Abigail Adsit '09 with one of the race horses she trains (Photo by Jay Moran)
Abigail Adsit '09 has been working with horses her entire life. Literally.
Growing up on her parents’ horse farm near Saratoga Springs, N.Y., her first equestrian job was caring for her own pony when she was three. At eight, she became the youngest licensed groom in New York State, looking after polo ponies for the Saratoga matches. And during her summers as a Union student, she was an exercise rider seven days a week, regularly starting work at 4:30 a.m.
After graduation, she spent four years as assistant trainer to the well-respected Linda Rice, learning, growing and forging relationships in the thoroughbred racing world.
Today, the 27-year-old operates her own stable, Abigail Adsit Racing Inc., at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. – home of the world-famous Belmont Stakes. Here, and at Aqueduct and Saratoga race tracks, Adsit trains thoroughbreds.
“Born and brought up around race horses, I have always loved them,” said Adsit, who studied English at Union. “A horse trainer is what I always wanted to be.”
A solo trainer since January 2013, she already has a few victories to her name. Her first win came on April 5, 2013 at Aqueduct with “Giant Indian.” Her second followed the next day, with “Miss Mexique” at Parx-Philadelphia.
“I am fortunate to have fabulous owners who realize more horses and owners will increase my odds of success,” Adsit said. “Since going out on my own, my owner base has grown from two to about a dozen.”