jockey

Eleven weeks ago, jockey Tyler Conner lay on the turf at Colonial Downs calm, but for all the wrong reasons. "I couldn't feel anything," he said. "I was totally calm which was weird but it was because I wasn't in any pain." Conner was involved in an incident in the seventh race in Virginia July 24 when his mount, the Elizabeth Merryman-trained Stanza (Great Notion), clipped heels with eventually-disqualified race winner Montador (Nyquist) and fell around the far turn. Francisco Arrieta, who was aboard Montador, was suspended 15 days by...

Edited Press Release Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza, best known for piloting American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) to victory in the 2015 Triple Crown and in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland, will be a member of the local jockey colony throughout the Fall Meet, which opens its 17-day run Oct. 3. Espinoza made the change from his longtime Southern California base this past summer after trainer Wesley Ward convinced him to turn his Saratoga Race Course visit into a working vacation. Espinoza agreed and stayed fit exercising...

Breezing a star like Journalism (Curlin) demands an extra level of concentration. It isn't that the colt is headstrong or unfocused. If anything, he does his job almost too well. "You have to be careful about your fractions because you're thinking that you're going really slowly, but really you're going quick with him," said Tony Gutierrez. "You don't feel when he's touching the ground. He floats." While Marc Witkowski is Journalism's regular exercise rider, Gutierrez has been aboard the talented colt for the majority of his breezes since he was...

Although he was the only guest from the Thoroughbred industry to be invited to speak on a panel largely comprised of and aimed at mental health professionals, Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith spoke eloquently and poignantly Friday while offering perspectives tinged with gratefulness and optimism regarding how the racing industry has recently stepped up its suicide prevention and wellness initiatives. Smith appeared via videoconference from his home in California during a Sept. 26 session titled "Stigma and Suicide: Breaking the Silence to Save Lives" that was hosted in-person and...

'Stigma and Suicide: Breaking the Silence to Save Lives' will be held at Eastern Kentucky University Perkins Conference Center on Friday, Sept. 26. Panelists from a variety of professional backgrounds, including Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, will discuss the problem of stigma as a barrier to help-seeking and what we can do to address it. Smith will also talk about the significance of stigma in the Thoroughbred industry and how it threatens the lives of jockeys and trainers alike. September is Suicide Prevention Month with Sept. 10 recognized as...

Secretariat's jockey, Ron Turcotte, passed away Friday at the age of 84. The news was confirmed by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in a statement reading: "Ron was a legendary rider and also an inspiration for all he achieved and overcame during his incredible life. Although best known for sweeping the Triple Crown with Secretariat--culminating with a 31-length victory in the 1973 Belmont Stakes--Turcotte's Hall of Fame career spanned 18 years and more than 3,000 wins. As an ambassador for both the sport and the legacy of...

Jockey Tyler Conner, who was seriously injured in a fall at Colonial Downs July 24, continues to heal but says he's done riding races. In a video update posted to social media, Conner wears a neck brace, explains the complicated nature of his injuries and how he's begun to regain feeling in his arms and legs following the accident. "I broke my C1, compression fractured my T5, bruised my spinal cord which they call 'central cord syndrome'," Conner says in the video. "So I was fully paralyzed for a small...

Out since Mar. 26 when he broke his left ankle in an incident prior to a race at Gulfstream, Tyler Gaffalione will be back on July 16. Gaffalione was shaken up during the post parade of the claiming event for 3-year-old fillies when his mount, China Blue (Social Inclusion), acted up and pinned his leg against the rail. The surprise is not that he is coming back, but where he will be riding after resuming his career. His agent Matt Muzikar said that Gaffalione will ride the meet at Ellis...

Sandi Morris is the 2016 Olympic silver medalist, current world leader, and American outdoor record holder in women's pole vault, and appears, and brings an interesting close to Season One of The Boundless Podcast. In the episode, Morris sits down with Dr. Ferrin Peterson, a professional jockey, veterinarian, and former pole vaulter herself. The two dive into the mindset it takes to stay at the top, bouncing back from injury, and what it really means to bet on yourself--again and again. Now training at the University of Louisville, Sandi has...

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) related rulings from around the country. The following rulings were reported on HISA's "rulings" portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) "pending" and "resolved" cases portals. Resolved ADMC Violations Date: 05/20/2025 Licensee: John Servis, trainer Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU. Explainer: Medication violation for...

Former jockey Armando Rivera will highlight the mission of the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF), which provides financial assistance to jockeys who have suffered catastrophic on-track injuries, by racing in the Run the Bluegrass half-marathon May 17. Rivera is a paraplegic athlete and advocate for the PDJF. He has competed in over 50 races across the country and will race Saturday in his wheelchair. The half-marathon begins Saturday at 7 a.m. at Talon Winery in Southern Fayette County. Rivera participates to show his commitment to supporting his fellow injured riders.

In a sport built on speed and stamina, the people behind the scenes rarely stop moving. And for the horsewomen who are also mothers, the pace is even demanding—but so is the purpose. They're used to remarks like, "I don't know how you do it all," "Do you ever sleep?" and "You're like superwoman!" "I'm definitely not superwoman," Tessa Walden responded when that last one was posed to her. "Being a stay-at-home mom is probably even harder than being a working mom. But I do think moms are kind of...