How did you get into racing?

[Honu]

Originally Posted by Blue Eyes

That's not heavy at all for galloping. Even with all the experience you have, still listen to people that have been galloping for awhile. Riding jumpers compared to racehorses is a totally different ball game. One of the main things in learning to gallop a racehorse is how to throw a cross.

Excercise riders dont throw crosses , jockeys do. Exercise riders are paid to pull not push.

[Bigsmc]

My brother took me to DRC in the early 80's. I distinctly remember him telling me "don't tell Mom". It was our little secret.

[SentToStud]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

My brother took me to DRC in the early 80's. I distinctly remember him telling me "don't tell Mom". It was our little secret.

Yo,
Shout for Schoolcraft & Middlebelt.

Cut my teeth at DRC also. Catalano for VBerg/Shinrone... Pete and OC Maxwell. I also remember Steve Cauthen Day at Hazel.... 30,000+ there.

Derby Bar across M-Belt from DRC.... many tough beats drowned away there.

[Cajungator26]

Honu (and everyone else), thanks for the advice on the exercise riding. My ass is WAY out of shape still and I have a lot more work to do before I can even get to that point, I'm thinking...

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

Honu (and everyone else), thanks for the advice on the exercise riding. My ass is WAY out of shape still and I have a lot more work to do before I can even get to that point, I'm thinking...

sha sha sha make ya money maka....o.e.y..lol

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by hoovesupsideyourhead

sha sha sha make ya money maka....o.e.y..lol

LMAO Hooves... you got that right.

I was Tracy Hebert's coke dealer.

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

I was Tracy Hebert's coke dealer.

Is that how you got into racing?

Originally Posted by Blue Eyes

Is that how you got into racing?

Hehe actually I got into racing because I heard there were alot of hot chicks at the track. Unfortunately for me my first experience at the track was at Laurel.

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

Hehe actually I got into racing because I heard there were alot of hot chicks at the track. Unfortunately for me my first experience at the track was at Laurel.

Worked there or just gambled there?

Originally Posted by Blue Eyes

Worked there or just gambled there?

Gambled. If I had to choose between working at Laurel and having my feet submerged in boiling water I think i'd choose the latter.

[Slewbopper]

My first memory is watching the 57 Florida Derby with my mother. General Duke, Bold Ruler, Gallant Man, and Round Table. She was a big fan. Never really got into it much in subsequent years. Went to Aqueduct a couple times in the '70s.

A trip to Saratoga for the '78 Travers changed everything. I just loved the whole aura of the Spa. From 79 to 82 I went to the Spa for the entire meet. Rented a house on the lake for two years and then a place on Jumel with a couple other guys. Then a wife and responsibilities occurred. Haven't missed going to the Spa for at least a couple days every single year since.

[Danzig]

[quote=Slewbopper]My first memory is watching the 57 Florida Derby with my mother. General Duke, Bold Ruler, Gallant Man, and Round Table. She was a big fan. Never really got into it much in subsequent years. Went to Aqueduct a couple times in the '70s.
QUOTE]

lucky you!! the BEST derby field ever.

Originally Posted by Honu

Excercise riders dont throw crosses , jockeys do. Exercise riders are paid to pull not push.

Ummmm..... when I galloped, I galloped in a cross. When you have a tough pulling horse, a full cross really comes in handy. Good luck to anyone that can ride a direct rein on a tough pulling horse. BTW, exercise riders better know how to "throw" a cross (especially) if they are going to be working horses. So yes, exercise riders DO throw and ride in crosses.
I take it you just went straight to riding races? Never was an exercise rider?

[Honu]

Originally Posted by Blue Eyes

Ummmm..... when I galloped, I galloped in a cross. When you have a tough pulling horse, a full cross really comes in handy. Good luck to anyone that can ride a direct rein on a tough pulling horse. BTW, exercise riders better know how to "throw" a cross (especially) if they are going to be working horses. So yes, exercise riders DO throw and ride in crosses.
I take it you just went straight to riding races? Never was an exercise rider?

You said that throwing a cross was the most important thing , jockeys and work riders throw crosses when cuing the horse to go fast or change leads or whatever.
You TAKE a cross when galloping , adjusting it thru your fingers as needed, wether its a full or half cross, in the 20 plus years I have been riding race horses I have never seen a person galloping a horse THROW a cross.

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Ok, rookie question, but what is taking/thowing a cross? I've never heard of it...

And yes, I know what a direct rein is and all of that stuff....

[2Hot4TV]

One day I went to see my Grand Dad about him loaning me some money for a week or two. He was mowing the lawn, so he made me finish and gave me 50 bucks. I told him I really needed $200. Grand Dad said that the best he could do was for me to get to Santa Anita and put what was left from the $50 on Denilai Ridge. I did, I won and I been looking for winners ever since. Thanks Grand Dad.

Originally Posted by Honu

You said that throwing a cross was the most important thing , jockeys and work riders throw crosses when cuing the horse to go fast or change leads or whatever.
You TAKE a cross when galloping , adjusting it thru your fingers as needed, wether its a full or half cross, in the 20 plus years I have been riding race horses I have never seen a person galloping a horse THROW a cross.

Re-read my post, I did not state MOST important. "Take", "Throw" I have heard be used as the same. "Throw a cross and take a hold" - never heard that term be used?? I have. You've never seen an exercise rider "throw" a cross???? Throwing crosses isn't just for rousing a horse to run faster. BTW, you're a jock, when do you ever stick around and watch horses gallop. You are only out there working them in the AM, not galloping them... unless you're riding at a cheap track....

[Honu]

Originally Posted by Blue Eyes

Re-read my post, I did not state MOST important. "Take", "Throw" I have heard be used as the same. "Throw a cross and take a hold" - never heard that term be used?? I have. You've never seen an exercise rider "throw" a cross???? Throwing crosses isn't just for rousing a horse to run faster. BTW, you're a jock, when do you ever stick around and watch horses gallop. You are only out there working them in the AM, not galloping them... unless you're riding at a cheap track....

Hey you ever heard of a horse called The Tin Man , I ride him , I work in SoCali for a Hall of fame trainer, whom I have also been an assistant for.
I started breaking horses on my familys farm when I was 13 ( that would be 1983) then when I was 15 I started galloping horses at the track in PA. and when I turned 16 I started riding races. In 1997 I made the national standings for female jockeys races won, I retired from race riding in 1999 and went to work for Richard Mandella. I have galloped , worked and been around World Champions and Breeders Cup winners and stakes winners and the like.
I was also lucky enough to get the chance to train a string of 2 year olds , which included Halfbridled's little sister and a horse named One Union.
So there are my credentials , tell me about yours.

Originally Posted by Honu

Hey you ever heard of a horse called The Tin Man , I ride him , I work in SoCali for a Hall of fame trainer, whom I have also been an assistant for.
I started breaking horses on my familys farm when I was 13 ( that would be 1983) then when I was 15 I started galloping horses at the track in PA. and when I turned 16 I started riding races. In 1997 I made the national standings for female jockeys races won, I retired from race riding in 1999 and went to work for Richard Mandella. I have galloped , worked and been around World Champions and Breeders Cup winners and stakes winners and the like.
I was also lucky enough to get the chance to train a string of 2 year olds , which included Halfbridled's little sister and a horse named One Union.
So there are my credentials , tell me about yours.

I'll PM you.