Scott awarded NZTR McKenzie Future Leaders Scholarship
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has named Maria Scott as the 2026 recipient of the NZTR McKenzie Future Leaders Scholarship.
The $10,000 scholarship supports recent school leavers connected to racing who are beginning Commerce or Law degrees. The scholarship is jointly funded by NZTR and Dean McKenzie.
Scott has begun a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing at the University of Auckland. She is the daughter of Wexford Stables trainer Andrew Scott.
Her industry experience includes roles at New Zealand Bloodstock sales across reception, the auditorium, ringside sign‑up, and scopes and bloods.
She has also worked at Kilmarnock Pretraining Stable during school holidays assisting with horse care and learning trackwork.
Scott has combined this experience with strong academic results and leadership through representative lacrosse.
“Growing up in racing didn’t seem like a typical childhood to me, but it’s something I’m incredibly proud of,” Scott says.
“The scholarship felt like the perfect fit because I’ve always been drawn to the media and marketing side of the sport.”
The scholarship was established to support young people connected to the thoroughbred industry as they begin university study and to strengthen future leadership and administrative capability.
