Helena Keaveney

Helena Keaveney is a young apprentice rider from Ireland currently riding in New England. I recently had a chance to speak to this very talented rider via the telephone and here is what was said.

FOTH: Where were you born and where did you grow up?

HK: I was born in Ireland and grew up there as well.

FOTH: Do you have any brothers or sisters?

HK: 2 sisters.

FOTH: What did your parents and your sisters think of you being a jockey?

HK: They like it. My dad likes hoses a lot. My sisters aren't into horse racing at all. My dad quite likes it so he is kinda excited for me.

FOTH: Did you have any interest in horse racing when you were in Ireland? How long have you been here?

HK: I've here in the US since June. When I was young I used to take pony lessons on the weekends and I went to the jockey's school over there called "Race" and I worked for Derek Wells for 2 years and then I came over here.

FOTH: Very interesting. We don't have any jockey schools over here. What exactly do they teach you in jockey's school? Is it in a room with like 30 people or is it more on a one on one basis?

HK: There was like 30 people on the course every year. If you're light enough they will take you. They will start you off and teach you to ride. We started off riding ex show jumpers and then eventually they move you on up and then they will send you to a trainer and every apprentice will go to a different trainer and they start you off by galloping horses and work them and do all that kind of stuff.

FOTH: Did you find it natural for you getting up on a horse when you started to ride?

HK: I used to ride ponies so that was easy so I sort of started at the bottom. Like I have had falls and had to learn everything. It felt odd when I first started out, but I liked it, so I stayed with it.

FOTH: Did you get to ride in any actual races when you were in Ireland?

HK: Yes I had 6 mounts.

FOTH: What is the difference in riding over there as opposed to riding over here and how long did it take for you to adjust to riding a US style of racing?

HK: Well there is only turf racing over there and you go to a different track all the time cause nobody trains at the racetrack. Everybody has their own yard and they have to ship, in other words each time you race you have to go to a different race track. The same horse is running, but there is 32 different race tracks and their is like a 3 day meet here and a 7 day meet there and it just depends where the race is for and where your horse will go. All the tracks are different shapes so it is easier here in the sense that you know the track very well cause all the horses train on it, it's oval and you just know it very well.

FOTH: Are there many female riders over in Ireland?

HK: I think there is a few apprentices doing well, there is no journeywoman riders. There was one Joanna Morgan, but she retired.

FOTH: What led to you coming to the US to start riding?

HK: It is very hard to get opportunities at home. I had a friend and her dad is a trainer here. (Suffolk Downs) I came out to visit here and I liked it so I just stayed and I didn't have great aspirations or anything, but I'm pretty light so I just stayed and everything worked out.

FOTH: How long did it take you to adjust to the way of racing over here?

HK: Not long actually. I was in New York first before I came up here. I've been riding for quite awhile before coming here and the horses are basically the same. It took me awhile to adjust to going the wrong way (at tracks overseas the horses run in the other direction) and jogging them the other way after the race. The dirt took me awhile to get used to as well cause we don't have any dirt service over there. It is a much faster pace here. It took me a little while to learn times as well as how fast I was going. But after I learned to do stuff in the morning I was fine in the afternoon.

FOTH: Did a lot of the jockeys talk to you about racing in Ireland and did any give and friendly advice?

HK: Yes, everybody has been very nice and helpful. I would go ask anybody anything and they would be helpful with any questions I had.

FOTH: Tell us what you remember about your first race here in the US.

HK: It was in NY at Aqueduct. It was on a tough filly and I finished second on it. She didn't break too good and it was all new to me, but she ran ok.

FOTH: Were you very nervous at all?

HK: I was a little nervous.

FOTH: Did you get to visit NY at all when you were riding there?

HK: I did all the tourist stuff and my dad came over and stuff and we did stuff like that as well as my 2 sisters.

FOTH: Tell us what you remember about your first win.

HK: I won at Finger Lakes by about 6 lengths. I kept riding cause I thought something was gonna catch me. (giggles) He won easy. It gave me a lot of confidence getting my first win.

FOTH: Did you end up getting creamed with stuff after the race?

HK: Shoe polish, cream, water, everything.

FOTH: Did you know that is a tradition that happens after a jockey wins his or her first race?

HK: Yeah I didn't know that day cause I didn't expect that horse to win, but I did know whenever I did win that they were gonna do that to me.

FOTH: What made you decide to leave New York to go ride at Suffolk Downs?

HK: I met Abby Fuller in New York. See I tore ligaments in my knee at Finger Lakes and I went home and came back in June and I met Abby and she rode in New England for a long time and she said that they like girl riders and there are good opportunities up in New England and they like the bug, so she got me an agent who is a friend of hers. He is Tammy Campbell's wife who was also a jockey so I ended just coming up here.

FOTH: Is the riding any different from where you are riding now as opposed to say New York?

HK: They ride tight in New York. I didn't have a lot of mounts in New York so I don't know the jockey colony very well.

FOTH: Have you had many injuries at all?

HK: The only real injury I had was when I tore the ligaments in my knee.

FOTH: What advice would you give to a girl wanting to become a jockey?

HK: I would say go to a good yard and get in a lot of practice breaking in from the gate and working horses. Also they should know horses very well. Try to get some real experience working for a good trainer.

FOTH: Do you feel female riders do not get the respect they deserve?

HK: I think girls get respect at least the ones that ride here do. The girls that ride here do well.

FOTH: I know your an apprentice, but do you have any set plans on how long you would like to ride for?

HK: No, not really.

FOTH: What are some things you like to do when you are away from the track?

HK: I like to go to the movies. I'll do anything once. I went skiing twice and I liked that.

FOTH: Is there any tracks you would like to ride at one day?

HK: No, not really. I'd like to get on some better horses and work my way up and win some nice races that is what I really want now. I'd love to get that lucky and ride a horse that wins a stake race or something. Just little steps.

FOTH: Have you ever had a horse pay over a $100 to win?

HK: I think I rode a filly called "Lady Brain" that paid $86.00 to win.

FOTH: Take us through what you do in a typical day.

HK: I usually get up around 6am. I get on and work as many horses as I need to for the trainers I ride for. After that I go up to the jocks room and have breakfast and wait there till I ride and that is about it.

FOTH: Do you plan on going back to Ireland one day?

HK: I haven't really thought about it too much. I'd like to improve my riding and see how it goes.

FOTH: Any female riders you like?

HK: Jill Jellison I like her. I like her a lot. I really like good riders like Jerry Bailey. Their standards are very high. Egnar Prado started here, I like him too.

FOTH: Helena thanks for the interesting interview. Anything you wish to add to it?

HK: No not really. Thanks for the interview and good luck with the web site.

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