Melanie Giddings

Ontario native Melanie Giddings began her career in the industry as an assistant to trainers Mark Casse and Steve Asmussen before serving as Jeremiah Englehart’s assistant for almost six years. In 2020, while working with Englehart, Giddings was diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian and endocervical cancer and endured several rounds of chemotherapy before the disease went into remission. Giddings started her own career as lead trainer in January 2023.

A few months later, owner Bill Parcells transferred stakes winner Maple Leaf Mel, who is named after Giddings, from Englehart’s care to her barn. Giddings was the trainer of record when the 3-year-old New York-bred filly won the Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes July 8 at Belmont Park, giving the young trainer her first graded stakes victory.