It's a work ethic Courtney, an only child,
learned from her parents while growing up
in Hamden, Connecticut. Her parents were
demanding. She started in dance at age 3,
moved on to ballet, got involved in the show
horse world and was sent to a prestigious
The first week I started at Gulfstream,
somebody stopped me and said,
'You're pretty good
for a Miss Connecticut.'
I was kind of taken aback. I know I was supposed to
say thank you, but it was a backhanded compliment.
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