Tag: Member Profile

Raised within walking distance of Aqueduct Racetrack, Louis Mazzarelli gained a passion for horse racing from an early age. His grandparents would take him to the races—or the local off-track betting parlor—on weekends “with a budget of $9 and a dream to make a million” from as early as age 7. During the summers, he and his family would travel upstate to Saratoga Race Course when his grandfather worked for the track, and during Lou’s time at the historic racetrack, he witnessed history and was introduced to legends.

“Other kids wanted to go to Disney—I wanted to go to the Spa!” Lou recalled.

Lou went on to attend medical school and now specializes in diagnostic radiology. But his self-described love affair with Saratoga rekindled his passion for racing after he completed his studies. While attending a Thoroughbred Owner Conference, he met Steve Byk, host of racing’s longest-running daily radio news magazine, At the Races. When Steve’s horse of his partnership Dee Tee Stables, My Pal of Pals, won a race at the Spa, Lou was part of the group invited to the winner’s circle.

“The desire to be an owner was ignited,” Lou said. “When I first saw the offer to be a syndicate member at the price point for the depth and diversity of horses, I was hooked.”

A member of the original WinStar Stablemates fan experience, Lou was eager to take the jump into ownership when Stablemates made the transition into a racing partnership. Since then, he has enjoyed the ride—especially the one on which Paris Lights has taken Stablemates. While her win in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) is a standout memory for Lou, he will never forget the day he and his father attended Aqueduct when Paris Lights won her four-year-old debut in the Distaff Handicap (G3).

“The winner’s circle at the Big A with Paris was my homecoming,” Lou said. “Incredibly special to have my dad at my side with our grade one filly. Being trapped in the Big A men’s room only added to the fun. Love reliving the coverage on NYRA Live!”

Lou’s passion for racing is infectious, and he believes introducing others to some of the biggest joys in the game can spark their intrigue—if his passion doesn’t wear off on them first.

“[I’d] spend a day together visiting the fillies on the backstretch with a friend in racing followed by a day at the races and a night at 15 Church,” Lou said. “If this doesn’t convince you this is God’s greatest game, you’ll need a pulse check and I am an MD!”

Though he grew up in Kentucky, it was ultimately Glenn Atkinson’s interest in statistics and numbers that piqued his interest in horse racing. As someone who pursued a career as a CPA, a handicapping book based on numbers got him hooked on the sport. With his wife Courtlann a lifelong horse lover raised around horses, diving into the horse racing industry just made sense.

When Glenn retired in 2016, he purchased two broodmares, beginning his own personal journey into the Thoroughbred industry. He and Courtlann have been breeding their mares ever since, and in doing so have explored both routes with their horses: selling them at auction and keeping them to race.

But joining a racing partnership seemed like the right step to further their involvement in the industry. During a Thoroughbred Owner Conference at the Breeders’ Cup, Glenn and Courtlann had the chance to meet WinStar Farm’s CEO Elliott Walden, who informed them of the opportunity to experience racing at the highest level for a fraction of the cost through Stablemates.

Although this is Glenn’s first year in the syndicate, he has enjoyed the ride, keeping up with the journey the fillies have taken the group on in 2021.

“Stablemates had been on our radar for some time,” Glenn said. “This year we finally got the chance to come aboard.”

 

 

 

For Rebecca Teal, involvement in the Thoroughbred horse racing industry has been a lifelong desire. When the opportunity to be involved with high-class racehorses for a fraction of the cost arose with WinStar Stablemates Racing, Rebecca couldn’t help but pursue it. Ever the avid learner, she saw Stablemates as not only an opportunity to experience ownership of quality Thoroughbreds, but a chance to learn more about the industry she’s loved her entire life.

“Joining Stablemates meant I could be involved with a top class racing organization, have horseflesh I could never afford, race at the highest level of racing (which I could not afford, on my own), and to learn about the costs and procedures of racing so maybe I could try on my own,” Rebecca says. “Even a blind pig can find an acorn—it’s what keeps us dreaming.”

Rebecca has done exactly that, venturing into the breeding side of the industry with the purchase of her own broodmare last year. This spring, she welcomed her first foal into the world and looks to continue this endeavor.

Along with that new undertaking, Rebecca continues to relish her experience with Stablemates. A part of the syndicate since it began, she can’t help but reminisce on the special moments she has enjoyed as a member.

“Being there for our first win, stakes win and new track record all in one, winning at Keeneland, leading Blessings First into the winner’s circle for her maiden win—a bucket list item for me, running first and second in the grade one Coaching Club American Oaks, farm visits and events…” Rebecca reflects, and could keep going.

In fact, Rebecca added to her list of special experiences with Stablemates on the final Saturday of June, when she was in attendance for Crystal Ball’s win in the $250,000 Lady Jacqueline Stakes. Once that race was on the radar, she knew she had to attend, as her late mother’s name was Jacqueline. As if being there was not special enough, Rebecca watched as Crystal Ball dashed to victory. But then, WinStar CEO Elliott Walden and trainer Rodolphe Brisset asked her to lead the filly into the winner’s circle.

“It was just the icing on a cake that I could not have imagined tasting any better,” Rebecca says.

With a strong competitive nature, winning is certainly one of Rebecca’s favorite aspects of being involved in a racing partnership. However, what she didn’t expect was the camaraderie among syndicate members.

“When I joined, these fillies were mine, although there were other people involved,” Rebecca says. “I also did not realize I would learn from them as much as the team. Having someone who gets it and loves it as much as you do, is special indeed. Meeting and becoming friends with fellow Stablemates and Stablemates staff was totally unexpected and a wonderful part of the whole experience.”