Louise Moeller
Louise Moeller is a jockey that rides mostly overseas and she had a chance to ride some races in America down at Gulfstream Park this past year. I managed to track down her email address and asked if she would like to be interviewed for our page. I fired off some questions to her and this is what she said.
FOTH: Where were you born and where did you grow up? Do you have any brothers or sisters?
LM: I was born and raised in Aalborg, which is the 4th biggest city in Denmark. My parents still live there, and my one and only 5 year older sister recently moved back to town after spending some years in Copenhagen, where I live now. So I am the only one in the family who lives "abroad".
FOTH: What sort of kid were you when you were growing up?
LM: The quiet one. I was always good at entertaining myself. I started riding at a nearby riding school when I was 4 years old, and my dad would take me as often a he could, till I was old enough to go by myself. I was a real "animal-child". I used to drag all sorts of animals into our house to play with; birds, cats, rabbits, frogs, anything! I would rather play with my pets than with my school friends. They never really understood that.
FOTH: Did you always love horse racing and jockeys? Were there many race tracks around where you grew up?
LM: There was and still is a racetrack near my parents house in Aalborg, where we used to go every Tuesday evening, where racing was on. My best friend and I always went to the jocks room to get autographs. I was so amazed by the thoroughbreds and I just wanted to get on them and ride them.
FOTH: What event or events led to you becoming a jockey?
LM: My parents bought me a pony, and of course I had to see if it could run fast! So I was entered in a couple of pony races, which I won! And this trainer saw me, and asked me if I was interested in riding out for him after school. And that's what got me started! After a couple of years I got my own race horse and I rode a few amateur races on her. I traveled around with my trainers horses to some of the other tracks and got introduced to Mark, "this famous jockey from Copenhagen" (who now is my fiancee!). At that time I was just fooling around, helping out in some other stables too, so when Mark asked me to move to Copenhagen with him, I did.. He obviously saw a decent rider in me, (laughs) so I started my apprenticeship in July last year.
FOTH: I know you are very tall (6 foot 1 inch). Did many people try and tell you that you could never become a jockey?
LM: Oh, yes! My school teachers tried for many years to talk me out of it. They wanted me to be a veterinarian, a book writer (because I had such a good imagination), correspondent. Anything else than a jockey! The school nurse thought I starved myself to keep the weight down, 'cause I more looked like a flag pole compared to all the other kids, because I was so tall and so skinny. But they always kept quiet when they saw how much I ate. Because I really do eat a lot! I guess I'm just one of the fortunate ones, who got high metabolism and doesn't gain a whole lot of weight. People still don't believe me, when I tell them that I am a jockey. Of course they have that assumption that jockeys are small.
FOTH: Tell us what you can remember about your first race. Like the name of the track, name of horse, where you finished, etc.
LM: My first race was an amateur race on the track in my hometown, Aalborg. It must have been in 1993, and I just had my license out the day before. It was a surprise from my trainer, who had entered the horse in the race with me as the jockey. It was also my own horse, "Isabella", and we finished 6th.. I was very nervous, and I couldn't really remember anything from the race. But we came home safe, and it still was a great experience of my life.
FOTH: After the race was over what did you learn from it that you think would make you a better rider?
LM: It all went so fast, when I first started to race ride. And therefore I really can't say that I learned anything from that race. Riding as an amateur here, you are just fooling around and trying to look smart on the horse. And nobody is really teaching you anything! It was not until I got to know Mark, I started to learn how to ride a race. In every race I ride, I get to learn that "little bit more" of it, because we study every race I ride, and we talk about "wrongs and rights". And that's what made me step up from a hopeless amateur rider, to champion apprentice on the main track in Denmark in only a few years.
FOTH: What were the different tracks that you rode over across the sea when you were first starting out? What if any is the difference in them?
LM: I was both galloping and riding races at Gulfstream Park this winter, but a couple of years ago I was also galloping at Hialeah Park and Churchill Downs. The difference in them, if you want to compare them to Scandinavian racetracks, is that in Denmark we only race on turf. The other two Scandinavian countries, Norway and Sweden, has both turf and dirt. Where American tracks are all 1 mile and always "flat as a pan cake", Scandinavian tracks are different sizes and some are up and down hills. Some tracks race right way around, some go left!
FOTH: You actually came to the US and rode some races down at Gulfstream Park recently. What made you decide to go to Gulfstream Park and how did you manage to get mounts there as that is a very tough track to get mounts at?
