Executive Director

KIM SCHIPKE MORRIS
Appointed as Executive Director in 2018, Kim is a lifelong horsewoman and Kentucky advocate.  She has held various positions within the equine industry,  including thoroughbred breeding and racetrack risk management.  She is passionate about preserving the legacy of High Hope and steeplechasing in Kentucky.  When she is not devoting her full attention to High Hope, she is busy fox hunting her retired race horses and raising her two children.  In addition to High Hope, she also sits on the Advisory Board of the Jockey & Equestrian Initiative of the Sports Medicine Research Institute, held within the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences.

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​Board of Directors

HILL PARKER 
Hill Parker grew up in Maryland where he fox hunted, enjoyed eventing and was an "A Level" Pony Club member.  He was an amateur steeplechase jockey for several years before starting his own training barn.  Hill graduated from the University of Kentucky and still lives in Lexington where he sells real estate (mostly horse farms) and continues to train flat and steeplechase horses for fun.  

​RUSS ADAMS 
Mr. Adams is an art conservator and life-long horseman. Being a long-time fan and attendee of the High Hope Steeplechase, Mr. Adams began as a volunteer at the event which eventually led to his place on the Board. "The pageantry, colors and smells bring me back year after year to this springtime event. And the sights and sounds of the horses storming past the winning post is a visceral thrill!"​

ANN BANKS
Long time friend of High Hope Steeplechase and a trainer of a former Midwest Novice Brush Champion, Ann has served on the Board since 2015.  She is a farm owner with emphasis on rehabilitation, is a FEI Steward for Eventing, former KYHBPA Board member racehorse owner/breeder, & an advocate for the OTTBs as performance horses.  Ms. Banks is an “all rounder” in the horse world!

REMI BELLOCQ
Remi has served as the Executive Director of Equine Programming for Bluegrass Community and Technical College since 2011, which remains North America’s most successful accredited vocational racing school and home of the North American Racing Academy (NARA). He spent 18 years working in various management positions at race tracks across the country – most notably Santa Anita Park in southern California. Remi has served on the Board for the High Hope Steeplechase for 12 years.

ZACH DAVIS 
A twelfth-generation Kentuckian, Zach Davis grew up on his family’s working Thoroughbred operation. In 2004, Zach joined Kirkpatrick & Co., a Central Kentucky horse farm brokerage, as an Associate, eventually rising to President & Principal Broker. He was recently appointed by Mayor Jim Gray to the LFUCG Rural Land Management Board (PDR). Zach resides in Fayette County with his wife, Natalie, and their son, Whit. In his spare time, he enjoys reading Kentucky history, spending time with his Jack Russell Terrorist and appreciating local Bourbon.

TAWANA EDWARDS
Tawana, an attorney and chief executive with the wealth management firm, The Glenview Trust Company, joined the Board in 2015 shortly after she began her service on the Board of the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation. Tawana’s father worked and trained thoroughbreds in Florida and California and her lifelong interest continues as an owner, rider, rescuer and past member of the Long Run Hounds. She lives on a “farmette” in Oldham County with her retired thoroughbreds.

JACK GOLDTHORPE
Jack is a lifelong horse enthusiast, owner and breeder and proud supporter of the High Hope Steeplechase.  His family includes his wife, Janet, who is a realtor with Better Homes and Gardens, and his daughter, Megan, who is a sophmore at the University of Tampa.  He is the owner of Lexington Equine Insurance LLC and a Partner in the GCH Insurance Group.

SHELBY HILLIARD - Secretary
The High Hope has been a long standing Hilliard family tradition and Shelby has been attending longer than she can remember. She began volunteering for the event in 2015 and is pleased to be serving her third year on the Board. When Shelby is not busy studying to get her Masters in Architecture, you can find her at Jalepenos, eating queso.

​ROCKY M. MASON, DVM - Vice President of the Board
Rocky has been providing emergency veterinary coverage for High Hope for several years and is excited to serve his third year on the High Hope Steeplechase Board. Dr. Mason is an experienced Hagyard Field Care Veterinarian and Director of its Emergency Response Team. Dr. Mason is kept busy with a large and diverse clientele that involves both Thoroughbreds and Sport Horses and serves as an advisor for several equine groups.

