KENNETT SQUARE, Pa.--Kathy Neilson, who trained eight winners and 24 horses that finished in the top three of this year's steeplechase races to finish fifth Leading Trainer, Races Won, is one of The Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Foundation's new trustees.
Kathy Neilson (Photo by Tod Marks)"The Foundation is working towards furthering the welfare of the sport," said Neilson. "It started the apprentice rider program and fosters new riders for the sport. It's working on updating our national fences. Our fences have to be modified for races that are competed in New York and Virginia."
"The Foundation has an important financial impact on our sport," said Neilson. "It funds a number of different things and works towards the safety of the sport. I'm very flattered to be included as a trustee."
The Foundation announced that it has elected three new trustees and re-elected a fourth, and the new members of the non-profit charitable organization are Ann Jackson, Katherine Neilson and Jacqueline Ohrstrom.
Neilson has trained stakes winners over both hurdles and timber.
Based in Kennett Square, Pa., she was an accomplished jockey before switching roles.
SHE CUT her teeth under Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard from 1991 to 1997 and recorded her first training victory in 1997.
Her top horses include multiple stakes winner Young Dubliner, with whom she won the Maryland Hunt Cup, as well as G1 winner Trebizond, Super Saturday, Mulahen, Raise A Storm, River Bed, Brinton Bridge, and Toughkenamon, winner of the Temple Gwathmey.
Neilson trained her 200th winner in 2021.
Jackson is a steeplechase owner and Thoroughbred breeder based in Monkton, Md.
She campaigned Raven's Choice, who won the Maryland Hunt Cup in 2015 and the Grand National Timber Stakes in 2016.
In the early 2000s she also campaigned Dr. Ramsey, a stakes winner over both hurdles and timber, with her late husband Cary Jackson.
Middleburg, Va.-based owner Ohrstrom campaigned Demonstrative, a career winner of nearly $1 million, to the Eclipse Award in 2014 with trainer Richard Valentine, a former Gwathmey Foundation trustee.
She also teamed up with Valentine to capture the 2013 Maryland Hunt Cup with Professor Maxwell.
Four Schools was another top performer, who took the 2008 G3 David L. “Zeke” Ferguson Stakes.
Ohrstrom is a major supporter of the sport, art, and conservation, and was a Founding Trustee of the National Steeplechase Foundation when it was formed in 1995.
Re-elected to his third term on the board is James Brodie, a steeplechase owner who has also participated in the sport as a steward.
Brodie was introduced to steeplechasing by Hall of Fame trainer Janet Elliott.
Brodie, who lives in Short Hills, N.J., is an is an avid foxhunter and actively involved in the sport of polo.
He currently co-owns J. Wilder Imports, which you may see in the vendor village at steeplechase meets.
The three new Trustees succeed TGSF Vice President Emily Day and Temple Gwathmey Fund Trustees Bill Pape and John von Stade, who recently passed away.
