Britney Eurton is an analyst and paddock host with TVG, primarily covering the West Coast beat. She started with TVG in 2014. A graduate of the University of Southern California, Eurton is the daughter of California-based trainer Peter Eurton, who conditions 2016 14 Hands Winery Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Champagne Room and 2017 stakes winners Ashleyluvsugar and Giant Expectations. Eurton grew up immersed in horse racing and is one of the leading social media ambassadors for the sport.

My introduction to horse racing occurred when...

I was born! My father has been training horses for over 35 years and for as long as I can remember I have been coming to the races. I truly grew up in the sport, and the older I get the more I fall in love with it.

My top three favorite racetracks in order, and what I like about each one:

This is a tough one, but having grown up and lived in Southern California my entire life, my loyalty is to Del Mar. Every summer I would look forward to the move to San Diego. For a young kid, it always felt like a mini-vacation and to be frank, it still does! However, Keeneland has to be a close second. Their hospitality is bar none and the facility encompasses one of the most beautiful paddocks I’ve ever seen. Last, but surely not least, would be a tie between Santa Anita and Saratoga. Santa Anita is home for me, but Saratoga is unlike any other track I’ve been to. It’s the backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains at Santa Anita versus the history and class of Saratoga. I plead the fifth when ranking the two!  

My big break came when:

I’ve been very lucky throughout my career to be given some incredible opportunities. I wouldn’t be where I am today without TVG taking a leap of faith and hiring me four years ago. I’m so grateful for their guidance over the years and the support they’ve shown me. This past year has been a memorable one with the addition of a few NBC shows along with the digital sports show ‘MVP.’ I love what I do, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

What’s it like to work at TVG:

Every day is different and that’s what I love most! I could be hosting the Morning Line one day and traveling to Saratoga to report on the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes the next. I never quite know what the day might hold, which keeps me on my toes and makes each day a new experience. I’ve also made some lifelong friends at the network that I learn from and look up to each day.

Favorite place at the racetrack to watch a race:

When I’m not working, there’s no place I’d rather be than in the grandstand watching the races with my family.

Should the Breeders’ Cup rotate from coast to coast or have a permanent home:

Santa Anita seems like the perfect venue to host the Breeders’ Cup with its size, weather, and proximity to Los Angeles. However, I’m in favor of rotating from coast to coast. This gives horsemen and owners an equal chance at “home court advantage” and allows the fans a new and unique experience each year.

The most influential person in my career is:

My father has always been one of my biggest supporters. He challenges me to ask myself the tough questions while backing any decision I might make. I learn from him constantly, but my biggest takeaway from him is how important it is to love what you do. He has taught me that true success comes from following your dreams and enjoying every minute of the journey.

Best advice to someone considering ownership:

Be realistic, but don’t be afraid to take a risk. You have to absolutely love the sport to be an owner as not every day is full of sunshine and rainbows. Horses get beat, they get hurt, and sometimes they don’t pan out, but the feeling you get while watching your horse race is something that can’t be matched. These animals become your family and there’s nothing like watching them grow, mature, and develop their own personalities. I can ensure any new owner that once the horse racing bug bites them; they’ll have a hard time leaving. ☺

Accomplishment I am most proud of:

I created a charity event at Del Mar four years ago called the Hippity Hop Derby. Each year I choose a different organization as our beneficiary, each in some way supporting the industry (CARMA, PDJF, etc.). I’m very proud of its growth since inception – from $1,200 raised in 2014 to over $50,000 raised this year for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. I’m very thankful for the industry support, as this wouldn’t be possible without the generous donations from our participating owners. It’s so rewarding to see how the racing industry comes together to take care of its horses and riders.  

Three words that define what Thoroughbred racing means to me:

Exhilarating – Exquisite - Powerful

What is your go-to or signature bet to make at the racetrack:

When I was younger I would consistently bet $2 win-place-show on my favorite horse in the race. Now I’ve really grown to the love the Pick 4. The low minimum wager allows you to get greater coverage and it’s a great wager to get friends involved in on, especially on a big day when the sequence is full of stakes races.

My biggest gambling score ever at the racetrack was:

I’ve found for me, it’s just as much about the score as it is the fun in putting the ticket together and watching the races unfold. On Breeders’ Cup Saturday at Santa Anita in 2012 my friend and I played the Pick 4. We each put in $40 and the ticket returned over $500. Safe to say she was hooked from then on!

Favorite all-time racehorse:

From a personal standpoint, Dance With Fate cannot be matched. Not only was he one of the most majestic Thoroughbreds I’ve ever seen, but also he took my family on an unforgettable ride. He made our dreams a reality giving my father his very first starter in the Kentucky Derby. I’ll never forget the call by Kurt Becker the day he won the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes and secured a spot in the run for roses – “The folks from California said he would be for real on this day, and they were right. Dance With Fate wins for Corey Nakatani!” He’s missed every day, but I’ll never forget the journey he took us on and the lasting memories he gave us.

