Tag: People

Vicente Gudiel has played an important role in trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.'s burgeoning success in recent years while serving as the stable's lead exercise rider.

Gudiel galloped horses as usual Sunday morning, but the day turned out to be anything but routine when the 36-year-old native of Guatemala rode the Joseph-owned and -trained Shake Your Bones, a 4-year-old Dialed In gelding, into the Gulfstream Park winner's circle following Race 2.

“He's so valuable to us. He makes us win so many races. I'm glad to be able to reward that,” Joseph said.

The last-to-first triumph in the 1 1/16-mile maiden claiming event on Tapeta was Gudiel's first winning ride since Nov. 17, 2019. It was only his second ride in two years, the other resulting in a fourth-place finish last Oct. 23 aboard none other than Shake Your Bones.

“He's a great asset to the team. When he rode the horse last year, he thanked me so much that from that day, I said, 'I have to put him on a winner,'” Joseph said. “I told him, 'I'm going to put you on a winner.' Thank God, it worked out today and he won.”

Gudiel has ridden in only 14 races since 2016, his last full season as a jockey that followed a productive 2015 season with 138 victories while riding as an apprentice at Monmouth, Hawthorne, and Arlington.

Gudiel's winning ride aboard the 2-1 second betting choice was celebrated in the winner's circle by his wife, daughter, mother, and father, as well as Joseph, his wife, son and daughter.

“It's something special. I haven't been riding for a few years. I'm so happy to win again,” Gudiel said. “It's my dream to win for Saffie. It's something special to win for him.”

Gudiel will be only too happy to continue galloping and breezing horses for Joseph with no plans to resume a full-time career as a jockey.

“I want to keep working for Saffie, but whatever he puts me on, I'll ride,” he said.

Gudiel was born in Guatemala and grew up in South Florida. He would go on to work for trainers Patricia Farro and Wesley Ward before embarking on a riding career at Gulfstream April 13, 2014. He rode his first winner on Dec. 26, 2014 at Hawthorne.

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Florida-based trainer Kathleen O'Connell sent out her 2,386th winner Sunday at Tampa Bay Downs, surpassing Kim Hammond as North America's all-time leading female trainer.

The record-breaking win came in the track's fifth race when My Eagle Soars captured the six-furlong event for $16,000 maiden claimers by a half length in 1:11.86. The 3-year-old Khozan gelding, ridden by Antonio Gallardo, is owned by O'Connell along with P and G Zambelli Inc. and returned $14.40.

O'Connell equaled Hammond's all-time record of 2,385 wins Saturday in Tampa Bay's sixth race with first-time starter Dream Concert, also ridden to victory by Gallardo.

O'Connell, who has about 60 horses between Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream, began training on her own in 1981. Her 17,315 starters through Saturday also account for 2,280 seconds and 2,154 thirds and $46,740,925 in purse earnings.

Thus far this year, O'Connell has a 16-18-16 record from 118 runners who have banked purses totaling $360,180.

Hammond, who competes mainly in the Midwest, is still actively training but has yet to have a winner from 16 starters this year. Since launching her training career in 1980, her 15,706 starters have posted 2,178 seconds and 2,009 thirds and bankrolled $21,458,057 in purse earnings.

New York trainer Linda Rice follows Hammond and O'Connell on the all-time list, with 2,266 victories through Saturday.

Gai Waterhouse of Australia is acknowledged as the world's No. 1 all-time female trainer in victories with more than 7,000, according to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

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Jockey Cristian Torres has ridden the momentum of his first career riding title into a comfortable lead through the first 41 days of Oaklawn's scheduled 68-day meeting that ends May 6.

Torres, 25, is riding so well that his plans to be based this summer at Lone Star Park are now up in the air, the jockey said Saturday morning.

“With everything that is happening now, with everything going so well, we haven't made a decision yet,” Torres said. “We still haven't made a decision, but if everything keeps going the way it's going, we may make a change.”

Torres' career surge began last summer when he became the go-to rider for Robertino Diodoro and Karl Broberg, two of the winningest trainers in North American history. Torres, after an injury during the 2021-2022 Oaklawn meeting, resurfaced last May at Lone Star Park, then rode 71 winners to capture the riding title at Remington Park.