LM: Since I went to Hialeah and Churchill Downs a couple of years ago, I always wanted to go back. We always have the winter off from racing here in Denmark, and Mark and I decided to go to Florida on a "working holiday", also to see old friends. I got in contact with Frank Passero Jr. and he wanted me to come and ride out for him. He liked my way of riding and gave me 3 mounts, while I was there. The thrill of my life!!
FOTH: What was it like riding in a race at Gulfstream? Did you get to talk and hang out with some of the bigger name jockeys like Jerry Bailey or Pat Day etc?
LM: It was the greatest experience ever to ride at Gulfstream Park!.. Everything there is so professional.. Stewarts, valets, horsemen, trainers, pony riders and gate people! Never seen anything like it. I did a photo shoot with Pat Day and Jorge Chavez to the Miami Herald, because I was so tall (laughs). That was fun too, some of the jockeys came down to the beach and we played volleyball. It is so relaxed and down to earth. I really liked that. But then again, they are just people like you and me.
FOTH: Did you talk much with some of the female jocks there like Charleen Hunt and Rosemary Homeister Jr.?
LM: Yes I did. They were very nice to me. (Thanks a lot for that, if you read this!!) Always helpful and in a good mood! I really admire those two. They are doing a good job among all the men. Well done girls!
FOTH: You also managed to get 3 mounts at the Gulfstream meet. Where did you finish in them?
LM: I finished 5th, 6th, and 7th in those 3 mounts I had.
FOTH: Do you ever plan on coming back to the US and ride again? Did you get so see much of Florida while you were here? Like did you go to Disney World, Universal Studios etc?
LM: I would love to come back to the US. I did not want to leave!! And I know I will come back soon. Maybe next winter, we'll see. We went to see a lot of things last time. We always go and gallop in the morning and then go out to see things in the afternoon. Like I said - A "working holiday", we went to Seaquarium, Key West, Theater of the Sea to swim with dolphins, the Zoo and a lot of other places. Last week, we were in Florida we went to Orlando to see Disney World, Universal and SeaWorld.. The only thing we missed were the Everglades.
FOTH: What was the biggest difference you could see in riding in the US as opposed to riding where you come from?
LM: They go fast. All the way!! It's mainly sprint races, where in Scandinavia,(or most of Europe) we have longer distances, up to 1 mile and 3/4. Style-wise, I like the American way of riding (aerodynamic), and that is also the style I have been taught by Mark - compared to many older jockeys who still ride the English way.
FOTH: You are also now a trainer. Does that mean you are no longer a jockey? Also you are engaged to another jockey. What is his name and how did you two meet?
LM: I had amateur trainer’s license before I turned apprentice. So the Jockey Club gave me a dispensation to keep on training my "big horse", Luconic. But that is no longer a fact, since we lost him a couple of weeks ago, due to an injury. So now I am only an apprentice, but I will start as a trainer again, when I finish my apprentice contract. My fiancé, Mark Larsen, I met through racing. He was an apprentice at Woodbine in the early 1990's and had returned to Denmark after his stay of 4 years over there. We got together after a Derby party and have been a couple for three years now. He proposed to me on Christmas morning 2 years ago, but we just haven't had time to set a date yet (laughs) - but we are planning on getting married this fall.
FOTH: Have you ever had any problems with weight at all?
LM: Nope! I am very lucky not to have any weight problems. Last season I tacked 110, but this year I put my weight up to 113 - because I am trying to gain a bit, to get stronger.
FOTH: How long would you like to continue to ride for? Would you ever consider moving to the US to be a full time jockey or trainer?
LM: As long as I am having fun doing it, I will continue to ride races. But of course we talk about family as well. Mark really wants kids, and don't want to continue riding on top level more than a few years more. So I will get the best out of it, while I am an apprentice, and then think about family after that! That is my goal! But yes, we have talked a lot about starting up a training stable in the US as well.
FOTH: What is the biggest difference for you being a trainer as opposed to being a jockey?
LM: Not much. The jockey education here contains stable work, feeding, training and a lot of things you do as a trainer as well. So there isn't much difference. You got more responsibility.
FOTH: Is there many female riders around over where you are currently based?
LM: On the smaller tracks in the province, yes. There are a lot of female amateur riders - but basically most male professional jockeys. But then again all apprentices this year are all females - I believe we are 8.
FOTH: What are your future plans?
LM: To get the best out of my two years, I have left as an apprentice, and then start up a stable of our own, together with Mark. And maybe to go back to Florida this winter and do a bit of modeling work as well.
FOTH: Any last words? Thanks for the interview Louise.
LM: Thanks a lot for including me on your website. I am very honored!
FOTH: Your quite welcome Louise and we were glad to interview you as well.