As a child, Diane Fleming wanted to be a jockey and win the Kentucky Derby. Even though the Phoenix resident outgrew her dream to ride racehorses, she eventually found her way to the starting gate, as an owner of True Center Gates, one of the largest racing gate companies in the world.

Fleming and her partners purchased the company in 1998 from Clay Puett, the inventor of electronic starting gates. Fleming worked with Puett for three years learning the ropes, which gave her a way to be around horses and get paid for the experience. Now True Center Gates serves customers worldwide. In 2001, they sold eight gates to Saudi Arabia for the Equestrian Club track in Riyadh, and they have delivered gates to South America and Ireland, as well. While the company sells their gates on the international market, most of their North America customers lease gates.

As an unanticipated outgrowth from the racing business, Fleming has also become a consultant to Hollywood film companies. In addition to leasing an historic racing gate for the film Seabiscuit several years ago, she most recently served as a racing gate consultant on Ruffian, a racehorse film, that will be released next summer.

Although racing was Fleming’s first love, she currently raises American Quarter Horses and recently purchased Hustlers Gun, a cutting horse stallion who will be shown in the AQHA World Show this weekend under trainer Gordon Wilson. The 2006 AQHA World Show opened on November 4 in Oklahoma City and concludes on Saturday, November 18.