Bucknam & Conley was proud to attend the SHERO Fund’s Women’s Equality Day event in Saratoga Springs this week, joining an inspiring community of women leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals focused on growth, leadership, and financial empowerment. The event brought together attendees from a variety of industries for a day of education, networking, and meaningful conversations centered on helping women build successful careers, businesses, and futures.
A highlight of the event was the keynote session,“Saratoga Fireside Chat: The Win Place SHERO: Women, Racing & the Future of Sports Wealth,” featuring Cherie DeVaux of CDR Racing and Michelle Borisenok of Brown Road Racing.
DeVaux has become one of the most influential figures in thoroughbred racing. A Saratoga Springs native, she built her career through years of hard work and dedication before launching her own training operation. In 2026, she made history as the first woman trainer to win the Kentucky Derby, breaking a longstanding barrier in one of horse racing’s most prestigious events. Her accomplishments are a powerful example of perseverance, leadership, and success in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
During the fireside chat, DeVaux shared insights from her journey in horse racing, discussing the challenges she has overcome, the lessons she has learned throughout her career, and the opportunities available within the equine industry. Her story resonated with attendees and reinforced the event’s focus on empowering women to pursue ambitious goals and create their own paths to success.
Joining her on stage was Michelle Borisenok of Brown Road Racing, who offered a unique perspective on horse ownership and investment opportunities within the thoroughbred industry. Borisenok discussed how individuals can become involved in horse racing through ownership partnerships and explained that participation in the sport can be more accessible than many people realize. Depending on the horse and ownership structure, there are opportunities for individuals to experience horse ownership and invest in the sport at a variety of price points. Her insights helped demystify the ownership process and highlighted another avenue through which women can build connections, experiences, and potential wealth within the industry.
The SHERO Fund’s Women’s Equality Day event explored wealth through several lenses, including career advancement, entrepreneurship, financial confidence, wellbeing, and legacy building. Attendees were encouraged to think beyond traditional definitions of wealth and consider how knowledge, relationships, leadership, and community impact contribute to long-term success.
As a firm with experience serving horse racing partnerships, owners, trainers, and related businesses, the discussion was especially meaningful to our team. Bucknam & Conley understands the unique accounting, tax, and operational considerations that come with participating in the thoroughbred industry. From partnership accounting and tax compliance to advisory and business consulting services, we are proud to support clients throughout the horse racing community and help them navigate the financial side of the sport.
Events like this reinforce the value of creating opportunities for women to connect, learn from one another, and gain the resources needed to thrive in their careers and communities. The fireside chat also highlighted the many ways individuals can become involved in horse racing, whether through training, ownership partnerships, investment opportunities, or supporting businesses that contribute to the industry’s continued growth and success.
We extend our thanks to The SHERO Fund for hosting such an impactful event and for its ongoing mission to remove financial barriers for women through grants, scholarships, mentorship, and community support. We were honored to participate and look forward to supporting future initiatives that help women lead, succeed, and create lasting change.