Tammi Piermarini

Tammi Piermarini has been riding for over 18 years now and we are proud to have this 1000 plus wins jockey on our page. I requested an interview and shortly thereafter I got Tammi on the phone and here is her story:

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

TP: I was born Freeport, Mass in 1967. I grew up in that area.

FOTH: Do you have any brothers or sisters?

TP: I have 3 brothers.  2 are older than me and the other is younger.

FOTH: What do they and your parents think about you being a jockey?

TP: They have their different opinions. (laughs) I think they are proud for me, but I think they are afraid for me. Like I came the other day and my mother said to me 'Geez, I wish you would just retire" cause I have hit the ground quite a few times this past year. Between horses breaking down, horses having heart attacks, horses just falling. So I have had some unfortunate falls. I explain to my mom that is the sport.

FOTH: When did you know you wanted to become a jockey?

TP: When I was a little kid I would watch it. I didn't know much about horse racing, but when I would catch a race on TV I would tell myself "boy I'd like to do that." I was more into the show horses than anything else. I didn't have a lot of money growing up and my aunt bought me my first horse and to support that horse I had to get a job. So I started baby-sitting and saving my money. Then I started working on a farm that I baby-sat for. I would start cleaning the stalls and when they found I could ride a little bit they asked me to break babies on the farm and I went from giving up the show horses that don't make any money to go into race horses that can make you a little money and have some fun at the same time.

FOTH: Looking back is being a jockey easier or harder than you thought it would be?

TP: The toughest part about being a jockey is dealing with politics, having the right horses to ride, the pressure from the owners and trainers. Is it harder than I ever thought? Yeah, I think a lot of people don't realize how hard it is because for some jockeys, like other athletes like ballerinas and boxers, wrestlers, there is a part behind the scenes where we do things to make weight. Some jockeys end up killing themselves because of that. I have been fortunate not to have to fight with my weight. I have been able to keep it at a level where I am strong and light enough to be a rider. There are some jockeys that have to pull 6-10 pounds everyday. That is the tough part about being a rider.

FOTH: Can you tell us what you can remember about your 1st race?

TP: My very first race I rode a first time starter which is odd. Normally they don't let a first time rider, ride a first time starter. It was a horse I had been working with a long time. I had been getting from the gate, galloping him, etc. They let me ride him. It was a dry, fast track and it was at Suffolk Downs. I finished nowhere. The horse broke slow. They had been the horses problem, he had breaking bad from the gate in the mornings. I think I ended up 5th or 6th. Next time when I rode him he won by like 5 or 6 lengths. (laughs)

FOTH: Tell us about your first win.

TP: Same horse next time out I won on him.

FOTH: Did you get creamed after the race?

TP: Yes I got eggs, cream, hot water, shaving cream, shoe polish. Anything they can get they get you all over.

FOTH: Did you know that was coming?

TP: I had no idea.

FOTH: What was it like going into the winner's circle for the first time?

TP: I was in total awe. I was so happy.

FOTH: Looking back do you think you were a good apprentice jockey?

TP: I did very well. Unfortunately I had a lot of setbacks. I had broken my knee and I had injuries here and there. I won almost 200 races as an apprentice.

FOTH: What are some other tracks you have rode at besides Suffolk Downs?

TP: All up and down the East Coast, but I have never ridden in Florida. I rode in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Maryland, Massachusetts, pretty much every track on the East Coast.

FOTH: Do you have a favorite track that have rode at and any you want to ride at one day?

TP: Belmont is my favorite. Santa Anita would be nice. Also I'd love to ride in Florida. I wouldn't mind riding every track.

FOTH: You are one of the few female jockeys that has over a 1000 wins. How long did it take you to get to a 1000 wins?

TP: I don't know exactly. I think it was in year 2000. There were years where I didn't ride much at all due to being sick and injury. I started riding in 1985. It should have been sooner, but due to setbacks that didn't happen. I set a track record in New York at Belmont going a mile and 1/16th.

