As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members to name their favorite moment of the year. Send yours to suefinley@thetdn.com
Watching my favorite horse Caravel win [the GI Jaipur S.] live on Belmont S. Day.
The post What Was Your Favorite Moment of 2023: Madeline Rowland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
Madeline Rowland's journey to becoming a jockey reached the next level last Sunday when she scored her first win on the NYRA circuit over the Aqueduct main track.
Still just a teenager and already over the million-dollar mark in earnings, Rowland knew early on that her future was in horses.
“I always grew up around horses,” she said. “My dad trained steeplechase horses before he passed and my mom galloped for a little bit and helped my dad train. When I was 12 or 13, I started pony racing and then I started working for Lizzie Merryman when I was 15 or 16. And ever since then, [I knew] I was going to be jockey.”
Now based around the Mid-Atlantic after a hugely successful winter at Tampa Bay Downs, Rowland enjoys the hustle of riding multiple tracks in the same week.
“After doing pretty good in Tampa [Bay Downs], and coming to ride in the Mid-Atlantic, I definitely had goals and things I had to work for,” said Rowland. “It's awesome though because there's so many tracks around here that you can ride from one hour to six hours away. It's tough here,” she admits. “It was a little hard to get going but I am happy with how it's going now. I've been riding with really great people that have helped me a lot and I've gotten really good opportunities.”
Through the learning process of being an apprentice jockey, Rowland cops to being her own biggest critic. When asked what the hardest part of the journey had been thus far, she said, “Being honest, beating myself up. I really want to do a good job. I do see improvement in my riding but I think because I care so much about the horses, I make it that much harder on myself.”
As fort he most enjoyable part, Rowland said, “Working with the horses and getting paid to do something I would probably do for free! I absolutely love the horses. Winning a race is always the best feeling, especially meaningful wins like the other day [for trainer Michael Dini]. Mike has helped me out so much, [it] was absolutely amazing to win a race in New York.”
Now a finalist in the Newcomer division for the Oct. 14 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, Rowland looks to have a big month ahead.
“It's so awesome. Horses have always been such a huge part of my life,” she said. “I don't know where I'd be without them. They have taught me so much about work ethic, discipline, and really how to care of these animals and put them before ourselves. That's what you have to do in this business. And it means so much to be nominated for an award like this to show horsemanship. It's not just about winning races–it's about caring for these amazing animals who are trying so hard for us.”
With a weekend of rides coming up at the Meadowlands, seven entries over both days, Rowland shares the hopes of many of us along the Mid-Atlantic after a week of less-than-ideal weather.
“I just hope we run [on the turf],” she laughed. “We've had so much rain this week. We'll see how it goes. The horses are all in good spots so I'm hopeful [for my chances].”
And once the action slows down up north, Rowland looks forward to returning to her south Florida roots.
“That track [Tampa Bay Downs] will always be my favorite just because I've done so well there. I love their turf and the people there. There's very kind people that want to help you, and the racing is really good and competitive. I'll drive back to down to Tampa [Bay Downs] in the beginning of November for the meet there that starts at the end of the month.”
Click here to view Rowland's TIEA video.
The post TIEA Newcomer Finalist Madeline Rowland Rides First Winner At Belmont’s Aqueduct Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
Each time Madeline Rowland has competed in her short career as a jockey, she has felt the presence of an angel on her shoulder.
Rowland, who turned 18 on Nov. 6, lost her father to cancer in 2012 at age 44. Primarily a steeplechase trainer, Paul Rowland conditioned such notables as multiple stakes winner Preemptive Strike, Suntara, Rainbows For Luck, Swimming River and Across The Sky.
“Every race I've ridden, before I leave the jockeys' room, I talk to my dad. Right before I leave the gate, I think to myself, keep the faith. Thank you. Because even though I don't have him here with me, at least I can count on him to look out for me,” Rowland said.
The youngster didn't need much help from outside forces in today's third race. Riding 4-year-old gelding Sancocho with the confidence of a grizzled veteran, rather than an apprentice with a 10-pound weight allowance making her ninth career start, Rowland moved Sancocho smartly to the lead in the stretch of the 7-furlong, $5,000 claiming race and rolled to a 3 ½-length score from runner-up Cliffy for the teen's first career victory.
Sancocho, who is owned and trained by Juan Arriagada, improved to 5-for-20 with the victory. He paid $10.60 to win. In another endearing twist to the story, Rowland and Sancocho were ponied to the starting gate by her boyfriend Nicolas Arriagada, Juan's son and a former jockey who earned his first career triumph aboard one of his dad's horses here on April 16.
Rowland's fellow jockeys did their part to make the occasion memorable, spraying her with a hose, dumping a couple of buckets of ice water on her head and smearing her with shaving cream on her return to the jockeys' quarters.
“Danny (Centeno) got me real good, and Skyler (Spanabel) was there with a hose waiting for me. I was like, I'm ready. I've been waiting for this.”
Juan was almost as far over the moon as “Maddie” after the race.
“I'm very happy for her. She's a good girl who deserves somebody to help her out, and I like to help young people who need support to keep pushing so they can do better,” he said. “She's been working for me the past couple of weeks and it's worked out well. There are a couple of things we have to fix, but everything went perfect today.”
Rowland, who grew up outside Fair Hill, Md., had ridden eight previous races at Delaware Park, Penn National and Laurel, with a second and a third. She said after today's victory that it felt at times like an out-of-body experience, as she reflected on the influence of her father, mom Jodi and others who have advanced her fledgling career.
“As I was crossing the wire, I thought that I hoped (owner-trainer Elizabeth) Merryman was watching me. She is like my racehorse mom – she taught me how to gallop racehorses,” Rowland said. “My own mom has been a huge support for me. At first when I wanted to do pony racing when I was 11 or 12, she tried to keep me away – 'No, do the show horses, don't go into racing' – but once she realized she couldn't keep me away she said 'Do it.'
“There are so many people I owe a lot to for me getting here. I thought about joining the military for a while because it would be great to serve my country that way, but now that I'm doing this, I can't imagine myself doing anything else,” she said.
“Breaking from the gate today, I already felt a smile on my face because I love doing it. Every race I've done, it's the same adrenaline whether I win or not.”
The post Madeline Rowland Honors Her Father’s Memory With First Career Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
