by Chris Lomon

That her horse racing life has come full circle isn’t lost on Dawn Gray.

It was less than a month ago when she walked into the barn of Jimmy Nickerson on what was her first official day of working for the long-time trainer.

“I remember that Jimmy said to me, ‘How happy would your father be to see this?’ It really meant a lot hearing that,” Gray said.

Gray, who lost her father, respected horseman Robert Gray, in 2018, found herself back in familiar surroundings when she took on a groom role at the Nickerson standardbred operation.

It was Jimmy and Heidi Nickerson who helped bring out her passion for racing and its equine stars.

“I’m a fourth-generation horse person,” Dawn said. “It goes back to my great-grandfather, my grandparents, my parents… my entire family has been involved in some way, shape or form. So, I guess I was born into it, something that I would fall in love with. And I did. You could always find me at the barn when I was a kid. When I started cleaning stalls for my dad, who always had a few horses, I think working alongside him was when racing and the horses really clicked for me.”

The Nickersons helped keep that connection rolling along.

“What really elevated everything for me was when my dad was working for Jimmy and Heidi at Scarborough Downs,” Dawn said. “I was around 15 and I would go there and clean stalls for them. They took me under their wing and started to teach me more and more about the horses. It was just so much fun and my connection to the horses really took off from that point.”

There have been several highlights for Dawn throughout her 15-plus years in the sport.

The native of Maine has had the good fortune to cross paths with some of the most talented pacers and trotters in recent times, including one of the most decorated harness horses of all times.

“I’ve been given a lot of amazing opportunities to work with incredible horses,” she said. “A few years ago, I worked with Evenin Of Pleasure when he won the [2018] Gerrity at Saratoga. I paddocked him that night. When [leading standardbred money-winner of all time] Foiled Again was on his farewell tour, when he came to my home state of Maine, I got the call to take care of him that day of his tour.”

But for Dawn, the moments spent with her father on the smaller circuits in her home state is what she most treasures.

Those times are never far from her thoughts.

“About 10 years ago, my dad had a stable of 20 horses, and it was just me and him,” Dawn said. “Those moments for me are the most heartfelt ones. Even though I’ve been around highly decorated, fast, well-bred horses, it was the smaller moments with my dad that stand out for me. It was those times at small tracks in Maine that have stuck with me. I’m thankful for those days, to be together and have success.”

Dawn is also thankful for the chance to continue her affinity for racing with a couple who continue to foster her unabashed love of all things standardbred.

“My dad worked for the Nickerson family for years and in his final weeks, he was working for them,” Dawn said. “It’s this bittersweet, full circle thing. I’m working where my dad worked with the people who taught me a lot about the sport and the horses, and really cemented my love of the industry. Working for Jimmy and Heidi, it’s kind of a full-circle moment. These were the people who helped me learn more — wrapping legs, putting equipment on — and now, 16 years later, it’s come back around. I guess they’re getting their investment back.”

They are also getting a quality person, someone who remains a popular figure within the horse racing community.

On a night where Dawn doesn’t have any horses on the card, she will often still be found rail side, cheering on her friends’ horses.

Even when she’s not seen, she is certainly heard in the grandstand and beyond.

“I’m everybody’s cheerleader,” she said. “Even if we don’t have a horse in a race, I’m cheering for my friends. A little while ago, one of my friend’s horses was racing and I’m cheering and being very loud. After the race was over, a few people came up to me, who had been standing at the other side of the racetrack and said they could hear me cheering for the horse.”

These days, Dawn is taking time to be her own biggest cheerleader.

Her pursuit of a contented life inside and outside of the racetrack is still a work in progress, but she’s happy where she finds herself, buoyed by the belief she is on a good path.

“I’ve dedicated a huge part of my life to the horses and contributing to the success of people and the owners I work for,” Dawn said. “I would say I don’t have a lot that I do outside of horse racing, but I’m really trying to prioritize having a happy work life, but also flourishing a lot more in my personal life.

“I’ve always been the friend who if you are up for a road trip, I’m there. If you want to go out and dancing and have a drink, I’m the friend you call. So, I don’t have hobbies, so to speak, but I’m always down for an adventure, whatever that might be. You never know where I might wind up. I’m just trying to find that work/life balance. That’s where I am in my life.”

All of it music to her ears, quite literally, on most days.

“A good day at the barn for me is when the horses are happy and healthy, that everyone got out and got everything they needed,” Dawn said. “Good vibes all around. When I’m in the barn, I like to have my music going and get all that I can with my one-on-one time with the horses. For me, a good day would be running my hands over every horse, looking every horse over, and making sure they are in a good place. I’ve either get my Air Pods in or the music blasting, and I’m in my happy place with the horses.”

It’s something her father would no doubt be proud of.

“My dad got me started in this and the Nickerson family steamrolled everything forward for me,” she said. “I’ve had great opportunities, but it’s going back to those moments in Maine, when he would drive in the amateur races, to see his happiness, driving and training… to be along for that ride was amazing. It’s those moments that keep you coming back every day.”