CARL MCENTEE - President of the Board
​A native of Ireland, Carl was born in Dublin 1979 to father Phillip and Mother Belinda. Carl’s father was a champion apprentice and successful national hunt jockey before turning to training until his passing in 1998. Carl’s Grandfather was kennel huntsman for the Meath and Louth Hunt. In all, Carl is a fifth generation horseman who’s early passion saw him ride on both the flat and National Hunt in the UK. A graduate of Cambridge, Carl also graduated form the English National Stud Course. Having held positions as assistant trainer, farm manager, general manager, director and most recently director of Bloodstock and Sales at Darby Dan Farm in KY.  In 2018 Carl, his wife Rachel and three children Amelia (10), Chapel (6) and Finley (5) started Ballysax Bloodstock LLC. A commercial Sales Consignment and complete Bloodstock service. Carl currently is President of the KTFMC and has held positions on both the PHBA and MTHA.

​MARK MCENTEE
Born in Ireland in 1969 into a racing family. Son of former champion jockey Phil McEntee. Educated at Maynooth College and graduated the Farm Management and Equine Biology Diploma Course at the English National Stud in 1989. Worked for trainers Sir Mark Prescott and Luca Cumani, before traveling to the states in 1991 with Christophe Clement as his Assistant Trainer. Mark trained in Florida publicly from 1996 to 1998 before joining the Miacomet Farm team as Farm Manager. Mark also does some bloodstock work for outside clients and successful purchases include 2010 G1 Winners Victor’s Cry and Tax Ruling. Mark has been a board member of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club since 2006 and was President in 2010.

STUART MORRIS
Stuart is honored to be serving his third year on the board.  Currently he is a thoroughbred bloodstock agent and consigner.  Having grown up in a steeplechasing family and spending many a great day at the races, he is committed to contributing to the future success and long standing tradition of High Hope.

NICK NARDIELLO
A native of Lexington, KY and enjoying his second year on the board, Nick was born on a thoroughbred horse farm and has been involved in the industry most of his life. He is a graduate of the Irish National Stud, and has been employed in Ireland, Australia and the US.  Nick is the owner of Worn & Company, a men’s lifestyle store in Lexington.  Having attended racing all around the world he is excited about what he can bring to the board.

RICK NUNNELLEY
Richard A. Nunnelley (“Rick”) is a Member in Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC’s Lexington office.  He serves as Chair of the Real Estate practice group and is also a member of the Equine practice group. Rick is a graduate of Transylvania University and earned his JD degree (cum laude) from the University of Louisville School of Law, where he served on the Journal of Family Law and
was inducted into the Brandeis Honor Society. Rick is a member of the Fayette County, Kentucky and American Bar Associations, the International Council of Shopping Centers, the Keeneland Club, The Thoroughbred Club of America, Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, the KTA/KTOB, the American Horse Counsel and the American College of Equine Attorneys. He also serves on the boards of directors for the High Hope Steeplechase Association and Central Kentucky Riding for Hope and serves on the planning committees for the University of Kentucky Biennial Real Estate Law and Practice Institute and the National Equine Law Conference. He is married with two daughters. Rick has owned Thoroughbred racing and breed interests and enjoys Thoroughbred  horse racing, golf and skeet, trap and sporting clays during his free time.
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​GERRY O'MEARA
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DARA MULLINS ALLEN
A native of Lexington, KY Dara Mullins Allen grew up around the Thoroughbred industry where attending the High Hope Steeplechase was always an annual event. Her father, David Mullins, was a previous High Hope President and she is excited to join the High Hope board this year. A graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, Dara is currently the Marketing Strategy Manager at Keeneland.
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MICHELLE PRIMM - Director of Racing
Michelle has been attending the High Hope Steeplechase for 50 years, she remembers attending the very first running! She has served on the Board for the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation for over 20 years, the High Hope Steeplechase Board for 10 years, & has been a member of the Commission for 13 years. When she is not at the Park, she is an Equine Appraiser & long time member of the Long Run Woodford Hounds.

JOHN. K WHITTY
Enjoying his second year on the board, John is a Louisville native and a lifelong resident of Kentucky.  He is recently retired from the medical device industry, which allows him to pursue his equine passions.  A thoroughbred owner of flat racers and a one time (and one time only) Steeplechase rider, he still rides out to hounds.