Tag: People

‘I Feel So Blessed’: Jockey Ramsey Zimmerman Makes Successful Return To Race Riding

Ramsey Zimmerman has launched another riding comeback, and although the sample size is small, it's already a success after he guided Enchanted Nile to a front-running nose victory in Friday's third race at Oaklawn. It marked the jockey's first victory in almost 5 ½ years.

“It's truly everything to me,” Zimmerman, 40, said roughly two hours after the race. “I take it very seriously.”

A Chicago-area native, Zimmerman has amassed 1,740 victories and $31,125,413 in purse earnings in his career North American career, according to Equibase, racing's official data gathering organization. He owns riding titles at Prairie Meadows and Lone Star Park, ranked fourth nationally in victories in 2004 (326) and captured the Pattison Canadian International Stakes (G1) in 2007 at Woodbine aboard Cloudy's Knight.

But substance abuse has derailed Zimmerman's once-promising career several times since he began riding in 1998. Zimmerman didn't ride in 2013 and 2016 and had only 116 mounts in 2015. Prior to his comeback earlier this month at Oaklawn, Zimmerman hadn't ridden since Oct. 18, 2017, at Gulfstream Park.

“All that's behind me,” Zimmerman said. “I'm actually really proud of having six years clean and sober.”

Zimmerman said he did prep work for 2-year-old in training sales and managed a Thoroughbred farm after he stopped riding. He said he began to get the itch to ride again last summer and was working as a driver for a horse-drawn carriage company in St. Louis when he traveled to Oaklawn in early December to begin laying the groundwork for his latest comeback.

Zimmerman reunited with agent Scott Hare of Hot Springs and had his first mount of the meeting, Sahm Tequila, Jan. 6 for trainer Nevada Litfin. Zimmerman's second was Enchanted Nile ($7.40) for trainer Chris Hartman. Zimmerman's only other mount Friday, Benissimo, finished 10th in the fifth race for trainer Rachael Keithan.

Enchanted Nile represented Zimmerman's first victory since Aug. 4, 2017, at Gulfstream Park and his 106th for Hartman, Oaklawn's leading trainer in 2015.

“Coming back and making the connection with Mr. Hartman, that's awesome,” Zimmerman said. “Some other trainers are offering mounts, so I just feel so blessed, really.”

Zimmerman said he plans to ride the remainder of the Oaklawn meeting. Oaklawn's scheduled 68-day season ends May 6.

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Birthday Breakthrough: Apprentice Jhovany Paredes Scores First Career Victory At Laurel

Ten-pound apprentice rider Jhovany Paredes celebrated his 22nd birthday in style Friday at Laurel Park by registering his first career victory, a front-running triumph aboard 5-year-old mare I Can Do It, in the day's third race.

Bred, owned, and trained by Robert Gamber, I Can Do It ($17.80) ran seven furlongs in 1:27.29 over a main track rated good to capture the claiming event for maiden fillies and mares by one length over Brzina.

“I felt like I had a lot of horse so I just went for it and said, 'If they're going to beat me, let them beat me at the wire,'” Paredes said. “I got nervous because I thought they were going to catch up so I kept pushing and pushing. I'm just grateful to get my first win, especially on my birthday.”

It was the 37th career mount and first aboard I Can Do It for Paredes, a New York native who made his professional debut July 1, 2022 at Belmont Park. He rode twice in October at Aqueduct before arriving in Maryland where rode for the first time over Thanksgiving weekend.

“I was born and raised in New York and came to Maryland the end of November and kept hustling until I got the opportunity,” Paredes said.

Paredes grew up near Aqueduct Racetrack and was introduced to horses by his father, who started off as a hotwalker, groom and exercise rider and now works as an outrider on the NYRA circuit. At 19, Paredes started galloping horses in New York for trainers such as Rudy Rodriguez and Michelle Nevin.

“When I turned 19 I really wanted to try it out and try my luck,” he said. “From there, Rudy asked me if I ever thought of riding races. I said 'No,' but that's where it all started.”

Paredes was given the traditional water and eggs shower by fellow Maryland riders for getting his first win. His parents, girlfriend, and 3-year-old son remain in New York.

“I wish they were here,” he said, “but I'm sure I'll be getting a phone call pretty soon.”

Paredes is named in one of nine races Saturday, two of eight races Sunday and one of nine races on Monday's special Martin Luther King Jr. holiday program at Laurel.

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Amplify Horse Racing Opens Applications For Spring Mentorship Program

The application has opened for the spring 2023 intake of the Amplify Horse Racing Mentorship Program, and will remain open through Friday, Feb. 3. The program connects youth and young adults interested in the Thoroughbred industry with experienced industry professionals who can offer career guidance. Mentee candidates should demonstrate a desire to learn and an interest in working in the equine industry. The suggested age range is 15-25, with no restrictions based on academic achievement.

