Female Jockey News
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03/18/08
A huge congratulations goes out to Maria Charles for winning
the $ 75,000 Docent Handicap @ Philadelphia Park aboard "Chase the Line"
who was coming a 4 month layoff for Trainer Robert Seeger on 02/22/08. Maria
took the lead at the start of the race and never looked back winning by 6 and
a quarter lengths. I spoke to Maria after the race and I asked her if her strategy
was to go to the front and take the lead and she told me "no the plan was
to sit right off of it on the outside and then make a move. I then asked her
when she looked back in the stretch and saw how far she was ahead, what was
going through her mind? "My gosh, I am going to win this one so easy. I
can't believe no one is coming!" I asked her what was it like jogging the
horse back to the winner's circle? "I was so happy, I was proud of the
horse, the ex-rider Filemon, the groom Luis, the Trainer Bob, and his assistant
Cory, and everyone else in the barn. I was just so happy!" I asked her
what Cory or Trainer Bob Seeger said to her after the race? "They said
I did an awesome job, and that the horse really responded to me! They were very
happy. Finally I asked her the double thumbs up was for? "For you of course
Chris, and my mom." "Chase the Line was sent off as the 2nd choice
and paid $9.40 to win, 6.00 to place and $3.20 to show.
A female jockey movie will be begin to be filmed this summer and you can all
the info, the press release, etc on their website at:
www.jockthemovie.com
Jennifer Schmidt is recovering from a recent injury and from her father says
she is doing better.
Congrads to jockey Tara Hemmings who recently booted home a $ 81.20 winner (Mary's
Saint) for her husband Steve Krebs in the 5th race at Phila Park and for giving
me a thumbs up in the winner's circle. Tara also won the $ 75,000 Le Grande
Pos Handicap aboard her favorite horse, "Banjo Picker". I talked to
Tara after the race later on and she said it was an awesome feeling winning
again on this horse. You can read her new interview in the interview section.
I also wish a speedy recovery to Jane Magrell who recently got hurt, but seems
to be doing better.
Congrads to Carol Cedeno hit booted home 3 winners at Phila Park on 01/29/08.
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02/06/08
Katie Lee, who had the most wins for a female rider in 2007 told me "it feels wonderful" being the female jockey with the most wins in the US for the year 2007 at 155. She also told me she wanted to thank all the owners and trainers for putting her on their horses and look for her to start riding at Penn National again when they open, which they should be by the time you read this.
Congrads to Maria Charles on 12/30/07 for winning aboard her favorite horse,
"Emperor Fusaichi" at Phila Park in a $50,000 allowance Optional Claiming
Race. This is at least her 5th win on the horse and the 4th in a row for her
and she finishedas the 5th leading jockey in the year end standings at Phila
as well.
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11/26/07
Congratulations to Carol Cedeno for booting home 4 winners at
Phila Park on 11/17/07.
Congratulations to jockey Tammi Piermarini won the first riding title of her
career and became just the third female jockey to win a meet title in the 73-year
history of Suffolk Downs.
She amassed 100 wins from 584 mounts (17.1%) to finish 25 wins ahead of her nearest competitor, David Amiss. She joins Suzanne Kelly (1980) and Denise Boudrot (1974) as the only women ever to win riding titles at the East Boston oval.
ÒIt really hasnÕt hit me yet,Ó said Piermarini. ÒItÕs been a long time since a woman won a title here. ItÕs an honor. If it werenÕt for women like Suzie and Denise, paving the road for people like me, I probably wouldnÕt be here. And this is home, which makes it even greater for me.Ó
Piermarini, a Massachusetts native, missed most of the 2006 Suffolk Downs season while pregnant with her second child. After she and her husband John, who also serves as her agent, welcomed their son Johnny on September 15 of last year, she returned to riding just 45 days later and recorded 10 wins in seven racing days to close the meet.
Great Lakes Downs has closed for good after being in business
since 1999. I know Mary Doser went in and won a stakes race on Michigan Sire
Stakes Night. Great Lakes was one of my favorite tracks to bet while working
over at Garden State Park and the track will be sadly missed.
Congratulations to jockey Jennifer Schmidt who recently won a $ 95,000 stakes
race. Look for my new interview with her in the interview section.
Apprentice rider Jenna Joubert will miss the remainder of the 2007 season at
Hoosier Park, which concludes Saturday, Nov. 24. Joubert will stop her ÒbugÓ
to have surgery on her ankle. Her recovery time will get her back in the saddle
for the Oaklawn meet in Arkansas in January 2008.
