If you’re like me, you don’t do much thinking about race day. It just happens. But I do love the adrenaline rush every time we run the course. There’s something primal that fills you with energy and keeps you going, whether you plan to race or not. You feel like a beast. Once you’re through the gates of race day, you won’t know what your favorite sport is.
So what is racing like for you?
I ride one to two days in a week — and not just the race days. But when I have a chance to travel to racing shows like Farmington and the Kentucky Derby and other races, I get to experience the sport. I love being out in the countryside.
How long did it take to get into the sport?
I learned horseback riding at 9 or 10 years old. We were living in rural Pennsylvania and my family was doing real well. But there was something about it that I found hard to understand — what a horse was really capable of. I would ride my sister’s pony to school, which made them laugh at our mom and dad. I didn’t know how much I had been through — and it took me a little while to get my bearings.
You mentioned how much your mother loved horses and kept them at the farm. What was it like growing up with her?
It was wonderful. My brother was also a horseman — an ex-professional. So we always had horses around. My dad would love to have ridden horses himself someday — someday someday he’ll have a horse. My sister and I took turns riding. I think I had a bit of a crush on horse racing’s most famous lady. That was a big deal for a 9-year-old to get to sit and watch a horse, hear his name and hear his eyes rolling around the headrest and think: Mommy has a horse.
As a young person, did you learn about horseback riding through a video clip?
Yeah, but not until the very late ’90s. I don’t remember why I was so interested back then. I was a good student. I just didn’t pay attention. I had to learn all the proper techniques — the right stance, the right time to step, the right timing on my jumps. It was a learning process.
Is there anything else on your bucket list? How many miles have you ridden?
I’m thinking about trying to break the 200
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