Potential mentors can apply at any time and will be paired with a mentee when the right match comes along. Mentors should have over 6 years of work experience in the Thoroughbred or equine industry, and have the ability to dedicate a minimum of 8 hours to the program over the course of 3 months. All applicants must be residents of the United States, U.S. territories, or Canada.

New for 2023, Amplify will offer four end-of-year travel awards to outstanding mentees who complete the program having demonstrated a strong work ethic and dedication to pursuing involvement in the Thoroughbred industry. Award recipients will have the opportunity to travel to Kentucky for a weekend of behind-the-scenes tours and networking experiences.

Since its launch in 2021, the Amplify Horse Racing Mentorship Program has produced nearly 30 graduates, and propelled its participants to jobs, internships and educational pursuits within various fields of the equine industry. These include media, racetrack and farm work, pari-mutuel wagering, sales, ownership, and veterinary medicine. Notably, the program has accepted mentees from 17 different states and territories.

“In a relatively short period of time, this program has inspired many young people who might not have known they have a place in the Thoroughbred industry, and given them direction on what avenue they want to take,” said Amplify executive director Annise Montplaisir. “This year we are excited to offer travel awards through the program so that a few dedicated mentees have the opportunity to experience the industry first-hand.”

“Thanks to this mentorship, I was able to orient myself toward the field of veterinary medicine, and my next goal in the near future is to apply and start my studies in that field,” said 2022 mentee Yadhiel Diaz. “I will always be grateful to this program, because even with the distance [of working with my mentor virtually], Amplify gave me the opportunity to learn about many aspects of this industry I didn't know.”

To learn more about the program and apply today, visit www.amplifyhorseracing.org/mentorship, or contact info@amplifyhorseracing.org for more information. Amplify will open applications for the fall program intake in June.

About Amplify Horse Racing: Amplify Horse Racing is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to amplifying Thoroughbred industry education, mentorship and career opportunities for youth and young adults. Amplify welcomes newcomers, enhances existing educational initiatives, and develops new resources to lead the Thoroughbred industry into the future. Because Thoroughbred racing is not just a sport of kings… It is a sport for everyone! Amplify's programming includes a highly successful mentorship program, equine career exploration series, behind the scenes educational racetrack tours, virtual presentations, a podcast, and more. 

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‘You Will Always Be So Loved’: Hall Of Famer Mike Smith Pays Tribute To Late Jockey Avery Whisman

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith paid tribute to fellow rider Avery Whisman on Twitter after learning of the 22-year-old's passing, calling Whisman his “little brother.” Whisman's death was not caused by a racing accident; an official cause of death has not been released.

“R.I.P my little brother you will Always be so Loved,” Smith wrote.

Smith and Whismen met when Whisman moved to Southern California in the summer of 2018; Smith gifted the young rider with several pairs of boots and the saddle Smith used to win the 2005 Kentucky Derby (G1) aboard 50-1 long shot Giacomo. It was the same saddle presented to Smith by another Hall of Famer, Laffit Pincay Jr., upon his 2003 retirement as the sport's all-time leading rider.

The death of the 22-year-old jockey was first announced on Twitter on Jan. 11, 2023, by Morell Bloodstock, LLC.

“We are deeply saddened to hear the news about Avery Whisman,” the Maryland Jockey Club wrote on Twitter. “Our hearts are with his family and friends.”

According to a 2019 interview with the Maryland Jockey Club, Whisman grew up in Lexington, Ky., riding three-day eventing horses including an off-track Thoroughbred which he piloted in the Junior Olympics in 2017. He pivoted to racing shortly thereafter, first working as an exercise rider for Joan Scott at Keeneland before Carla Gaines hired Whisman and brought him out to the West Coast.

Whisman said of Smith: “Being around somebody like Mike, who is absolutely a complete professional and so focused and so good at what he does, gave me the inspiration to strive to be like that. He does everything right. They give great advice and things like that, but to see how they conduct themselves and go about their business is inspiring and motivating.”

It was Smith's idea for Whisman to begin his career as a jockey at Turf Paradise, where mounts would be more plentiful. Whisman made his professional debut Dec. 18, 2018 at Turf Paradise, finishing sixth with Sincere Warning. He rode twice more before the end of the year and remained in Arizona to start 2019, riding there through the end of March and picking up his first winner March 16 aboard Spring Sprung.

By the end of April, Whisman relocated to the Mid-Atlantic region and found a home in Maryland. Whisman rode his first race at Laurel Park April 26 and was winless in three mounts before the circuit moved to Pimlico Race Course for its 12-day Preakness Meet. There, at the second-oldest racetrack in the country behind Saratoga, he finished with eight wins from 31 mounts, second in wins only to multiple meet and year-end champion Trevor McCarthy.

After skipping a year of riding in 2021, Whisman returned in May of 2022 at Pennsylvania's Presque Isle Downs. He won with 16 of his 93 mounts last year, his final mount coming on Aug. 23, 2022.

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