Female Jockeys

[Fair Play]

Fair Play

It is indeed a sad day when you can not find a 20 YO, male or mfemale, thjat can not lift a 50# bag of feed with out breaking a sweat.

griff

Oops... Actually, they are 88 pounds here.

There have been far more riders now entering the game who educate themselves on fitness and nutrition who aren't collapsing after races from dehydration from using lasix and the sweat box too much (or suffering malnutrition from flipping). I have never seen a female who has lasted a season while living like this, while many guys do. If you could put some on the scale at 6 am each morning, you would be shocked at the weight they pull five days a week. Those guys are not fun to be around. There is huge money to be made in the bug year(s), especially at tracks like Woodbine. People are fortunately getting much smarter about career planning before starting out. I can only see more females encouraged by this.

[Barbaro06]

Happy New Year everyone!!!

My first career choice was to be a jockey, but I wound up a government employee...hahhahah!

Anyways, being out here in Maryland, I've kept an eye on the career of Anna Napravnik. She recently won the 2008 riding title out here and is now riding at the Big A. I give her credit for trying other tracks/jockey colonies to gain more experience. She's talked about going to Florida and possibly California to ride. She's also been banged up with various injuries...fractured vertebrae in her back, broken wrist and recently a broken leg. But she has come back each time after some serious training up to get back into shape.

I was fortunate to meet her at a Track Diva Day at Laurel a couple of years ago. She told the group how she was dead set on becoming a jockey. She mentioned how she hiked up her stirrups when working a horse to show she was serious on becoming a jockey. She stuck with it, dropping out of school to pursue her career full time (she did get her GED in case you're wondering). She's smart and savvy and I could see her as a trainer evetually.

So my take on this argument? Doesn't matter your gender...if you got the grit and determination (and a good agent) you'll be successful.

Oh yeah, here's a site with an article on Anna Napravnik...

http://www.menstuff.org/archives/napravnik.html

[bdw0617]

anna can ride with anyone anywhere.

[Barbaro06]

True that bdw!!!

But her horse in the fifth at the Big A faded after making a bid at the turn.

[geowarrior]

Inez Carlsson is a real up and comer.

[Joltman]

Thanks Fair Play - I would hope that young women get every opportunity. I know that the local training center where I had my guys were galloped mostly by young college students (women) who were excellent by and large and did indeed love it. They had been taught horsemanship as children and teenagers and it is a natural way to earn a few bucks at something they enjoy. A few migrate to race riding - a much tougher grind. In some ways women, who can tote infants around for hours, might have a better physiology for certain types of muscle control that is involved in riding.

I second the motion for Napravnik. She has been superb and despite some tough physical setbacks, was very courageous to come back.

jm

[bdw0617]

Thanks Fair Play - I would hope that young women get every opportunity. I know that the local training center where I had my guys were galloped mostly by young college students (women) who were excellent by and large and did indeed love it. They had been taught horsemanship as children and teenagers and it is a natural way to earn a few bucks at something they enjoy. A few migrate to race riding - a much tougher grind. In some ways women, who can tote infants around for hours, might have a better physiology for certain types of muscle control that is involved in riding.

I second the motion for Napravnik. She has been superb and despite some tough physical setbacks, was very courageous to come back.

jm

i like anna because seh's tough as nails. I saw her fall off a horse that literarly, just decideed his front too legs weren't going to go anymore, in a 5F sprint, and broke alot of stuff, and she's still going at it.

it won't be too long before she's hooked onto a major trainer in socal or the midwest

[Prairie]

Inez Karlsson can hold her own against the men in Chicago.

[Barbaro06]

Yeah, Anna is tough. Here's the MJC news release where she talks about coming back from injuries...

http://www.laurelpark.com/NewsEvents/FeatureStories/Details/Laurel110708RN.htm

[wilf]

Strangely enough I have thought about producing a limited edition photo coffee table book on female jockeys as almost every one of them are photogenic these days and perhaps the proceeds could go towards the disabled jockeys fund I guess it's just a dream but it would be a labour of love for some photographer with a yearning to tour the tracks of this great land seeking them out. As I followed this thread it slowly dawned on me just how many girl jocks had ridden for me in North America in the past 20 years so if you don't mind I would like to name them with respect for their efforts. After their names I will enter the DRF code for the track and sadly in 2 cases will include R.I.P. for those deceased. Here goes; Maree Richards[FE], Valerie Thompson[FE], Lyn Herrmann[FE], Francine Villeneuve[WO],Danielle Dibert[FE], Regina Sealock[FE],Kika Chrysopoulis [WO], Lisa Cadeddu [FE],Lisa Hammett [FE], Melanie Pinto[FE],Teresa Canary[Pen],Karen Phillipe[Pen], Joy Bartlett[Pen],Leslie Lalande[Pen], Kendra Taylor[De], Maura Carberry[De] R.I.P; August Hanna[De],Sandee Martin[Pen], Alison Hershbell[Tam] R.I.P; Jennifer Bramblett[Tam], Lisa McFarland[Hia],Elaine Castillo[FL],there are also 3 others whose full names escape me which goes to show the way this thread has illustrated the enormity of the contribution that these women have made to thoroughbred racing. So much for "The Kitchen" statement Louis.

[DDT]

griff

Civil Disorder ran a nice 3rd, won't be long until he breaks his maiden. I boxed him with the two favorites and caught a nice little tri. Thanks for the heads up.

DDT

[griff]

DDT

Thanks. We tried to get him in the 7 furlong MSW on 12/31/08 but he came in second alternate.. I'm pretty sure he's going to be a classic and we'll wait for a 6 1/2 ot 7 furlong next time.

If that race last night had been a 5 1/2 he would have been second. However nothing could have caught Gabriel's Smile who won by 10+ lengths.. 4 1/2 in 51+ is fast for CTown.

I had him boxed with 2,3,& 10. However, I also did a progressive win, place, show and almost broke even, which is good for me.

I think Natasha did a pretty good job and they made up a lot of ground when she made her move in the turn. They ran a similar race on 12/07 in another 4 1/2 MSW where they came in 4 th. Again, we will now wait for a 6 1/2 or 7 furlong MSW.

I have another 3 YO Civilisation with Rofe that has not ran yet.. Last month Hotel Sierra had a stone bruse and now we need to do some laser surgery on his palate. He also looks like a classic but we'll probably run him at 4 1/2 a couple of times first, assuming he doesn't come up with another delay. That sucker's been in training since the 4th of July plus 45 days in February. I like to give my horses plenty of time to mature but Hotel Sierra is starting to push the envelope.

griff

[spex4me]

Good finish Griff! I think I will treat you to a beer if Hotel comes out and beats 'em all first time out to thank you for your patience!!

[Denise]

DDT

I think Natasha did a pretty good job and they made up a lot of ground when she made her move in the turn. They ran a similar race on 12/07 in another 4 1/2 MSW where they came in 4th. Again, we will now wait for a 6 1/2 or 7 furlong MSW.

griff

Hey Griff,
Is that Natasha Bracaloni who rides for you? She's another nice rider who's done some racing at the hunt meets and point to points.
I'll keep an eye out for your horse going longer.

[griff]

Yep, that's her, and she looks great in my new silks. Yellow shirt with red griffins.

griff