Life for a jockey can change in an instant. For Channing Hill, unrelated events took him in a new direction and in hindsight could be viewed as setbacks or opportunities.
A 2005 Eclipse Award finalist as outstanding apprentice, Hill sees the proverbial glass as half full. A year after being sidelined by severe neck and back injuries, he is relishing time with family as he eases closer to a return to the saddle.
“I am lucky,” he said. “I have seen these same types of injuries and how much different it can turn out. I feel very fortunate.”
Hill was injured at Oaklawn Park when his mount went down on April 17, 2020. Three days later, he underwent surgery in Hot Springs, Ark., and shortly thereafter returned to his Louisville home. He has no timetable, but is optimistic for a return.
“I am just taking it as it comes,” Hill said. “I don't want to push myself now and maybe get worse later on. I am going to let my body and my doctors tell me when I am ready.”
Except for issues with his left hand, Hill said he is in great shape for looking after the three children he has with wife Shelbi, daughter of trainer Wayne Catalano. The youngest two — at ages 18 months and nearly three — have the usual age-related requirements, while their 7-year-old son gave him a surprise assignment he could not foresee. In addition to his role as a dad, Hill took on the job of educator when schools closed due to the pandemic. Like so many youngsters who were required to stay home and learn virtually, Waylon did not adapt well.
“I became his teacher,” Hill said.
Fortunately, that task concluded when schools reopened this spring after nearly a year. The Hill clan will summer in the Chicago area this summer while Shelbi works for Arlington Park in what is expected to be the track's final season.
“I will stay home with the kids and try to get better and healthier and see where the year takes me,” he said. “I feel really good. I have been doing some exercising on my own. I really can't use my left hand but the rest of me feels really good.”
Like father, like son
In some ways, Hill's lifestyle mimics his own upbringing in which he was closely connected to his father, Allan Hill, a Nebraska exercise rider and jockey.
When he was about 12, he began traveling the racing circuit with his father, who won 667 races from 8,520 mounts. The experience included working at odds jobs in the jockeys' quarters that inspired his interest in following his father's career. He had no personal knowledge of horses until he took lessons on ponies at the farm of a family friend. A natural talent, he quickly graduated to Thoroughbreds.
As soon as he turned 16, Hill obtained his jockey's license and rode his first three races at the track in Columbus, Neb., in 2003. By 2004, after competing at Columbus, Lincoln Park, and Prairie Meadows, he shifted his base to Aqueduct. He was a logical choice for the Eclipse Award when he closed 2005 with 135 wins and $5 million in purses. With slightly better statistics, the honor went to Emma-Jayne Wilson, who sat near Hill, his father and friends at the awards ceremony at the legendary Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.
“The one thing that struck me as the biggest that night was Emma-Jayne,” he said. “She and her agent were the nicest, most gracious winners I have ever seen. They were so classy. That made me cheer for her even more.”
As Hill proceeds to his return to racing riding, his record stands at 1,204 victories and $51,355,057 in earnings from 10,987 mounts. His triumphs include the Grade 1 Forego Handicap in 2008 for Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel and owner-breeder Juddmonte Farms on First Defence. Other achievements include several graded scores aboard Catalano-trained Farrell and finishing third in the 2017 Preakness Stakes aboard Senior Investment.
As Hill looks forward to adding to his stats, he is capitalizing on his extended holiday.
“I am happy that I am able to be home and take this as an opportunity to be with my family,” he said. “This is the only way a jockey can get a long vacation. I am maximizing my time with my kids for however much time I have off.”
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