Tag: People

The Ed Brown Society's Chairman Greg Harbut and President Ray Daniels announced six new Ed Brown Scholars on Tuesday evening. The announcement was made at the Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center during the Opening Night Art Exhibit celebrating African American equestrians, co-sponsored by the Ed Brown Society, Breeders' Cup Festival Week, and Commerce Lexington.

Jaida Alee, a sophomore at the University of Kentucky, majoring in Equine Science and Management; Chanler Robinson, a junior at Ohio State University, majoring in Animal Science; Sophia Vega, a freshman at the University of Kentucky, majoring in Animal Science; Harrison Goode, a junior at the University of Kentucky, majoring in Equine Science and Management; Jeffrey Mitchell, Jr., a doctoral student at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine and Deanira Smith, a doctoral student at the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine were all recognized as Ed Brown Scholars for the remainder of the 2022-2023 academic year.

Each Ed Brown Scholar was awarded a $3,000 scholarship and will gain industry exposure, training, and experience through the EBS career development program that will properly position them to pursue successful careers within the equine industry.

Of this announcement, Chairman Greg Harbut said: “At the Breeders' Cup, many will place their wagers on who they believe will be the winners of world championship races. In that same spirit, the Ed Brown Society is making this investment in young people of color who are running strong academic races in pursuit of their equine careers, and we believe they will finish strong.”

About the Ed Brown Society

Founded by Living The Dream Stables, the Ed Brown Society (EBS) celebrates the rich history of African-Americans in the equine industry while creating opportunities for young people of color to gain industry exposure, training and experience, through academic scholarships, development programming and professional internships. EBS focuses on identifying and qualifying students of color, with demonstrated interest, skills and commitment, to become successful professionals in all aspects of the equine industry.

For more information about EBS visit www.EdBrownSociety.org.

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Umberto Rispoli had a very good day Saturday at Santa Anita with three stakes wins including a graded stakes. Those victories earned Rispoli Jockey of the Week for Oct. 24 through Oct. 30. The award, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, honors jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.

Riding for trainer Phil D'Amato in the Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes, Rispoli was aboard Going Global in her career finale. Off as the overwhelming favorite in the field of six, Going Global saved ground in third while 2 1/2 lengths off her stablemate Burgoo Alley. Going Global got on even terms at the top of the lane and burst clear to post a 1 1/2-length win in 1:33.85 for one mile on the turf.

“I was on the right horse,” said Rispoli. “She is very easy to ride. Once I hit the turn to go home, I just pressed the button and she did the rest. I feel so privileged and grateful to have been on her for her final race.”

Northern California trainer Steve Specht gave a leg up to Rispoli on Passarando in the Golden State Juvenile. Passarando bobbled slightly out of the gate, taking position behind three dueling leaders. Riding Passarando for the first time, Rispoli angled three wide into the lane for racing room and overtook heavily favored Giver Not a Taker in deep stretch to post a length victory in 1:24.18 for seven furlongs.

“Going to the three-eighths pole, I saw an opening between the horses ahead of me, said Rispoli. “I'm sure my horse was probably tired, but once I took him off the rail, brought him into the middle of the track, and switched leads, he did the rest.”

Rispoli and D'Amato then registered a stakes double on Amy C in the Senator Ken Maddy Stakes. Off as the second choice in the field of 10, Amy C wore down race favorite and stablemate, Connie Swingle to win by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:12.36 for 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf.

“It was pretty easy,” said Rispoli. “Around the far turn I felt I had a nice horse underneath, and I was just waiting until I crossed the chute to send her and I knew with that pace it was a 'come to me', so the filly did the rest.”

Rispoli will have the chance to display his riding skills on the turf Friday at Keeneland in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and on Saturday in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

Rispoli's statistics for the week included six wins and $430,544 in total purses.

Other contenders for Jockey of the Week were Tyler Gaffalione with a graded stakes win at Keeneland, Deshawn Parker with three stakes wins at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Joel Rosario with three stakes wins, and Luis Saez who won his second leading rider title at Keeneland.

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Aamilah Aswat, one of the first students to graduate from the Riding A Dream Academy, has been appointed Senior Trainee at the British Racing School. Aamilah, 16, from Gloucester who learned to ride at St James's City Farm and Riding School and was supported by The Jockey Club, was part of the first group of students to graduate from the Academy's Khadijah Mellah Scholarship in July and is currently completing a 12 week Foundation Course at the British Racing School.

