Jackson named president of Racing Hall of Fame

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Gretchen Jackson, a partner with her husband in Lael Stables, has been named the president of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., by the museum’s executive committee, the museum announced Thursday, one day before its 2014 induction ceremony.

Jackson, who raced 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, will succeed Stella Thayer, who has been president of the museum and hall since 2005. Thayer will continue to serve on the board of trustees, the museum said.

In addition to owning a 190-acre breeding farm in Pennsylvania, Jackson is active in a number of racing organizations, including the Thoroughbred Charities of America and the Belmont Child Care Association. Jackson has also lobbied against horse slaughter and is an outspoken opponent of race-day medication in the United States.

“The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame represents so many positive aspects of Thoroughbred racing,” Jackson said in a statement. “The great horses, jockeys, and trainers in the Hall of Fame are all part of such a rich history, and the museum does a wonderful job of educating fans and promoting the sport. I am honored to be a part of that, and I look forward to helping the museum continue to grow and prosper.”