Leanne Hester’s Racing Legacy | Virginia Beach News

Leanne Hester, a 62-year-old horse owner and trainer from Gloucester, wakes before dawn to care for her 12 horses at Colonial Downs — the track she’s called home since 1997. Already this season, one of her horses, Turkish Breeze, won big, earning over $43,000. When not at the track, she’s a full-time real estate agent, joking she has to “pay for this habit.” With the summer racing season in full swing, Hester breeds and trains young horses, driven by passion and camaraderie. Since Rosie’s gaming emporium opened in 2019, she’s seen more fans and bigger prize money — a welcome boost as other tracks decline. With hopes to double last year’s wins, she’s part of a thriving industry: nearly 1,000 horses are stabled this summer, fueling jobs and community. Even veteran jockeys like Glenmore Mayhew remain devoted — keeping the spirit of horse racing alive, one race at a time. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/0000852e9bd5352e