Tara Hemmings won two of the five legs of the Female Jockey Challenge to earn
13 points and the title in this yearÕs event. The native of England edged
fellow Philadelphia Park rider Maria Charles by five points to win the seventh
annual contest.
Hemmings took the lead from the start with a win in the first leg of the challenge
with True Hearted from the Jackie Christenson barn. She used a patient trip
and moved the four-year old filly widest in the turn. The pair rallied, and
got up just in time to win by a neck.
In leg two of the challenge, Hemmings finished second behind Maria Charles, who won by eight and one-half lengths with Beach Please. The second place finish gave Hemmings eight total points and a firm place atop the event standings.
Entering the final leg of the event, Hemmings needed a second place finish to secure the title. She went one step further, leading Dixie Colors from the George Leonard barn to a win. The overwhelming favorite drove off in the stretch to give Hoosier ParkÕs Female Jockey Challenge their first international winner.
Jane Magrell and Janice Blake finished in a tie for third place with six points each. Jenna Joubert, Jordan Springer and Liz Morris each had five points. Magrell and Joubert each won a leg of the event.
Hemmings began her riding career in California exercising horses
that included Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm and multiple stakes winner
Point Given. She currently rides at Philadelphia Park, primarily for her husband,
trainer Steve Krebs. The pair won a $100,000 stakes race at Aqueduct Park with
Banjo Picker earlier this year.
Brinda Robbins, 2006 Female Jockey Challenge winner, presented the trophy to
Hemmings following the eighth race. Robbins retired from riding last fall after
a career-ending injury and now serves as a jockeyÕs agent at Hoosier
Park.
Also in the winnerÕs circle for the presentations to each jockey was Rick Moore, Hoosier ParkÕs president and general manager, along with Donna Brothers, celebrity guest for the evening. Brothers, a former jockey, currently works for NBC as a racing analyst. She also covers other sports, including reining and rodeo for the network.
The event included a silent auction for local charity Alternatives, Inc. of Madison County. The organization provides shelter for women and children affected by domestic abuse. The auction raised more than $1,500 for the organization.
I talked to Tara when I got back from Hoosier and she was very happy and you can see a video I posted of her talking about Hoosier on the videos page.
Also here is what she said about the challenge and the races. "It was a nice change of scenery and a chance to ride for some different trainers as I usually just ride for my husband Steve Krebs.
I asked her what her plan was going into the final race. "I knew if Jenna Jaubert took the lead that I wanted to be right behind her. "Well, that is what happened and Tara took the lead going into the final turn and sprinted away to victory.
On the subject of Hoosier Park: "It was kind of neat. The track is great and you don't get dirty with it like you do on other tracks.
Congratulations to Carol Cedeno for booting home 3 more winners at Phila Park on 11/20/07. Apprentice Lexi Merson also had a good day and she booted home 2 winners, including a 50-1 bomb that paid $ 103.80. Go Lexi.
Just found out that jockeys Bacarra Rice (read her new interview elsewhere), Tracey Brown and Kaymarie Kriedel have all recently retired. I am working on getting interviews with Tracey and Kaymarie.
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09/11/07
Katie Lee won the Blue Sparkler Stakes on July 8, 2007 and the purse was $ 60,000 and Katie's horse, My Sister Sue was trained by Flint Stites and paid $ 8.80 to win.
Tara Hemmings won her 2nd stakes (with the same horse) aboard "Banjo Picker" at the recent PA Day at the Races (The Devils Honor Hnadicap) at Phila Park. The purse was $ 100,000. I asked Tara which stakes win was more satisfying and she said the win in NY cause she went up there with the big boys and wasn't expected to win and she did. She did add to me that winning at her homes based track was very special. She blew past the pace setter, "Parade Path" with 3 furlongs to go and never looked back.
On August 14, 2007 Maria Charles won 3 races on a card at Phila Park and she told me it was a great experience for her. She couldn't talk to me long cause she was on the phone with her mom (hi patti) and if you ever watch Maria she does a thumbs up in the winner's circle before she dismounts. It is for her mom and yours truly ha ha.
On August 13, 2007 jockey Lucy Burch was killed in an automobile accident when she was thrown from the vehicle she was a passenger in in Shreveport, LA. She was ejected from the vehicle and it landed on top of her and she died at the scene. I talked to Lucy only a couple times on the phone and she was very nice to talk to and will sadly be missed.
Steeplechase Jockey Danielle Hodson won 2 races up at recently concluded Saratoga meet. One was aboard MIxed Up on August 9th which was a Grade 2 race worth $ 80,000 and she won aboard Divine Fortune on August 16th.
Kristen Troxell broke her ankle on the very last day of the recently concluded meet at Colonial Downs. She should be back shortly after this gets posted.
