Caroline Vazquez found a ‘Diamond’ in the Steel City
by Victoria Howard
“Doing what you love is the key to having abundance in your life.”
If the saying is true, then Caroline Vazquez says that she is one of the richest people in the world.
Vazquez grew up in Fox Chapel — a suburb right outside the city of Pittsburgh — known as “America’s most livable city in the nation.”
There are 446 bridges that connect this historic Steel City into a bustling metropolitan hub with over 303,254 residents.
In fact, there are 10 Fortune 500 companies and 68 colleges who call Pittsburgh home. Dynamic neighborhoods, museums showcasing rich culture (including the Andy Warhol Museum and Carnegie Museum of Art) and for all you sport fans, Pittsburgh also has a rich sports heritage, boasting a passionate fan base and tradition of excellence in various sports: The Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Pittsburgh Pirates).
Vazquez’s father was an attorney, and her mother was an architect, so young “Caro” knew nothing about standardbred horses, or the sport.
But then that thing called fate comes along when you least expect it. Fate is like a strange unpopular restaurant filled with odd little servers who bring you things you never asked for and don’t always like. And that’s what happened to Vazquez in 2011.
“I graduated from Penn State in 2011 and was having trouble finding a job, besides cleaning stalls at a local riding barn and doing some random jobs,” Vazquez said. “My mother started patrolling all the sites and sent me a foaling internship in Kentucky. This was something I was unaccustomed to and unfamiliar with.
“I made the call, had an interview, and was hired! I traveled to Kentucky for a six-month foaling internship, totally unaware what I was up against.
Until then, Vazquez had never worked with racehorses or broodmares.
“In January 2012, I was hired at Diamond Creek Farm and have been there ever since,” she said.
“I think it was meant to be because I still remember coming to the farm the first time for my shift and getting the feeling of peace — no nerves — just calm energy.”
Vazquez began working as a foal intern in Kentucky and then a farm hand.
“Diamond Creek had just purchased the Pennsylvania farm and since I was there, and they needed help, I returned to Pennsylvania where I worked in the barn and breeding shed and served as the foal watch for multiple years.
Next, Vazquez became manager of the PA interns and was second in charge of the farm there.
“I feel fortunate that I started when I did as Diamond Creek grew with me,” she said. “When I first started working there, we had one stallion that we didn’t manage ourselves, and today we have 11 stallions standing in multiple states.
“After we got A Rocknroll Dance, Sweet Lou, and Father Patrick, there was a need for help in the office with breeding calls and contracts, and over time I organically shifted full time into the office from the barn.”
Today Vazquez manages the stallion syndicates and share-holders and is in charge of the more long-term financial planning and dealing with the big picture business aspects.
“I also manage the thoroughbred and the Southern Hemisphere aspects of the business and literally do anything that Adam [Bowden] needs done.
“One of the best things about working at the farm is that every day is different, so I never get bored. We have around 100 mares, 60 weanlings, the stallions, a racehorse string, and have a band of about 25 retired mares, geldings, and a stallion we take care of.
“Depending on the season you might be trying to put together a sale, looking for yearlings, trying to promote a stallion, collecting semen, or the best part, playing with the new foals.”
Vazquez was only too happy to talk about the stallions at Diamond Creek and where they stand.
“Always B Miki who is in Kentucky now is very personable and one of the biggest horses you will meet,” she said. “Cannibal, he stands in New York with Blue Chip [Farm]. He is a Diamond Creek homebred and a super cool horse. Confederate is in PA. He is another Diamond Creek homebred and a Horse of the Year. Confederate is a classy example of a stallion. He is incredible to be around. Downbytheseaside stands in Ohio and continues to dominate by throwing great horses year after year.
“Father Patrick is in Pennsylvania and is one of our first big stallions to come join DCF. He is a very special horse to me as I remember him coming off of the trailer as a young, small, freshly retired colt. Today, he is big, confident and probably one of the smartest horses I’ve ever met. Sweet Lou is a two-time Dan Patch Pacing [Sire] of the Year who is another special horse to me. I remember the day when he came to the farm and was coming off the trailer. We were all so excited to have this superstar with us and to see him grow into such a sire of champions.”
In addition, Diamond Creek has Gimpanzee in Kentucky, Pebble Beach in Ohio, Tactical Approach in Pennsylvania, and new in 2026, Sabonis in Indiana.
With so many great stallions at Diamond Creek it might be hard for Vazquez to pick just one as a super star, but she said it would be Confederate.
“He’s our homebred stallion and was Horse of the Year,” she said. “Watching him race was both thrilling and nail-biting. When he won his 3-year-old Breeders Crown in the rain, I cried like a big baby.”
As for their mares, Vazquez said they have several important ladies.
“Western Montana was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame and is the dam of Pure Country and the dam of Geothermal [Confederate’s dam]. Today, she is retired but so many of our families stem from her, so she is a very important member of our family.”
As for the future, Vazquez has plans.
“Right now, I want to keep going and doing more, both with work and growing as a person,” she said. “I don’t want to become apathetic about things and want to keep chasing the things that excite me and bring me happiness.”