Torres entered Sunday with a meet-high 57 victories this season at Oaklawn, 11 more than runner-up Francisco Arrieta. Torres also led all riders in purse earnings ($3,520,394) and stakes victories (five). Torres rode a career-high five winners Feb. 20 and had his third four-win day of the meeting Friday.

Torres didn't elaborate on a potential new post-Oaklawn destination, but one obvious option would be Kentucky. A handful of Oaklawn's top riders this season are normally based at Churchill Downs, Keeneland or Ellis Park the remainder of the year.

“We've got to take advantage of the momentum,” Torres said. “Everything's going well and hopefully it keeps going the way it's going.”

Torres began riding at Oaklawn in 2021 after relocating to the Midwest from Gulfstream Park, where he launched his career in 2019.

Torres, whose agent is retired trainer Cody Autrey, entered Sunday with 98 career victories at Oaklawn and 476 overall, according to Equibase, racing's official data gathering organization.

The post ‘We May Make A Change’: Oaklawn Leading Rider Torres Mulls Circuit Switch appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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California Retirement Management Account (CARMA), a nonprofit organization that provides funding for the retirement of Thoroughbred racehorses in California, has announced the addition of two new board members. Amy Zimmerman and Jay Privman have been appointed to the board to fill vacancies left by the resignation of Candace Coder-Chew and the untimely passing of Howard Zucker late last year.

Amy J. Zimmerman is a renowned sports TV producer who has had a successful career in TV and horse racing. She has worked with all four major networks as a live sports producer, oversees horse racing coverage for NBC, and has won numerous awards, including the 2014 Old Hilltop Award and the 2011 Penny Chenery Distinguished Woman in Racing Award. Currently, she serves as the Senior Vice President at Santa Anita Park, where she has been on staff since 1986.

Jay Privman is a revered horse racing journalist who has been covering the sport for over 35 years. He recently retired from the role of national correspondent at Daily Racing Form and has covered major races like the Triple Crown and the Breeders' Cup. Privman has also covered racing on television for CBS, ESPN, Fox, and NBCSN. In 2021 Jay was inducted into the Joe Hirsch Media Roll of Honor at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, and this past January was presented with a Special Eclipse Award for Career Excellence at the 52nd Annual Eclipse Awards.

“We are thrilled to welcome Amy and Jay to the CARMA Board of Directors,” said Billy Koch, President of CARMA. “Their vast knowledge and experience in the horse racing industry will be invaluable to our organization as we continue to provide funding for the dignified retirement of our equine athletes.”

The organization would like to express gratitude to Candace Coder-Chew for the invaluable contributions she made during her tenure. Candace joined the CARMA board in 2011 and became a member of the Executive Committee in 2014. She served as board president from 2019 to 2022. Although she has retired from the board, Candace's dedication to helping retired racehorses continues through the Champions Retreat aftercare facility that she and her husband, Matt Chew, established in Idaho.

In addition, the organization seeks to honor Howard Zucker, a previous board member who played a significant role in advancing CARMA's mission before his unexpected passing in late 2022. Zucker will always be remembered for his passion for Thoroughbred racing and his deep commitment to the well-being of retired racehorses. He was instrumental in expanding CARMA's core funding, spearheading the effort to include trainers and jockeys in the purse contribution program, which was implemented in October 2019. Zucker had served on the board since 2009 and held various leadership positions in the organization throughout his tenure. He was elected board President in 2015 and held that position until the end of 2019.

“With the addition of Amy and Jay to the CARMA Board of Directors, our organization is well-positioned to continue its mission and be a leader in the horse racing industry when it comes to aftercare,” said Lucinda Lovitt, CARMA Executive Director. “I know they will bring their expertise and unique perspectives to the table, helping to guide our efforts to provide a better future for retired racehorses in California.”

For more information and to donate to CARMA at any time, visit CARMA4horses.org or contact Lucinda Lovitt at (626) 574-6622 or lucinda@carma4horses.org.

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