Favorite racehorse currently competing:

Lady Eli, no question. She truly gives me chills each and every time she competes. It’s not often that you find a horse with such talent, guts, determination and heart. She’s one of those few horses that you choose to sit back, relax, and just enjoy. She has already overcome so much in her lifetime, whatever she does from here on out is icing on the cake. Could anyone be more deserving of an Eclipse Award than her? I think not.

Favorite international racing event:

It’s the first and only international racing event I’ve been to, but I have a feeling for years to come Royal Ascot will retain the #1 spot in my mind. There’s something to say about tradition in horse racing and England does it best. Five days of sensational racing combined with royalty, pageantry, punting, and partying. Not much more you could want!

Three ways to attract more fans to the sport:

1. Make it more affordable. It’s tough to get fans, especially younger fans, out to the track when they have to pay $10 for parking, $10 for admission, and $15 for a cocktail.
2. Get more big names involved. It’s no secret that celebrities have a reach that most people don’t.
3. Highlight our stars. Fans love something or someone to follow. There are very few people out there that don’t know of American Pharoah, California Chrome, or even Beholder for that matter. Our sport benefits from the superstars sticking around for the general public to follow and grow attached to.

Other sports/teams I follow:

I had no choice but to become a Los Angeles Dodgers fan. If anyone knows my father, they know he wears a Dodgers cap 90 percent of the time and watches the games live on his iPad while at dinner. So it’s no surprise that I’ve followed in his footsteps and bleed blue. All I can hope is that this year is finally our year!

Favorite non-Thoroughbred racing sports event I have attended:

It’s tough to beat a Dodgers playoff game, but Super Bowl 50 with the Broncos vs. Panthers may rank supreme. Great seats, amazing weather, and the retirement of a true champion in Peyton Manning; an experience I’ll never forget.

My favorite athletes of all-time:

Having grown up watching tennis, I’ve always been a big fan of Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, and the Williams sisters, but after what I witnessed last year in the Super Bowl, Tom Brady may be the greatest athlete of all time and most enjoyable to watch play.

What book(s) I am reading or have recently read:

I’m currently reading “The Handmaid’s Tale”. It doesn’t always happen this way, but I love reading a book before it’s turned into a movie or TV show. In this case, Hulu has been getting rave reviews for “The Handmaid’s Tale” series, which influenced me to read the book.

Favorite magazines:

I’m not a huge magazine reader, but if I pick something up at the airport it’s likely to be People, ET, Shape, or Vanity Fair.

Hobbies away from Thoroughbred racing:

I’m pretty low-key, so when I’m not racing you can find me taking yoga classes, going to the movies, laying on the beach, or reading a book. And there’s nothing I enjoy doing more than grabbing dinner and drinks with friends.

Favorite foods:

I could probably eat sushi for every meal, but when I shake things up I’ll never turn down a hearty penne Bolognese or Brigantine fish taco.

Best racetrack food can be found at:

Perhaps I’m biased, but the Santa Anita Turf Terrace has some delicious food. Turkey sandwich on a pretzel bun anyone?

Favorite fall/holiday cocktail:

Wine, but that’s the choice year round. ☺

Favorite summertime cocktail:

I’ve found a new love for rosé this summer, but a mojito is always a great go-to.

Favorite movies:

I have a wide range of tastes when it comes to movie selections. Anything from “Pretty Woman” and “Titanic” to “Star Wars” and “Harry Potter”. Throw in a suspenseful horror flick or intense drama and I’m set.

Favorite actor:

Tom Hanks

Favorite TV shows:

“Game of Thrones,” “Scandal,” “Westworld,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Seinfeld,” “Friends”

Favorite vacation spot:

London. I’m such a city girl and no matter how many times I visit there’s always a restaurant I haven’t eaten at or a historical monument I haven’t seen. It truly never gets old.

Favorite musician/band:

It changes from day to day depending on my mood, but Maroon 5 and Coldplay have always been constants for me.

If you could pick walk-up music that would play when your horse(s) entered a winner’s circle, what song would you pick:

This is so cliché … but I could listen to “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey on repeat all day long. I may even break out into a guitar solo, who knows! But truly, isn’t that what this industry and life as a whole is all about? I’m a firm believer in dreaming big and shooting for the stars.

Top 10 websites I visit daily/weekly:

Twitter, DRF, BloodHorse, CNN, Facebook, HBOGO (Game of Thrones!), Nordstrom, GILT, Amazon, Variety

Twitter handle:

@BritneyEurton

What apps are on your phone: 

Too many at the moment! Apps used most are probably Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, Uber, Postmates and Amazon.

Favorite animal other than a horse:

Jack Russell Terrier

Favorite top three fashion brands you prefer to wear:

Alice & Olivia, Elizabeth and James, J Brand

Favorite month of the year:

December! There’s something about the holidays that put me in a great mood. Perhaps it’s the music and festivities or the time spent with family, or maybe it’s even opening day at Santa Anita. Whatever it is, I always look forward to December and what holiday time may bring.

I’d like to have dinner with the following three people inside racing:

Penny Chenery, Charlie Whittingham, Jeannine Edwards

I’d like to have dinner with the following three people outside of racing:

J.K. Rowling, Princess Diana, Steven Spielberg

My philosophy on life:

Believe in yourself. Don’t give up. And most importantly, have fun.