Jill Byrne, who stepped down in December as vice president of racing operations at Colonial Downs, has accepted a new position as vice president of strategic planning for the Virginia Equine Alliance.
Byrne, a Virginia native, began her duties on Feb. 1.
The alliance is a non-profit organization comprised of the Virginia Thoroughbred Association, Virginia Harness Horse Association, Virginia Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and Virginia Gold Cup Association. It is designed to sustain, promote and expand the horse breeding and racing industries throughout the commonwealth of Virginia. It is funded by a percentage of advance-deposit wagering and historical horse racing machines.
“This gives me an opportunity to stay in Virginia and continue to help and promote the entire Virginia horse industry, not just throughout the state but the country, and to remind people of the importance and history of the horse in Virginia,” said Byrne. “It's a great opportunity for me to continue what I started four years ago.”
Byrne came to Colonial Downs in 2019 after the approval of historical horse racing machines provided the economic stimulus to reopen the New Kent track that had been closed since 2013. Prior to that, she served as senior director of Industry Relations for Breeders' Cup Ltd. She spent nearly a decade as director of Broadcast and Programming at Churchill Downs racetrack.
“We are delighted to have Jill and lucky to have her expertise,” said Jeb Hannum executive director of the Virginia Equine Alliance.
Hannum said the Alliance recently completed a five-year strategic plan that was presented to the Virginia Racing Commission in December and that Byrne was part of the process in developing it.
“The Virginia Equine Alliance conducted a similar strategic plan five years ago,” said Hannum. “We did a second round in 2022 and found it to be very helpful as it documented what we need to be thinking about on a path forward.”
The strategic plan focuses on five key components: marketing and communications; racing, pari-mutuel wagering and revenues; agribusiness and incentives; and infrastructure. In addition to Colonial Downs, Virginia offers standardbred racing with two 14-day meets in the spring and fall at Shenandoah Downs in Woodstock as well as steeplechase race meets, including the Virginia Gold Cup.
Leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr. equalled the record for most wins by a jockey on a card at Gulfstream Park Friday after riding the winners of seven consecutive races on a nice-race program.
Ortiz shares the Gulfstream record with four other jockeys: Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey (3/11/96), Tyler Gaffalione (7/4/17), Luis Saez (1/24/18; 3/29/18) and Paco Lopez (3/21/20).
Ortiz became the only jockey in Gulfstream history to win seven races in a row.
“It feels great. Everything worked out so good today. Everything came out perfect out there. It was one of those days where everything goes your way, so you enjoy it,” Ortiz said. “We had some live horses, and we always try to look on the positive side with them and ride them all with confidence. But every day doesn't work like today. It's hard, but today was one of those days.”
The 30-year-old jockey, who was recently awarded the Eclipse Award for the 2022 racing season, swept Races 2-8 on the nine-race card.
“It's my first time winning seven races in one day,” Ortiz said. “So, I feel great.”
The three-time Championship Meet titlist at Gulfstream guided Dignified ($7.20) to victory in Race 2 to start his streak before also scoring aboard Little Jewel ($4.20), Lakota Territory ($5.60), Riveting Spirit ($7), Tape to Tape ($4.20), Rhymes Like Dimes ($4.40) and Six Minus ($7.40) in Races 3-8, respectively.
Ortiz, who finished fifth aboard favored Maclin in Race 1, finished seventh aboard Turn On the Charm in Race 9.
Ortiz leads the Championship Meet standings with 44 winners, 10 more than defending champion Luis Saez.
The seventh annual Jockeys and Jeans All American Stallion Season Sale to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund raised $112,050 compared to $72,500 in 2022. The sale marked revenue increases in both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse stallion seasons, the latter sold for the third time this year. Increases were more pronounced in the Quarter Horse breeding industry, accounting for $71,500 of the total proceeds.
The seasons were donated by breeders in six states, including several leading farms in Central Kentucky. The sale, which started in 2017, has raised over $600,000 for PDJF, which pays a monthly stipend of $1,000 to some 60 jockeys who suffered catastrophic career-ending injuries while riding in both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse races.
“The season donors as well as the buyers in both racing industries upped their game this year to help those former jockeys who gave a big part of lives to this sport and we thank them all,” said Jockeys and Jeans president Barry Pearl. “I have to give a big shout out to Quarter Horse racing legend G.R. Carter Jr. who procured every single one of the donors from his side of the sport.”
Carter, 57, won a record 10 American Quarter Horse Racing Association Championships and holds the record for wins,3,906 and money won, over $75 million. He is both a PDJF Board Member and Jockeys and Jeans organizing committee member.
“I do this for the same reasons other people help out those who permanently gave their health for the benefit of horse racing,” Carter said. “A lot of these injured former riders were friends of mine and the same thing could have happened to me, or for that matter any jockey no matter what their level of success or how high their profile.”
Jockeys and Jeans, founded in late 2014 by five former jockeys, has raised over $2.7 million for PDJF through an annual fundraising event and stallion season sale.
