By California Horse Power Coalition
For as long as Kailey Vasquez can remember, horse racing has been a part of her family’s story. Growing up with her father working at Santa Anita Park, she saw firsthand the dedication, hard work and sense of community that make California’s racing industry special. While her own path is leading her toward a career in healthcare, the lessons and values she learned through racing have remained an important part of her journey. Along the way, support from the Edwin J. Gregson Foundation helped make her college education possible. In this Q&A, she shares how growing up in a racing family shaped her, the people and experiences that inspired her career path, and what the support of the racing community has meant to her and her family.
Tell us a little about yourself. What role has horse racing played in your life and your family’s story?
Horse racing has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My dad works at the Santa Anita Racetrack, so I grew up seeing firsthand how much dedication and hard work goes into this industry. Some of my favorite memories growing up are going down to the Del Mar Racetrack over the summers with my family and spending time together there. For me, horse racing has never just been about the races themselves. It has been a way for my family to make memories and be a part of a community that has always felt like home. Watching my dad work in this industry also gave me an appreciation for all of the work that goes on behind the scenes and for the people who make horse racing possible. Even though I am now pursuing my own career in healthcare and hope to become a nurse, horse racing will always be an important part of who I am. It has not only helped shape my values, but it has connected my family and I to a community that we are incredibly proud to be a part of.
Growing up around racing, what values or lessons did you learn?
Growing up around racing taught me the importance of hard work and dedication. Behind every race there are so many people who work long hours in order to ensure everything runs smoothly. Not only do they work hard, but they take great pride in what they do. I’ve seen it firsthand through my dad. Being able to see what he does on a day to day basis, along with his coworkers, taught me the importance of every role and that success comes from everyone working together. Seeing my dad go to work every day with so much dedication has always made me proud and has inspired me to bring that same work ethic into my own education and career.
You recently graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in Public Health. What inspired you to pursue that field?
I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in medicine because of my experiences growing up. My parents are older than the average parent and primarily speak Spanish, so from a young age I often found myself helping them navigate situations where there was a language barrier, especially when it came to healthcare. I became their advocate and learned how important it is to have someone who can help you understand your health and feel comfortable in a healthcare setting. Those experiences allowed me to see how much of an impact compassionate and accessible healthcare can have on one’s family.
As I got older, I became interested in not only helping individuals, but also understanding the larger factors that affect people’s health and access to care. That led me to pursue Public Health at CSUF. My degree has given me a broader understanding of health and the barriers that can prevent people from receiving quality care. Ultimately, my experiences with my family are what first inspired me to want a career where I can advocate for others, and they continue to motivate me as I work toward my goal of becoming a Registered Nurse.
What accomplishment during your college experience are you most proud of?
Receiving my Bachelor’s in Public Health is definitely what I am most proud of in terms of my college experience. Earning this degree represents the years of hard work from not only myself, but my parents as well. My graduation ceremony was especially special to my parents and I because they supported me every step of the way, and I know how much it meant to them to see me accomplish something I had worked so hard for.
What did receiving support from the Edwin J. Gregson Foundation mean to you and your family?
Receiving support from the Edwin J. Gregson Foundation means more to my family and I than words could ever explain. This scholarship helped make it possible for me to continue my college education and pursue my goals, but its meaning went beyond the financial support. Knowing that an organization connected to the racing community was willing to invest in my future is something so incredibly meaningful to us because horse racing has always been such a big part of our lives. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity the Gregson Foundation gave me, and it has inspired me to want to give back in the future. As I continue my career, I hope that one day I can invest in and support other aspiring students the way the Foundation invested in me.
Now that you’ve completed your degree, how do you hope to make an impact through your work in public health?
Now that I have completed my degree in Public Health, I plan to continue my education and pursue a career as a Registered Nurse. I hope to use my career to advocate for patients and families who may face barriers when accessing healthcare. I want to provide compassionate, accessible care while also educating my patients and advocating for their needs. I hope to make a difference not only through the care I provide to individual patients, but also by helping address the larger barriers that can affect people’s health and access to care.
What advice would you give to other young people from racing families who are considering college or career training programs?
My biggest advice would be to believe in yourself and not be afraid to pursue the career that feels right for you. I originally had a different career path in mind, but throughout college and my healthcare experiences, I discovered that I wanted to become a nurse. It is more than okay for your goals to change as you learn more about yourself. I would also encourage students to take advantage of scholarships and opportunities offered through the racing community. The support of organizations like the Gregson Foundation can make such a meaningful difference, and you should never be afraid to pursue opportunities that can help you reach your goals.
How has the racing community supported you throughout your journey?
The racing community has supported me in ways that I will always be grateful for. Through my dad’s work at Santa Anita, I have always felt connected to a community of hardworking and supportive people. The support I received from the Edwin J. Gregson Foundation was especially meaningful because it helped make my college education possible and allowed me to continue working toward my goal of building a career in healthcare. Knowing that people within an industry that has been such an important part of my family’s life were willing to invest in my future meant so much to my family and me. That support motivated me to finish my degree and continue pursuing my goal of becoming a nurse.
What does being part of a racing family mean to you today?
Being part of a racing family means being part of a community that has shaped so much of who I am. When I think about horse racing, I think about my dad. He has worked at the racetrack since he was a teenager, so it has been a part of his life for decades and a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up watching him dedicate himself to his work and seeing the pride he takes in being part of the racing industry. Because of him, racing has never just been about the horses or the races to me. It represents my family and the values I learned from watching my dad work so hard. I am incredibly proud of the life he has built through this industry, and even as I pursue my own career in nursing, I know that the work ethic and dedication he has modeled for me will always be a part of who I am.
How can programs like the Gregson Foundation strengthen the industry for future generations?
Programs like the Gregson Foundation can strengthen the racing industry by investing in the next generation of young people and families connected to horse racing. Education can be a major financial investment, and scholarships can give students opportunities they may not otherwise have while showing them that the racing community believes in their future.
For me, the support I received from the Gregson Foundation helped me earn my degree in Public Health and continue working toward my goal of becoming a Registered Nurse. That support means even more because horse racing has been such an important part of my family’s life because of my dad. The Foundation showed me that the racing community isn’t just invested in the horse racing itself, but also in the people and families who make up that community.
I believe continuing to invest in education and career opportunities will help ensure that future generations remain connected to the industry. I hope that one day, after establishing my own career, I can give back in a similar way and support other students the way the Gregson Foundation supported me.
