’10, is the director of Design and Creative at the Downs and the Kentucky Derby, while Zach Downs, BFA ’18, was just hired as a production designer. Also, Colin Dean, a senior Studio Art minor, participated in the Poetry Derby, where he read his poem, “Drive By.”

Communications graduates (and alums of Professor Karen Freberg) Abbie Chambers and Michael Jester have joined the social media team at Churchill Downs for the weekend’s events. They are tasked with creating content for both the Oaks and the Derby.

Throughout Derby weekend, UofL Housing staff will assist with check-in and check-out for groups and individuals coming in for the event. According to Jarayon Jackson, assistant director for Summer Operations, this group will have about 290 people working the check-in process on May 1 and May 2.

Students from the Biomedical Engineering Society will volunteer on both Oaks and Derby day, cleaning up trash and helping to keep the venue clean. According to Maddy Wesley, BMES president, about seven students are participating in this effort.

Also, as has been the case since 1937, the UofL Marching Cards will serve as the official band of the Kentucky Derby this year, opening up the flagship race Saturday with “My Old Kentucky Home” as TV cameras pan to attendees typically in tears.��

And, finally, UofL alumni chapters across the nation will host parties to celebrate the Derby. Check out the schedule here to see if there’s one in your area, and enjoy that mint julep.��