As executive director of The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation, Shannon Kelly, 33, has served in that capacity since 2018. Her present role at The Jockey Club follows five years as development manager for both the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and Safety Net Foundation.

The Safety Net Foundation, a charitable trust and 501(c)(3) organization, serves the needs of members of the Thoroughbred industry and their families at racetracks across the United States. More information can be found on its website.

The racing industry is a world that Kelly knows like the back of her hand. Growing up in a family of renowned horsemen, the native New Yorker is the granddaughter of the late Tommy “T.J.” Kelly, a Hall of Fame trainer. Her father, Tim, a retired trainer, served as the New York Racing Association’s clerk of scales from 2005-20 and is now a safety steward at NYRA. Pat Kelly, Shannon’s uncle, was a longtime fixture at New York tracks until his retirement from training earlier this year at the age of 75.

Kelly was interviewed Sept. 20, and her answers are edited for clarity and space.

BloodHorse: What was your childhood like growing up with a family so involved in racing?

Shannon Kelly: Definitely interesting. I always laugh that we really didn’t do family vacations. Vacations were going to Saratoga in the summer. When you’re in an industry that is 24/7, 365, holidays are always a little different. My dad always worked really long hours, especially when he was training horses.

When my dad was training horses and we got picked up from school, I went for afternoon feed. I spent a lot of time at the racetrack growing up. It’s definitely a good thing because I spent a lot of time with family. I also made many friends whose families were also involved in the racing industry.

It was a good childhood and I don’t regret a single thing about it.

Katie Jones photo

BH: How did you come to work at TJC?

SK: I always had so much exposure to the racetrack that I didn’t think I wanted to (work) in horse racing. I loved being a fan, and I always pictured myself going to the big races, especially the ones in New York, and making trips to Saratoga. But when I pictured my future, I didn’t (see myself) staying in it. I was a history major (at Providence College in Rhode Island) and after graduation, I worked (in public relations) for about a year in New York City.

About a year later (in 2013), I got a call from Nancy Kelly (no relation and the former executive director of the Safety Net Foundation), whom I interned with at The Jockey Club during college as a summer job. She offered me a job. If you think horse racing is a lot of hours, sometimes PR is worse. When Nancy offered the job, I was like, ‘Yes, I will take it.’

BH: Given the considerable amount of time you spent on the backstretch growing up, how did that exposure help and motivate you on the job?

SK: I understand the situation when the grant applications come in for assistance, such as a groom who is sick. I know exactly the environment they are working and living in, and the type of pay they receive. I know what their life is like, how it could be better, and the obstacles they face. I think it makes me better at my job, and it’s personal for me. The people who worked for my family were family. We talk about them like they were cousins. I really think growing up on the racetrack makes a difference (in my job).

BH: Nancy Kelly remains hugely respected for her work with TJC, which spanned 30-plus years until her retirement in 2017. What did you learn from her?

SK: I think the answer is ‘everything.’ I don’t think I could have had a better boss in the entire world, and we still have a very deep friendship. When I got the internship with Nancy, it was a crash course, start to finish. She had a way with people in the industry – owners, breeders, trainers – that is just unmatched. I listened to every phone call she made, would read every email she wrote, and learned so much from her. I’m really grateful for Nancy whose big heart is exactly why the Safety Net is so amazing. It was her passion project and she dedicated her entire career to it.

BH: What is the function of the Safety Net Foundation, and what does your position as its executive director entail?

SK: The Safety Net’s mission is to assist people in need in the horse racing industry nationwide – they can work in all facets of the sport. I think that is what makes the foundation really unique. The industry has a lot of charities, but ours (encompasses) everybody. No matter what your role is, if you work in horse racing or used to work in horse racing, in any capacity, and you need help, you can come to us. Our assistance is confidential. We have a lot of people who are either sick or elderly or something happens in their family and they have nowhere else to go. If you’re not winning or going to work every day, you’re not getting paid. A lot of people don’t have – and this is kind of how we got our name – a ‘safety net’ for times of crisis. Someone can be sick with the flu for three weeks and three weeks of missed pay can mean homelessness, and no food on the table. That’s where we come in, exactly for situations like that.

In my role as executive director, I’m the person to start and finish the cases. Number one, I’m fundraising to raise money to give out these grants, but I’m also issuing these grants. I’m staying in constant contact with the people who apply and I’m reaching out to different charities in the industry. We work a lot with the chaplaincies and horsemen organizations in different states. We work as partners with them because, obviously, I can’t be everywhere. We hope the other industry partners will bring us people that they think need our help. I send them an application, I review the application, and I decide what kind of funds they need and for how long, and then I follow up on them.

From start to finish, my hands are on every case, every fundraiser, every dollar we raise, and every dollar we give, that’s all me. I think it’s different than your standard executive director of a charity because we’re very specific and you need to know what people are going through in order to understand what their need is.

BH: What are some of the challenges backstretch workers face and how are those needs served through the Safety Net Foundation?

SK: It’s a 24/7, 365-day (job), and for most (positions), workers are on their feet. It’s a hands-on physical job for trainers, backstretch workers, jockeys, exercise riders, and track personnel, and they are doing it in all different kinds of weather. Another thing we’re seeing is that racetrack work is so nomadic and uncertain at times, depending upon the successes of the barn that you work for, so that makes you open to a whole slew of other issues: loneliness, substance abuse, and just mental health in general. I think our existence is a comfort to a lot of people who know about us. The fact that our scope is so big we can help with a lot of issues. A lot of organizations have health benefits, but what happens to all your basic living expenses? You might have insurance or workers’ compensation that covers your hospital bills, but if you’ve not worked for two months – what about your rent, electricity, and car insurance? Those are all things we can help with, whereas some other specific charities probably could not (assist). We are so wide-sweeping with the help we can provide. That’s good because problems and crises come in many forms, and we usually can help.

We’re a small charity and we work within the means that we have, but I would say we’ve been able to help a lot of people. We used to be really quiet and behind the scenes and didn’t publicize a lot of what we do. When I took over the foundation, I went in the opposite direction. I would rather over-publicize the foundation, get a ton of requests, and help as many people – even if it’s less money – than help a small number of people.

BH: As you look to the future for the Safety Net Foundation what type of growth would you like to see?

SK: Obviously, I would like us to be raising even more (money) and helping more. But in my experience personally, in this role, my goal is to try to be an advocate and work with racetracks and horsemen groups to tell them what I am seeing and hearing and give them ideas and input on how we can better the lives of the people in our industry – the people who are caring for our horses and make this sport possible. I think if we can elevate the lives of these people so that certain situations are just emergencies and not basic needs, that would be huge for our sport.