Rosemary Homeister, Jr.
On a hot
August day at Monmouth Park my dad had a horse running and I went up to Monmouth
Park with him. His horse went off 20-1 and got 2nd. My dad had $10 to place
and $10 to show and it paid $22 in the middle so he got back like $200. Seemed
Lady Luck was with him that day. Some must have rubbed off on me as well. While
under a small enclosed area I overheard a very nice looking female telling a
group of people "yes I have four mounts tomorrow." I then knew this lovely lady
was a jockey. I began to try and figure out who it was. A friend of Jim's who
was nearby told me "Oh that is Rosemary Homeister Jr.!" I was stunned (she
was the winningest female jockey in the country in 2000 and I’ve seen her numerous
times on televised races from Florida but didn’t plan to see her in New Jersey
that afternoon) as I tried to figure out a way to politely ask her for an interview.
At this point we didn't even have a name for the site yet.
Armed with only the Mary Doser interview I did I leaned over and asked Rosemary
if perhaps we could do an interview. She asked for what site. Quickly thinking
I replied 'Well we don't have a name yet, but I think we
might call it "The Female On The Horse." Rosemary liked the name and also liked
the way Jim had laid out the Doser interview I showed Rosemary. While waiting
for her husband Jose Ferrer to ride in the last race I did this unscheduled
interview with Rosemary. I had no questions ready, but I think the interview
turned out rather well.
Rosemary Homeister in the
Calder Winner's Circle
Chris: Rosemary, where were
you born and where did you grow up?
Rosemary: I was born in Hollywood, Florida and I grew up in Florida.
Chris: Do you have any brothers
or sisters?
Rosemary: No I am an only child.
Chris: What made you want
to decide to become a jockey?
Rosemary: My mother and father were both jockeys (I had no idea of that-Chris). My mother now is a professional horse trainer, who I ride (and win races) for at Calder.
Chris: Did either of your
parents try to steer you in the direction to become a jockey or did you just
want to do it on your own?
Rosemary: I just fell in love with it because my mother and father were at the races everyday and working in the morning. My father was an exercise rider as well as my mother till she became a trainer and I just went with them every morning. I was always around the riders and the horses. I lived on a farm with my own horses so it was just in my blood growing up. Actually from when I was two I wanted to be a jockey. (Her grandfather jokes "it was in her blood.") After high school I wanted to be a computer programmer and I went to college for a year for that. I couldn't stay away from the horses. So I broke yearlings for 2 years then I started riding.
Chris: When the first time
you got up on a horse what was the feeling? Was it what you thought it would
be?
Rosemary: Well I had been riding horses all my life, but to get up on a thoroughbred horse and to gallop one on the race track was such a rush because on the farm I was breaking the yearlings and it was just hobby horses galloping slow and the first time I galloped a thoroughbred horse on the race track it the morning I felt like I was going a 100 miles an hour. (laughs) I was like "oh you got to slow down mom" cause I was galloping with her and she was teaching me and she is like "no this is normal" cause it was the normal pace at a race track so I had to get used to that and used to riding really short cause I was used to riding long. So it was a big change, but now its easy.
Chris: Do you think you
have a certain riding style? When I asked Mary Doser this she said she was taught
a lot with the use of her hands were you taught the same way?
Rosemary: I learned a lot with the yearlings to have quiet hands and to have light to the touch because when you break in yearlings they have light mouths and you have two bit their mouths and you have to be patient and have a light hand so to where they will learn that it is ok to have the bit in their mouth so by learning on them helped me like have a light and patient hand on a horse for thoroughbred racing.
Chris: What was it like
for you the first time when you rode in an actual race? What was it like walking
into the paddock for the first time with all your silks for the first time?
Rosemary: It was exciting. My mother was there and a lot of my friends and family were there. The second trainer my mother ever galloped for was there, Larry Geiger and I used to ride this pony called "Hop Along Cassidy" since I was 4 years old and I used to call him "Uncle Larry" and that was kinda important that he was there as well as my mother. It was the last race of the day and when I was in the race it felt like the morning breeze cause it was cool and kinda misty out. I actually don't remember the whole race I just remember it was like a blur, but it was amazing. I didn't think those horses could go so fast. It was a 12 horse field and I was in and out and dirt hit me in the face, I had to learn to pull down my goggles and I learn pretty quick. When your riding in a race it is such an adrenaline rush when you leave the gate your going from a dead standstill to like 35-40 miles an hour in like one jump. You never lose the excitement.
Chris: What was it like
to finally win your first race? Do you remember what track it was?
Rosemary: Yes it was at Calder. The horses name was "Mezanotty" and it was for Anthony Pecoraro and the instructions for the race were, he just wanted me to keep a big loop in the reins, he didn't want me to have a hold on the horse leaving the gate, just hold onto the mane and hold on the knot. When your an apprentice you do as you’re told, but I would never do that now. (Laughs) So I left the gate with a big loop in the reins and he told me not to touch the reins and he told me the horse would take me home cause it was an older horse. I just galloped around the track with a big loop in the reins and the horse won by 10 lengths and he just missed the track record.
