As a new year approaches, it is natural to look back and remember the past 365 days. We reflect and think of how much we have grown and learned. We remember the good times (and the bad) and make our resolutions for the next year.
I, for one, cannot believe how quickly this year has flown by. It feels like just yesterday that I was living on the Côté d’Azur, soaking up the sunshine while preparing to move to the French capital of horses.
A quick personal timeline:
January: New Year’s in Monaco, Italian road trip with Mom and Dad, visited country #33 (San Marino)
February: My best friend visited from the States
March: London study trip with my Master’s program
April: Saint Tropez, Milano with my cousin, Rolex Monte-Carlo Tennis Masters
May: Visited Chantilly for the first time, went to Spain, Monaco E-Prix and Grand Prix, birthday in London
June: Jockey Club, Prix de Diane
July: Back to the States for 2 weeks, preparing for the next adventure…
August: Moved to Chantilly, traveled to Goodwood and Deauville auction
September: More races, first French picnic, trips to Disneyland Paris
October: Prix de l’Opera and Ascot winners, got my best friend married in Spain
November: Trips to the Netherlands and Paris
December: More Disney, surviving winter in Chantilly
When I look back at how I’ve grown, I not only completed my classroom learning for my Master’s degree, but I also embarked on this new adventure in horse racing. A couple of weeks ago, I was asked what my proudest achievement was this past year, personally and professionally; this could be a time when I stepped out of my comfort zone and was proud of how much I achieved.
My answer? What I’m doing right now. I’m not going to sugarcoat it - this was the hardest move of my life.
Taking the leap and moving to Monaco for my Master’s degree was different. I was going back to my country of birth, full of excitement and looking forward to the unknown. Maybe there was a bit of anxious excitement there, but I knew I was not alone. I had family friends still living there and I was in an educational program that easily provided both intellectual and social stimulation. Best of all, almost everyone in the country spoke English; however, this did not help with my goal of learning French.
I always love to tell my anecdote of when I would go to Starbucks to order a drink. I would walk up to the counter and say, « Bonjour, je voudrais un petit café ».
The barista would answer - in English - with, “Alright, is that for here or to go?”
I would reply, « à emporter ».
The barista would ask in English, “Okay, what is your name?”
And thus was my saga of trying to learn and practice French in Monaco.
Then it was August 1st, and I packed up all my belongings to move from the sunshine of the south to Chantilly, France, known for horses, whipped cream, and rain. You can read all about My First Week at the Stables, but let’s just say it was a bit of a wake-up call. I was in a new city, learning a new industry in a new language while experiencing a new culture and people. Other than my cousin in Paris (a 24-minute train ride to the main station or a 1.5-hour drive on a good day) and our trainer, I knew no one. I’ve always been thankful to have a great support system, but during my first few weeks in Chantilly, I felt very alone.
Fast forward to now: I am taking French lessons three times a week and am so proud of my progress with the language. I have been fortunate to make some valuable, lifelong friends, including a half-American family that has taken me in as their own and one of the vet assistants who has become my French sister. With the latter, I go on daily walks with her and her dog, where we now speak only in French.
Professionally, I have traveled to races across France and the UK, serving as our owner’s representative and creating meaningful industry connections while developing a new communications strategy. I have learned about an entirely new business, falling in love with horses and the industry.
For Yeguada Centurion, the success has been incredible. We were named “Breeder of the Year” by the Racing Post, thanks in part to Blue Rose Cen’s three Group 1 victories and Big Rock’s win at Ascot. Yeguada Centurion also bred Hard to Justify, winner of the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf; Ramatuelle, second in the Sumbe Prix Morny; and Jigme, one of the best jump horses in France. Thoroughbred Daily News named Big Rock one of the Horses of the Year, with his incredible 6-length victory at Ascot.
I have been honored to witness and be part of the recipe of success: a little bit of luck, but a whole lot of hard work from both the Yeguada Centurion team under Leopoldo’s leadership and Christopher Head in training.
So when I look back on 2023, I am thankful for the growing pains, the success, and the support along the way.
Here’s to 2024: a new year, new horizons, and continued adventures.
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