FOTH: Rockingham Park is not doing thoroughbred racing anymore. Are you sad to see that track go?

TP: Yes, I like to break up the circuit. Rockingham had more of a family atmosphere. The backside was split out, the jock's room was separate from the grandstand where you can watch the horses get saddled and see the people come in and out, etc. It was a nice break in between.

FOTH: You retired a few years back due to having a baby. What made you decide to put the ole riding boots back on again?

TP: I retired cause I was burned out. At the time I had a sleeping disorder and between being burned out and the pressure I just wanted to call it quits. I wanted to start a family and go on from there. I did take up training for a little while. I had my baby and then decided I wanted to come back.

FOTH: How hard was it getting back into riding shape?

TP: It wasn't too bad. I was also training some horses in the year I was out. I trained for one of the largest owners in the country and had like 60 horses. I thought training would be easier than riding. No way! I'll take the riding any day over the training. I mean I like the training part, but it a lot of pressure. Because if the horse does not perform well, the jockey gets fired, then the trainer gets fired and then the owner realizes the horse is no good. You got bills to worry about, people to pay, make sure your help comes in and works every day and nevermind if your horse is ready to run. You wait 3 weeks for your horse to run and then have something happen in a race, like a horse leaving the gate and that's it you have to wait another 3 weeks or even if the horse can run again vs. being a rider. You ride one race, something happens, that's ok I got another race to ride.

FOTH: What are some of the injuries you have had over the years and what was the worst one?

TP: I have been fortunate injury wise. I have broken my hand a few times. I have broken a knee, which was the most long lasting one. I broke it in the starting gate and rode the rest of the day with a broken knee and didn't realize it was broken until the next day. I have several concussions, broke my back, but that was minor. When I came back this time I had a priest bless me, which I think helps out a lot.

FOTH: What was the biggest race you ever rode in and the biggest race you ever won?

TP: I rode the Mass Handicap and finished 3rd and also rode in the Trenton Handicap and finished 2nd. I got beat a 1/2 length. I won a lot of stake races I am not sure the biggest one. I won a bunch of different stakes for Ned Allard. I won a stakes race last week too.

FOTH: What has been your proudest moment as a jockey?

TP: I got my mother and father involved in race horses for just a short period of time and I had this one little horse and just winning on him was the most memorable. I won like 4 or 5 races on this horse and I was just so happy cause it was for my mother and father.

FOTH: How much longer do you plan on riding for?

TP: I have no idea.

FOTH: Do you have any hobbies or things you like to do when you are away from the track?

TP: Well I spend time with my husband and my daughter. I love them very much. I like to write poetry and listen to music. I wish I could sing, but I can't. (laughs) Just basically spend time with the family. In this business you are basically at the track. When I come home I enjoy my time with my family.

FOTH: Take us through a typical day.

TP: I get up at 5am and check on the baby and I get dressed and I take my 2 dogs out and then I go feed them. I wake my husband up, he is my agent, but I wake him up last cause he likes to sleep longer than me. (laughs) Then about 5:45 I go pick up my niece, who is my sitter. I pick her up and drop her off at the house and head for the track. I ride between 6 and 8 races every day they race. I ride and then I believe it or not I give people rides home (laughs) and then I come home and spend time with my husband and then I go to bed.

FOTH: If a young girl came up to you and wanted to be a jockey, what advice would you give her?

TP: I would sit her down and tell her what the life was like. Find out what her fears are if she has any fears. If that is what she wants to do I would not discourage her. I'd tell her to go for it.

FOTH: Do you feel female jockeys are not given the respect they deserve?

TP: There are some people in some places that don't have a lot of respect for female jockeys/trainers/grooms. I would say finally we are finally getting some respect.

FOTH: Any goals you have?

TP: Win as many races as I can. I'd love to win the Kentucky Derby. To ride long, strong and healthy.

FOTH: I'd like to thank you for the interview. Any last words you want to say to wrap this up?

TP: No other than thank you for your time and good luck with the website.

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