Class of 2024 Ed Brown Scholars and NYRA interns (left to right) Walentya Paulzin, Daria Mitchell, and Neriah Henry in the paddock at Aqueduct Racetrack. (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)
By Jim Reisler
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Growing up in New York City, Daria Mitchell and Walentya Paulzin weren’t aware of horse racing beyond a vague understanding that Belmont Park was where the horses ran.
But when they learned about the Ed Brown Society (EBS), became scholars with the organization and were selected for internships at the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), both got an education in the business of thoroughbred racing. And for Mitchell, NYRA is now a possible career landing spot when she graduates next spring from St. Francis College with an accounting degree.
“I really didn’t know what horse racing entailed prior to working at NYRA,” said Mitchell, who balanced academic work with interning from September 2024 to May 2025 in the NYRA Finance Department. “I found I really liked the business, the sport and the people. I can definitely see myself working there after graduation.”
Mitchell’s experience embodies the mission of the Lexington-based EBS. Founded in 2020, EBS celebrates the rich history of African-Americans in the equine industry and creates opportunities for young people to gain exposure, training and experience that will prepare them for successful careers in the equine industry and beyond.
NYRA’s partnership with the EBS dates back nearly two years – and will be highlighted on Saturday, July 26, when an Ed Brown Race is celebrated at Saratoga Race Course. EBS Chairman Greg Harbut and President L. Clark Williams will be on hand along with EBS members. Both will then return on Thursday, July 31 for a day at the track with EBS Scholars Noah Goodson and Aidan Marcano as well as EBS Fellow Laia Barrow. NYRA’s Fall 2025 internship class will consist of Marcano, Barrow and EBS Fellow Zipei “Ellie” Wang.
Edward Dudley Brown, the organization’s namesake, was a Hall of Fame horseman, whose name is iconic in New York as the first black jockey to win the Belmont Stakes – aboard Kingfisher, in 1870. Brown, who trained Baden-Baden to win the 1877 Kentucky Derby and later developed future Derby winners Ben Brush [1896] and Plaudit [1898], was among a pioneering group of 19th-century Black horsemen who achieved extraordinary success before the “Jim Crow” racial separation laws drove them off U.S. tracks around the turn of the new century.
The EBS mission combines an understanding of that history with a firm focus on the future. In 2024, Harbut and Williams accepted the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame award in Saratoga on behalf of another 19th century jockey, Abe Hawkins. EBS Scholars and Fellows learn about the legacy of the great black horsemen and benefit from additional experiences including scholarships and mentoring programs.
NYRA Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Joi Garner was among the speakers during the 2024-2025 academic year.
“My participation was part of NYRA’s wholesale support of the Ed Brown Society and their commitment to horse racing,” said Garner. “Creating opportunities for a more diverse workforce makes our sport better. We salute their mission and look forward to further advancing the partnership.”
EBS enjoys similar partnerships with racing organizations across the country. Paulzin, who graduated in May with a degree in Marketing from St. John’s University, interned in the NYRA Marketing Department, where she quickly learned about the fast-paced world inherent to NYRA’s operations. While focused on content development, Paulzin valued what she described as a friendly and collaborative atmosphere. And she took particular satisfaction in contributing to a special Kentucky Derby Day at Aqueduct.
“That was a highlight of my time at NYRA, where the people and the team-focused atmosphere were great,” said Paulzin. “Overall, it was a really good experience that I will draw upon moving forward.”
Mitchell will soon head back for her senior year at St. Francis, where she serves as a Student Ambassador and as President of the school’s chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants.
As an EBS Scholar who alternated between NYRA’s Purchasing and Auditing groups, Mitchell loved the work and pace and valued the mentoring from colleagues. “A lot was expected of me, and I had to ask a lot of questions in the beginning, especially about the terminology,” she said of her internship. “But I caught on, grew to really like the business and think I gave a lot in return.”
Mitchell’s experience is precisely how NYRA envisions its ongoing partnership with the EBS, said NYRA Manager of Community Relations Robert Hines. “Partnering with the Ed Brown Society has been a really positive experience for NYRA, a real pipeline for talent,” he said. “By working together, we’re making our sport more diverse and benefitting from some talented students with a lot to give. That’s a ‘win-win.’”
