Exciting Speakers Enriching Futures

March 10, 2026

“A Conversation with Claremont Mayor Jennifer Stark"

Speaker: Mayor Jennifer Stark

Jennifer Stark is serving her second term on the Claremont City Council (November 2022 - November 2026) following the 2018 mid-term elections in which she was the top vote-getter among three new councilmembers. She served as Mayor in 2020-21.

Jennifer's commitment to serving the community of Claremont is rooted in her appreciation for those who have served before her. Jennifer was born and raised in Claremont, and she and her husband David Berke have raised their three children here. A product of Claremont's public schools herself, Jennifer spent countless hours over several decades volunteering in them as a parent. In addition to her community service work, Jennifer teaches yoga at Pomona College. She is an alumna of Pitzer College.

Mayor Stark has served as a Traffic and Transportation commissioner and as a member of the boards of Claremont Heritage and Friends of the Claremont Library. She volunteers for Sustainable Claremont as a Certified Tree Steward and is a proud member of the League of Women Voters, the Democratic Club of Claremont, Kiwanis Club, and the University Club. She is exceptionally honored to be a founder of Claremont Canopy, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help refugees thrive in their new communities.

Sycamore Room, Doubletree Inn, 555 W Foothill Blvd, Claremont
11:30 am: social • 12:00 pm: lunch • 1:00 pm: speaker
Lunch $25 (subsidized by the Club)

March 24, 2026

"Ada Gates, The First Female Thoroughbred Farrier"

Speaker: Ada Gates

Ada Gates was born into NY high society with a family tree dating back to 1700’s America. An unexpected trip West led to an unexpected career as the only woman farrier for Thoroughbred racehorses. Ada’s talk and PowerPoint highlights the adventures and fame of a career beyond her wildest dreams.

Experience:

• Journeyman farrier at Santa Anita, Hollywood Park and Del Mar
• First woman to pass the International Union Journeyman Horseshoer’s Exam, February 1978
• Licensed by the State of California 1978 – current
• Shod world champion Miesque for the 1987 Breeders' Cup Mile, setting a Hollywood Park track record which earned her the 1987 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Female Turf Horse
• Shod Wild Again during his career in California and for the first Breeder’s Cup Classic which he won at Hollywood Park in 1984.
• Farrier for Chinook Pass, Eclipse Award Champion Sprinter at Santa Anita in 1983
• Official Stand By Blacksmith for the 1987 Breeder’s Cup at Hollywood Park
• Farrier for Monty Roberts, horse trainer, 1978 - 1990 Two-Year-Old in Training Sales, Hollywood Park
• Official farrier to the Monty Roberts Online University and Farrier Director of the Monty Roberts International Learning Center, Solvang, CA.
• Featured Writer for The Blood Horse: Patching Quarter Cracks and The Thoroughbred Times: Solutions for Hitting Horses.
• Farrier Liaison for the 1984 Olympic Games, Los Angeles, in charge of all shoers for 300 horses from 33 countries.
• Horseshoe Inspector Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena CA, 1998 - current
• Recipient of the Edward Martin Humanitarian Award 2008, American Farrier’s Association
• Inducted into the American Farrier’s Hall of Fame, 2011
• President of the California Thoroughbred Foundation, a charitable association for racing and manager of the Carleton F Burke Library’s history of racing in California
• Owns and operates Harry Patton Horseshoeing Supplies, Monrovia, CA. Widow of Harry Patton, her mentor.

Sycamore Room, Doubletree Inn, 555 W Foothill Blvd, Claremont
11:30 am: social • 12:00 pm: lunch • 1:00 pm: speaker
Lunch $25 (subsidized by the Club)