Aamilah said, “It is an honour to be made Senior Trainee and is something that I never expected. Being at the Riding A Dream Academy was such a great stepping-stone for me to be at the British Racing School and I absolutely love it here, it's like a second home. I am so excited and honoured to be given this opportunity.”

Aamilah has already undertaken extensive work experience in racing, starting out at Sophie Leech's yard, before gaining experience at Kim Bailey's and with former jockey Jason Maguire, both of whom have separately won the Grand National. With similar aspirations herself, Aamilah said, “My dream is to be a jump jockey and win the Grand National. I started riding at the age of seven at St James's in Gloucester and had my first pony race at 11 with the Pony Racing Authority. I found it so exciting – the fact that you're on famous tracks, knowing that the best jockeys in the country have also ridden there is so exciting. I can't wait to hopefully race professionally in the future.”

Khadijah Mellah, in whose name the Riding A Dream Academy was set up following her historic Magnolia Cup win, said, “I am so thrilled to see Aamilah made Senior Trainee at the British Racing School. She is such a talent and, with all the other wonderful attributes she possesses, I can't wait to see all the things she achieves in her career.

“The Riding A Dream Academy was set up to support young people from diverse communities get into British horse racing and so to see one of our former Scholarship students to become Senior Trainee is incredible. The Academy's aim is to help make racing more diverse and inclusive and with the Racing Foundation and our partners at the British Racing School we are helping to make this a reality.”

Imran Atcha, who runs St James's City Farm in Gloucester where Aamilah first learnt to ride said, “We are all so proud of Aamilah. She has absolutely loved racing since she first started riding with us and it is wonderful to see her flourish and be recognised in this way. She has overcome many challenges over the years to get this far and we can't wait to see her at the races.”

Laura Stokes, Aamilah's instructor at the British Racing School said, “We have been so impressed with Aamilah's attitude and talent and she was the stand-out choice for Senior Trainee. She is currently halfway through a twelve-week residential course and since joining us she has demonstrated herself to be a mature and responsible member of the team, working well with the other students. She works hard in the yard, setting a good example to her peers.”

The role of Senior Trainee involves organising the other students in the hostel during block jobs and taking responsibility at feed time in the yard. Senior Trainees also act as a voice for the rest of the foundation students during meetings between senior trainees and British Racing School staff.

The Riding A Dream Academy was set up after Khadijah Mellah made history by becoming the first British Muslim woman to win a UK horse race. Kindly funded by the Racing Foundation it supports young people from diverse communities and disadvantaged backgrounds to get into racing. In its pilot year 74% of its students came from a diverse ethnic background.

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Vic Cozzetti, a staple in Washington racing for over five decades, passed away Sunday in a Puyallup assisted living facility at age 93.

Cozzetti was a fixture in the press box at Longacres and Emerald Downs—where he was known as “Victor the Predictor”—and involved in every form of racing media—television, radio, newspaper, Internet. His nightly recap on local radio was especially popular with handicappers and horsemen alike, delivering results and racing news in the pre-Internet era of the 1970s and 80s.

Cozzetti was more than just a handicapper and voice for racing, however, founding one of the first ownership syndicates in America, bringing together virtual strangers via 10 percent shares to own and race Thoroughbreds. Beginning with Media Stables in the 1970s and followed by SKS Stables and Vic-Tory Stables, his syndicates' navy-blue silks were fixtures at Washington racetracks. His final horse, He's All Heart, won the 2011 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic by 10 ¼ lengths.

Cozzetti took great pride in handicapping, offering selections in the Valley Daily News, along with pre-race seminars and a weekly newsletter. He also sold equine insurance, tabulated program standings, assisted in the TV department, and maintained a racing website Predictorsays.com.

“Victor's accomplishments and contributions to Washington racing will never be matched,” said Emerald Downs President Phil Ziegler. “He took on so many challenges throughout his career. The people at Longacres and Emerald Downs were part of his family, and he was part of ours.”

Born in Niagara Falls, NY, Cozzetti grew up in Spokane, starring in baseball at Gonzaga Prep High School and later playing semi-pro ball in Montana. He eventually settled in in Tacoma, where he worked in insurance and umpired baseball and officiated football and basketball.

Cozzetti is survived by a son, Michael of Yelm, Wash., a daughter Deborah of Lakeland, Fla., and a stepson, Jeff of San Diego, Calif.

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