Returning Ambassador Victoria Garofalo

Victoria Garofalo getting Ryan Lewis and Macklemore excited about jockey goggles and horse racing at the 2013 Preakness Infieldfest along with 2013 ambassador John Cox!
I’m back for two more years and couldn’t be more excited to continue on as a Brand Ambassador for America’s Best Racing. I’m extremely happy to relocate to my beloved New York City, especially after living down South for so long!
Last year’s opportunity to be one of the inaugural ABRV Tour Brand Ambassadors was simply a life-altering experience. I could not have imagined a better career opportunity straight out of college or more passionate, wonderful fellow ambassadors to share the experiences of the past year. Getting to visit America’s best racetracks, experience the best racing and see first-hand how enthusiastic new people got when we were only in their particular market for a week leading up to the big races was incredibly gratifying.
 
2013 ABRV Tour ambassadors: Jose Contreras, Chip McGaughey, John Cox, Victoria Garofalo, Hallie Hardy and Mary Frances Dale.
I sincerely have a deep love and passion for the sport and am blessed that I get to continue playing a role in expanding horse racing’s fan base for 2014 and 2015. The idea of helping to make a positive impact promoting a sport that holds so many of my fondest memories doesn’t even feel like a job.
The most rewarding part of last year came from the one-on-one interactions with our VIPs at the tracks. Getting to know a wide spectrum of passionate racing people on a personal level and then seeing how horse racing plays a significant role in each of their lives gives me great hope that we can channel this energy and build momentum in reaching a new fan base. 

Garofalo (in the green) with fellow ambassadors and VIPs turned-new-fans out at Saratoga Race Course.
Last year, we realized how important it was to have continued contact with people in each market. Now, by having ambassadors permanently based in New York, Chicago, L.A. and Miami, we will be able to build, maintain and support a close contact and rapport with fans in each area 365-days a year for the next two years.
Having a “hooves on the turf” approach will really allow us to build rapport and sustain relationships with new fans; whereas last year we just had the week or so leading up to a particular big race to attract and meet potential fans and then tried to keep up with them via email and social media.
 
Garofalo (right) enjoying a day at the track with her mother.
This newest group of ambassadors is already off to a roaring start, and I can’t wait to see how we continue to expose the countless facets of horse racing to the awaiting masses all year round in each of our markets and virally around the US.
Giddy up and get in the game! It’ll be a great time, bet on it.