Networking and making the right contacts gave Ben Gowans, who had no familial ties in the business, a jumpstart and now a firm foothold in the world of Thoroughbred racing and breeding.
Gowans, 28, works for one of the world's most prolific and respected breeding and racing entities, Gainesway, located near Lexington. While he oversees bloodstock and racing at Gainesway, Gowans also has his own outside clients.
His answers have been edited for clarity and space.
BloodHorse: How were you introduced to racing?
Ben Gowans: Didn't come from a horse racing background but came from a horse background. Growing up, my parents trained Morgan show horses. I was born in Seattle and a move brought us to western Massachusetts when I was 4 or 5.
My first experience with horse racing was coming to Saratoga as a fan. I was on the rail, getting autographs from jockeys. From a very young age, I became transfixed by the sport.
I was on the school bus at 7 or 8 years old, reading Keeneland catalogs. I've been a big horse racing nerd for as long as I can remember.
BH: How did that interest morph into something more?
BG: I worked as an intern for The Saratoga Special when I was a (freshman in) college. I then transferred to the University of Kentucky's equine program my sophomore year.
Through (UK) and my Saratoga Special connections, I was set up with the great folks at Mill Ridge Farm and worked there through college. I did a little bit of everything. I mainly worked under (managing partner) Headley Bell. Basically, whatever Headley was doing, I was working on as well. I learned a lot during that process and got a bit of a taste for everything racing and bloodstock related.
After graduating (in 2021), a great opportunity came about to work for Gainesway. I've worked there for a little more than four years now.
I originally started under Alex Solis (II) at the time he was director of racing and bloodstock. He was very kind to bring me on board to be his assistant at Gainesway. When he stepped away in January 2023, I took on more of his role.
BH: What are your duties?
BG: My main focus is looking after our racing interests, and that also comes along with always looking for people who might want to sell with us at the sales.
We're a very small, tight-knit group at Gainesway, especially in the office, and we always help out and pitch in when anything is needed. Gainesway is involved in all aspects of the industry. There is always something to do and help out with, but my main (responsibility) would be our racing interests.
BH: Are Gainesway's racing interests homebreds or sale purchases?
BG: Some horses are bred by Gainesway, and we also make some purchases to race as well. I've been very fortunate in the last few years to work that process with (general manager) Brian Graves. Brian's horsemanship…to be around that every day is very special.
I've always been set up with the right people and have worked for great people along the way, and Brian and (Gainesway chairman) Antony Beck are no exception to that. They are great people. I've learned a lot from them.
BH: How many horses does Gainesway have in training?
BG: There are 40 horses in training (as of mid-July). Lots of partnerships. Lots of different trainers. It's constant communication of keeping up with horses and trainers and just trying to stay on top of things. A lot of our horses are with Hall of Famers and future Hall of Fame trainers, so there isn't actually a ton of management to be done. It's mostly communication and being aware of what is going on.
Working with Gainesway, I'm very fortunate to be able to do my own bloodstock as well. I would say I have a one-of-a-kind job. I'm very aware that in the bloodstock world (not everyone) can do a bit of both. I have a handful of clients.
BH: How did that come about?
BG: When I was still in school, I started working for (trainer) Arnaud Delacour and (owner) Mark Grier. Mr. Grier was the first person I ever started buying horses for, back in 2020. A lovely guy who has been in horse racing for a long time. That association came through working with Arnaud who I did a variety of different things—finding (racing) spots for horses, and over the years, that has included bloodstock as well. He has different clients who shop the sales, and I lead up that charge of trying to find horses.
I've been working with Arnaud for six years. Arnaud trains for Mr. Grier. It was during COVID when Mr. Grier wanted to buy some horses at the Fasig-Tipton (yearling) sale that was in Kentucky that year, rather than Saratoga. That was the first sale that we bought horses for him, and Arnaud was very kind to recommend me to him. I had never bought a horse, but at the time I was working with Headley Bell and learning. I have purchased horses for Mr. Grier ever since.
We bought four yearlings in 2022 and two of them ran in the Breeders' Cup the year after—Air Recruit and Fulmineo (both are stakes winners and the latter is graded stakes-placed). Fulmineo was the most inexpensive horse bought on day 1 of (The Saratoga Sale), for $90,000 with (our partners) Starlight Racing. Air Recruit was bought at the (Fasig-Tipton) July sale.
With (Grier), we buy five to six horses a year. We've gone to Deauville the past (three) years and we bought a filly, Evershed, there in 2023. She made her 3-year-old debut (July 9) at Colonial and won (she subsequently finished second in the Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes (G2T) and is entered in the Sept. 6 Old Dominion Oaks at Colonial Downs). She is a daughter of Churchill, so hopefully on to bigger and better with her.
BH: What have you learned about yourself since entering racing?
BG: I've grown up as a person. When I started at Gainesway, I was only 23. I think my communication skills have improved. When I started, I felt like an outsider. I wouldn't say I feel like an insider now, but I feel like I'm one of us...I'm one of the people in the industry. I'm not scared to walk up to Chad Brown or Bill Mott and say, 'Hello,' and start talking about our horses. Whereas when I started, I would be very (tentative) about starting that conversation.
BH: What are your future goals?
BG: Always trying to build new relationships. You learn this business is so much about relationships. I'm very fortunate that I can honestly say that a lot of people I've met in this business are my closest friends now, and that's professionally and socially. The places this business takes you, whether it's domestically or internationally, you get to meet so many people from all walks of life.
I just have been very fortunate to work for great people. I tell people that I go to work every day and it doesn't feel like a job. I'm happy with the present. I'm doing now what I want to do in 10 years. I've already achieved many of the things that I set out to do; I'm just trying to learn more and more every day. I always have goals, but I'm very content with my life right now.
