Felissa Dunn, a horse trainer who grew up in Levittown, first fell in love with horseback riding when she was 12, writes Sidney Snider for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
It began when she went to a camp, and it quickly turned into a lifelong passion. She attended Temple University, where she majored in education, but it didn’t quite feel like the right fit.
Dunn’s friend, who worked at Parx racetrack, formerly Philadelphia Park, told her about her experience caring for the horses. Dunn was immediately hooked and began working there not long after.
Now, she and her husband John, whom she met at Monmouth Park, own and train horses. One of their horses, Kentucky Outlaw, recently raced at the Haskell Stakes.
The horse has had a few victories, including winning a Maiden Special Weight, the Long Branch Stakes and an Allowance Optional Claiming race.
Racing horses are typically owned by well-known syndicates and stables, and trained by workers. The Dunns, however, do all the work themselves.
Felissa and John’s son, Ben, recently received his training license, following in his parents’ footsteps.
Dunn is currently nursing an ACL injury, but she has no plans to retire anytime soon.
Read more about Felissa Dunn’s remarkable journey from a 12-year-old camper to training winners like Kentucky Outlaw in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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