The Jockey Club appoints Charlotte Clement de Bona as Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, signaling bold new era for Thoroughbred racing.
Horse racing has always run on tradition. The silks, the stakes, the storied bloodlines. But the sport’s oldest institutions know that tradition alone won’t carry you into the next decade.
That’s exactly why the appointment of Charlotte Clement de Bona as The Jockey Club’s new Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer feels less like a press release moment and more like a genuine turning point.
It signals intent. And for fans, owners, and insiders who care deeply about the future of Thoroughbred racing, it’s worth paying close attention.
Who Is Charlotte Clement de Bona?
Start with the resume, because it’s genuinely impressive. Charlotte launched her career at McKinsey & Company, one of the most respected strategy consulting firms in the world, advising senior leadership teams on performance and operational excellence.
From there, she moved into the fast-moving world of high-growth startups and private equity-backed companies, leading operational turnarounds and building scalable growth strategies from the ground up.
She’s not just a boardroom strategist either. Charlotte majored in Economics at Vanderbilt, where she competed on the Equestrian team, and she holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. She serves on the board of the Belmont Childcare Association and is a visiting professor at Skidmore College, teaching the Business of Horse Racing. She’s also a co-chair of the Uveal Melanoma Taskforce and an advisor to the Melanoma Research Alliance, making her someone who gives as much as she builds.
And then there’s her lineage. She is the daughter of the late Christophe Clement, one of the most beloved and successful trainers in modern Thoroughbred racing. If anyone understands the soul of this sport alongside the science of strategy, it’s her.
A Sport That Needs This Exact Hire Right Now
Let’s be honest: horse racing, for all its glamour at the Belmont Stakes breakfast or in the Saratoga paddock on a Saturday afternoon, has faced real headwinds.
Attendance challenges, digital disruption, a younger audience that expects seamless online experiences, and a global sports marketplace that competes fiercely for attention. Anyone who has tried to explain a maiden claiming race to a friend over brunch knows the sport has a storytelling problem as much as anything else.
Charlotte’s mandate at The Jockey Club is sweeping. She will oversee enterprise strategy, digital and operational growth, and cross-functional initiatives across one of racing’s most influential organizations. Founded in 1894, The Jockey Club serves as the official breed registry for Thoroughbreds in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, and its reach extends to platforms like America’s Best Racing, OwnerView, and the Thoroughbred Incentive Program.
“The sport is evolving, and so must we,”
Chair Everett Dobson
“Charlotte’s track record of delivering meaningful transformations, particularly in dynamic and complex environments, in addition to her unparalleled knowledge of racing, makes her uniquely suited to help guide The Jockey Club through this next chapter. We are delighted to welcome her to the team.”
That’s not boilerplate. That’s a chairman naming exactly what his organization needs.
What This Means for the Sport’s Future
Charlotte herself didn’t hold back on her vision.
“Horse racing has a rich heritage and tremendous potential for innovation and growth,”
Charlotte Clement de Bona
“I am deeply passionate about its future and look forward to working alongside Jim Gagliano and the team to help shape and execute on a bold, sustainable, and forward-looking strategy. What excites me most about joining The Jockey Club is their commitment to the sport, the wellbeing of those who make up the sport, and ultimately the shared ambition for what it can continue to become.”
That phrase, wellbeing of those who make up the sport, is telling. It nods to the trainers, jockeys, backstretch workers, and horses themselves. The best strategic thinking in racing right now isn’t just about revenue and reach. It’s about building something the next generation of fans actually wants to be part of.
Think of it this way: if horse racing were a wine, it has the terroir, the heritage, the complexity. What it needs is better distribution, a modern label, and someone who knows which rooms to walk into. Charlotte is that person.
FAQ: The Jockey Club’s New Leadership
Q: What is The Jockey Club’s role in Thoroughbred racing? A: Founded in 1894, The Jockey Club is the official breed registry for Thoroughbreds in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It provides leadership, technology, and support across a wide range of industry initiatives.
Q: What will Charlotte Clement de Bona do in her new role? A: As Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, she will lead enterprise strategy, digital and operational growth, and cross-functional programs across The Jockey Club’s organization.
Q: Why does this hire matter for the future of horse racing? A: Charlotte brings rare crossover expertise: deep racing heritage through her father Christophe Clement, elite business training at McKinsey and Harvard, and hands-on experience scaling companies in competitive environments. Her appointment reflects The Jockey Club’s commitment to meaningful modernization.
The Starting Gate Just Moved
The Jockey Club’s announcement is more than a personnel update. It’s a statement about what kind of institution they want to be, and what kind of sport they believe racing can still become. Charlotte Clement de Bona brings the pedigree, the credentials, and the fire.
Follow her work at jockeyclub.com and watch this space closely. The race for racing’s future just got a whole lot more interesting.