Chris: What are some of
the other tracks you have ridden at?
Rosemary: Monmouth, Belmont, Aqueduct, I have ridden in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma City and those were girl jockey challenges and that is where I met Mary (Doser). Saratoga, Philadelphia, Garden State Park, Maryland, and all the Florida tracks (Gulfstream, Hialeah, Tampa Bay Downs, Calder).
Chris: Do you have a favorite
race track and least favorite one?
Rosemary: My favorite was here at Monmouth Park. My home track is Calder. I don't have any non favorite ones.
Chris: Do you and your husband
ever get into any ribbing before and after races that your both in?
Rosemary: Yes we have fun, but we are both very competitive. I think we ride against each other harder than anybody, but we root for each other and we want each other to do the best that we can. That is why I am up here (Monmouth Park) every other week and he comes home (Calder) every other week. It is a tough business and we have to be there for each other because it is hard enough being by ourselves. We are racing at different tracks so when I can, I come over here and root for him and hope he does well and rides safe.
Chris: Do you find it sometimes
getting mounts cause some trainers won't put you up on a horse cause your a
female jockey?
Rosemary: In the beginning it was tough because a lot of the trainers want a male, but it is easier for me now. Some want a male on the horse cause they think a man is stronger. (This is one of those myths which isn’t necessarily true; Rosemary is strong, trust me, I saw her upper body and she is built rock solid-Chris). I don't have that problem anymore cause I have made a name for myself and I'm established and am one of the top riders in Florida so a lot of the trainers/owners go for the top riders so I am either one or number 2 so I have a lot of business and they know I give 110% each time I ride.
Chris: Do you have a favorite
horse you ever rode?
Rosemary: I loved them all (smiles and laughs). My favorite horse is called "Castlebrook," a 4 year old filly and I have won 4 races with her and 3 were stake races.
Chris: What is the biggest
race you ever rode in and the biggest race you ever won?
Rosemary: The biggest race I ever rode in was a $300,000 race at Calder on a filly called "Princess Patrina" for Frank Carlisa and I won by a nose. The race was called "The Princess Rooney".
Chris: Is there any tracks
you would like to ride at someday?
Rosemary: No I have ridden in Kentucky, but I would love to ride in the Kentucky Derby. I guess everybody wants to ride it, but I want ride it and win it. (Laughs)
Chris: How many wins do you have?
Rosemary: I am coming up on 1500 wins.
Chris: How much longer would you want to keep on riding?
Rosemary: I am not sure cause you never know in this business. Maybe 2 or 3 more years cause I want to have a family with my husband. I am 29 now and I don't want to be too old to start a family and I know I can always come back to racing if I want to. I am planning on 2 or 3 more years and that will be good.
Chris: When you are riding in a typical day do you look over what you are riding and try and plot strategy?
Rosemary: Yes everyday I go over the program and highlight what races I am in and I try to figure out where I am going to be fitting in the race, who has speed, who is going to be coming off the pace, etc.
Chris: Here comes the injury question. What injuries have you had over the years?
Rosemary: I have broken my right hip, my right arm, shattered my nose, broke my pinky, kicked everywhere when I was younger (laughs). I have had spills, but you don't think about those. When you fall you just get up and go. You don't even think about it. You just kept and go unless you can't. For a rider you don't care if your hurt. You just want to hurry up and get back. When I broke my hip I told the doctor "I am only out 2 weeks right?" He is like "2 weeks try 8 weeks." I was like "I can't be out that long." I broke my hip and am expecting to come back in 2 weeks (laughs)
Chris: What do you think needs to be changed to make attendance go up at some tracks?
Rosemary: I think they have to do a lot more publicity. They have made it more family orientated. When I was growing up kids were not allowed on the track. I thought about maybe playing music during the day in between races cause it is so long. I am sitting here waiting for my husband and when your a rider you only have 5 or 10 minutes to get ready in between races so it seems really fast, but for the public out here it is like 20-30 minutes and it is very boring. There is no music nothing. Now they can watch different race tracks. Some people don't understand simulcasting or they want to see the horses here and and they have to someone get entertainment for the public while they are waiting. You really can't play loud music cause the horses are coming in the paddock. They need to think of something that will attract a lot of people.
Chris: Were you sad to see Hialeah Race Track (in Florida) close?
Rosemary: Yes I was. I was happy that I was the only female rider to win the ridding title there and also the last one in the history of the track. It is sad cause it was a historic site and my husband did very well there.
Chris: Last question is how did that famous wink and kiss to the camera start? (after Rosemary wins a race while they are walking the horse around in the winner's circle Rosemary winks and blows a kiss to the camera)
Rosemary: He is sitting right next to you, my grandpa. My grandpa is #1. He is my #1 fan in the entire world. He goes to the Meadowlands every single day to watch simulcasting to watch me ride. I don't know just one day I think I talked to him in the morning and I said I ride so many races that if I win I am gonna blow you a kiss to let you know that I know you are watching me. I won, I blew him a kiss and I do it everytime I win and it became a trademark.
Chris: Well thanks for the interview.
Rosemary: You’re welcome.