Phila Park based jockey Michelle Lutrell has decided to retire. I got a chance to ask er why and she said she has just brought a farm and is spending a lot of time there and just doesn't have the time to ride right now. She didn't rule out returning anf she looked to be in fantastic shape.
Maria Charles recently got hurt up at Penn National and she should be back in action by the time you read this or shortly thereafter.
Joanne Mcdaid lived up to her promise in my recent interview with her by giving me a thumbs up in winner's circle at Phila Park on June 24, 2007 ha ha
I got an email from jockey Kristina Kenney who has recently retired from racing. In the email she told me she was retired for right now and she is in the last semester of school and will be student teaching till December. She also told me she may got to vet's school. I wish her luck and much success in whatever she choose to do.
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06/25/07
Mary Doser won 4 races at Great Lakes Downs on June 11 and then followed it up with 3 more wins on June 12th.
Beverly Buress broke her collarbone at a recent spill at Prairie Meadows on June 23, 2007.
Congradulations to apprentice Carol Cedeno who booted home 4
winners on the June 25, 2007 card at Phila Park. From what I have been told
look for some good things from this girl.
Chantal Sutherlund has left NY and is now riding in Canada at Woodbine.
A new DVD is out called "Woman In American Horse Racing" and there
is some interviews with female trainers, ex-riders and jockeys from Suffolk
Downs. It is a really neat DVD that shows just how far female have come in the
sport. You can order it from www.amazon.com.
Anna Napravnik is now riding at Delaware Park
Mary Doser was off to a hot start at the start of the Great Lakes Downs meet
booting home 3 winners on May 12, then following it up the next night with 2
winners and then the next night with 3 more winners.
Maureen Andrews recently retired to take a job as a state steward at Mountaineer
Park in Chester, WV. Hope the new job goes well Maureen.
Beth Butler was recently injured out in Lincoln, Nebraska and suffered a cracked
skull, broken nose and a pretty banged up face. I hope she is doing ok and wish
her well.
Tammi Piermarini recently won 6 races in a row at Suffolk Downs. She won the last 2 races on a card and then followed it up by winning 4 races in a row the next day.
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4/23/07
Chantal Sutherland had left NY and is back riding in Canada.
There is a new apprentice jockey at Phila Park and her name is Carol Cedeno. She has a 7 pound allowance and she was riding in Puerto Rico prior to riding at Phila Park.
Jennifer Schmidt is working some horses out at Canterbury Park and recently jogged in a marathon race in Miami and finished 11th in her age group. Great job Jennifer.
Elaine Castillo and Pauline Forkhammer are back riding at Finger Lakes.
Anne Napravnik should be back and riding soon.
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10/31/06
Lori Keith, who has been riding at Phila Park has gone back to Arizona and will be riding at Turf Paradise. I am working on trying to get an interview with her.
Stephanie Judkins was recently released from the hospital after being injured in the 5th race on Friday September 8th. She was aboard the horse, "Power Jeans", who stumbled badly at the start of the race and threw her from her mount. She was placed on a backboard and taken to a nearby hospital, where she was found to have 2 broken ribs.
Congratulations to Chantal Sutherland who won the Ashley T. Cole Stakes at Belmont Park on Sept 17th for Trainer John Hertler. The pot was for $100,000 and she paid a whopping $ 52.50 to win. She jumped to an early lead and had a 15 length lead at one point! " On the turn we got a breather and I thought we were slowing down a little too much, so I started screaming at him because he didn't like the stick too much. I was like 'Where are they? Where are they? Then we passed the line and it was 'Oh my god, I just won!"
Emma Jayne-Wilson has a mount in the one million dollar Woodbine Mile. Emma is aboard Captain Kurt on September 17th.
Congratulations to Anna Napravnik for booting home 3 winners down at Laurel Park on Sept\ 16th and 20th. On Sept 23rd she won a $ 60,000 stakes race and finished 3rd in a $ 200,000 stakes race. On Sept 30th, she booted home 3 more. Way to go Rosie.
Beth Butler is riding at The Woodlands
Jessica Rice who recently riding at Phila Park is now going to college. Good luck Jessica.
Mary Jo Brennan make a successful return to racing riding at Monmouth Park on September 24th. Mary had been out with a bad shoulder injury and recently told me she will be back riding at Philadelphia Park.
Mary Doser won the Little Ones Stakes aboard "All I Can Get" on Sept 3rd at Great Lakes Downs and also won the Patrick Wood Stakes aboard the same horse on Sept 25, 2006. The pot for both races was $ 50,000.