Winbak News

NEWS AND INSIGHT ON WINBAK FARM

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Elizabeth Lewis-House can't believe just how much her bachelor's degree is helping her in her chosen career. In March the 24-year-old landed what she described as a 'dream harness racing job' spearheading the public relations and marketing department at Winbak Farm in Chesapeake, Maryland.

“I often wondered at whether all that stuff they taught us would actually help me one day. I also wondered if what I was studying would ever be used in a job that I actually got.

“I never thought I’d say this but I have the job that compliments my studies. I love horses and eight months ago I made one of the best decisions of my life shifting from Ohio to Maryland,”Lewis-House told Harnesslink.

Lewis-House majored in equine business management and public relations at the University of Findlay in her native Ohio. She was born in Freemont and moved to Upper Sandusky in the third grade.

Her mother, Barb Lewis, is an Ohio horsewoman who has driven 360 winners and trained 306 more.

“I’ve always loved horses and enjoyed being around them. I grew up around racing. I used to show and ride them as well,” Lewis-House said.

Lewis-House spent almost five years getting her bachelor's degrees and when she graduated the economy was at an all-time low. That’s when she wondered if all her studies were going to be worth it.

“I started working for Mum and then I was at Burger King. I was also doing some work at Jeff Smith’s barn at Lexington.

Jeff Fout, who trains in Chesapeake, gave my resume to Chris Fout (admin manager) at Winbak, who passed it on to Garrett Bell - and then one day I had to decide whether I wanted to move 10 hours from home.

“Like I said before it was the best decision I ever made.”

Lewis-House oversees the company’s websites, advertising, press releases and also attends the Sales.

“There's quite a bit of travel involved with Sales and racing - but the work is exactly what I studied – it wasn’t a waste of time at University. I wonder how many other students can say that.” Lewis-House said.

Lewis-House has been to the Hambletonian Final, the Little Brown Jug, and the Meadowlands Pace in 2011.

“I have been so fortunate. I have a great job and there are a lot of people my own age here at Winbak.”

Meanwhile Winbak Farm (as at November 6) has recorded 1879 wins and won $19,918,157 in earnings in 2011.

It’s the weanlings and yearlings season at Winbak. Founded in 1991 by Joe and JoAnn Thomson, Winbak Farm specializes in standing, breeding, raising and selling some of the best Standardbred horses in the industry.

Winbak’s flagship farm is located on 2,000-plus acres of lush Maryland farmland,with operations extending into Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Canada.

Since 1998, Winbak Farm horses have earned over $184 million in purses and won over 19,500 races.

Winbak Farm is the industry’s largest single family owned and operated breeding farm.

http://www.winbakfarm.com