In Memoriam: James “Jimmy” C. Wofford November 3, 1944 – February 2, 2023
James “Jimmy” C. Wofford had a profound influence on the shaping of equestrian sport as we know it today. He was a complete horseman, focused and skilled competitor, and a “teacher's teacher” who will be remembered for his humor, charm, and wit.
Wofford was born into an equestrian family on Nov. 3, 1944, in Junction City, Kansas. His father, Col. John W. Wofford, competed for the U.S. Jumping Team at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games, was a founding member of the U.S. Equestrian Team, and continued to coach and mentor athletes in eventing and show jumping at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games. Surrounded by equestrians, with both brothers Jeb and Warren riding internationally for the U.S., Wofford grew up immersed in the sport. He first represented the U.S. Eventing Team in 1965 and continued to compete internationally for the program through 1985, training with American coaching legends, Bert de Nemethy and Jack Le Goff. He was a graduate of Culver Military Academy and the School of Business at the University of Colorado.
Wofford had a brilliant career for the United States, earning two team silvers in the 1968 Mexico City and 1972 Munich Olympics Games aboard Kilkenny, and was selected to represent the team in 1980 before the games were boycotted. He medaled twice at the World Eventing Championships: once aboard Kilkenny at Punchestown in 1970, where they earned individual bronze, and again in 1978 here in the U.S. aboard Carawich, earning team bronze. He also was a member of the gold-medal winning team at the 1967 Pan American Games in Winnipeg.
Two wins at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, once in 1981, and again in 1986, after coming out of retirement, will be remembered fondly by the eventing community, alongside his capture of five U.S. National Championships on as many different horses. Competing internationally for close to 30 years in eventing, over 20 of those at the Advanced level, he was also an avid foxhunter and steeplechase jockey during the height of his career.
His role transitioned to coach after his official retirement in 1986, where he had a hand in helping dozens of athletes reach their goals on the international stage. His students were selected to countless U.S. Olympic, World Championship, and Pan American teams since 1978. As a testament to his results as a coach and mentor he was named United States Olympic Committee's Development Coach of the Year in both 1998 and 1999.
All four members of the U.S. bronze medal team at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, as well as the individual gold medal winner were graduates of Wofford's program. Additionally, three of the members of the 2002 gold medal team at the World Equestrian Games were his former students. He coached the Canadian Team for the 2002 World Championships, the silver medal team at 2003 Pan American Games, and the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
He was inducted into the USEA Hall of Fame in 2003 and was also inducted into the Culver Academies Horsemanship Hall of Fame. He received the prestigious USEF Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.
Aside from coaching and his continued passion for the sport, Wofford was committed to giving back and sharing his knowledge. A prolific reader his entire life, he published several popular equestrian and horsemanship books. He penned his latest book, “Still Horse Crazy After All These Years,” as a memorial to his father and a guideline for his grandsons.
He maintained a life-long involvement in governance of equestrian sport throughout the years, serving as President the American Horse Show Association (the first professional horseman to serve in the role), First Vice President of the United States Equestrian Team, Secretary of the United States Combined Training Association, along with two terms on the FEI Eventing Committee, including two years as vice-chairman.
Wofford was a pivotal figure in shaping United States Equestrian Federation as we know it today as the organization evolved from, in his words, “an assembly of competitions to an association of individuals.” He played a leading role in the adoption of and provided unwavering support for the Federation's Drugs & Medication Rules. Additionally, he was a key figure in bringing the national and international disciplines of the sport together to form a collaborative and united front for equestrian sport in the United States.
In his later years, he made an effort to turn to his abiding passion with all his energies saying, “I devote my life to the horses and riders who train and care for them. I have always been fascinated by riding and training theory and by the application of classical theory to modern competitive circumstance.” With his steadfast appreciation for training and teaching, Wofford was a frequent fixture in warm-up arenas at countless competitions over the years. His signature sign-off, “I'll see you in the warm-up ring,” graced his many inspirational and insightful articles and editorial columns.
When he was not in the warm-up ring, one would look for Wofford with family or friends on the river fly fishing or in a duck blind with one of his beloved Labradors at his side.
Wofford's contributions to and passion for equestrian sport will be long-lasting, a permanent reminder of his legacy, influence and career are all the people that he influenced, both personally and professionally, and for all those who love equestrian sport and the sport of eventing. He is survived by his wife of more than 56 years, Gail Wofford; his two daughters, Hilary and Jennifer; sons-in-law, Tim Jones and Charles Ince; and four grandchildren, Walker, Hudson, Lewis, and Theo.
“Jimmy is a legend among legends. His competitive career is only surpassed by his involvement in the sport. He shaped many of our lives, both in the competition ring and in our personal lives, that will guarantee that his legacy will go on forever as we all try and pass on what he showed us to be a good competitor and a good citizen,” said David O'Connor, USEF Chief of Sport, former USEF President, and Olympic gold medalist.
