Katherine S. Neilson
Race Chairman W. B. Dixon Stroud, Jr., Race Director Leslie Carpenter and the Board of Directors of the Willowdale Steeplechase welcome award- winning steeplechase trainer Katherine S. Neilson to the board.
“We’re privileged to have Kathy join the Willowdale board”, said Stroud. “Her knowledge, insights and incredible talent will help us continue to bring the best of jump racing to this community and support our beneficiaries, Stroud Water Research Center and Penn Vet New Bolton Center”.
Neilson is a Graded Stakes Winning Trainer who has won 198 steeplechase and flat races and $3.9 million in purses. Her stake wins include Saratoga, Belmont, Maryland Hunt Cup (where she set a record), Pennsylvania Hunt Cup, New Jersey Hunt Cup, Middleburg Hunt Cup and Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase.
She is also an amateur Jockey with 80 starts and 18 wins including the Fegentri World Cup Germany in 1993.
Neilson was elected president of the Steeplechase Owners and Trainers Association in 2010 and again in 2020. She has been co-director of Cheshire Point to Point from 2019 to the present.
Neilson attended Trinity College where she received a BA English in 1989.
She is the mother of Max, Nina and Skylar McKenna.
