Kris Prather
Recently, we had the opportunity to meet one of the rising stars of the sport of horse racing, Kris Prather. Although Kris would like to be known as more than simply a Turfway Park jockey (and we believe that she is more than simply a Turfway Park jockey), what she has accomplished at Turfway over the past two years will forever be a part of her racing story. For starters, in 2001, she shattered the Turfway record for victories in a meet--by the way, she missed six weeks of the meet due to an injury, and at the time of her injury was the leading jockey in North America. Kris was a finalist for the 2001 Outstanding Apprentice Jockey Eclipse Award (the award was won by Jeremy Rose).
FOTH: Where were you born and where did you grow up?
KP: I was born in Missoula, Montana, first baby born in the Neetle Natal unit, very small, got my picture in the paper first off. I grew up pretty much in the same general area of Montana. I was raised in Stevensville, Montana at my ranch Island Field Arabs and Island Field Mianes.
FOTH: Do you have any brothers or sisters? Are you close with your parents?
KP: Yes, I am close with my parents. All of my parents actually. Mike Prather is my father and Joan is my mother. I also have on younger sister her name is Kim and she is a beautician.
FOTH: What did you think of racetracks and jockeys in general when you first saw one?
KP: I thought it was great, just as great as I think it is now. I didn't know you wore a helmet and all that jazz. (we both laugh) It looked like a lot of fun. Pretty colorful.
FOTH: Did you always want to be a jockey when you were growing up? Did you know at an early age what you wanted to be?
KP: As soon as I could think of a job I always wanted to be a jockey. Since I was 6 years old. Fortunately things worked out the way I wanted them to.
FOTH: What events led you to becoming a jockey?
KP: Well, I rode in The Black Stallion series when I was younger and ever since then I have wanted to become a jockey. And actually I kept telling people I am gonna be a good jockey and actually they kept saying "Why don't you get your head out of the clouds, kid?"
FOTH: How did you end up going to Kentucky area to ride when you were living out in Montana?
KP: The exact reason I came to Kentucky was because in Montana you aren't exactly exposed to horse racing or much of anything. So the only racing I saw was The Kentucky Derby and what they aired. So actually I didn't even know they had anything in other places. The only place I knew of anything was Kentucky. So I just brought a plane ticket.
FOTH: What stuff were you taught as far as riding goes?
KP: Well, I first got a job galloping breaking in babies for Harold Jordan. His farm and I got that job over the internet. Also galloped for Wayne Lukas, Allen Jenkins and Frankie Brothers. When I met Julie Krone she kinda took me under her wing and taught me a lot. And Donna Barton who I am extremely close with and she is probably the closest individual as we talk and write each other ever day and she definitely took me under her wing. Al Jenkins taught me a lot as well.
FOTH: Tell us what you remember about your first race and what did you learn from it?
KP: My very first race was on July 4th at Churchill Downs and the horse’s name was Courageous Man for Dave Stober. He was this big ole horse and Donna had ridden him before and she was the one who got me the mount. He threw her in the post parade and she never got to ride him. So I rode him and grabbed hold of him and it was obvious it was an older horse. He ran really well and placed 5th and that was really good for him. It sure was funny cause I was laughing during the race cause his name is Courageous Man and he was sacred when he would come up alongside the other horses so I had to give him a lot of encouragement. But I think the best part was getting down and heading down that home stretch I would always see. It was the greatest feeling in the world.
FOTH: Tell us about your first win. Did you win by a lot and get creamed with stuff after the race? Your first win was at Ellis Park right?
KP: My first win was at Ellis Park on board Regination for Bob O'Conner. It was a tiny ole gray horse and he was a little sensitive around the mouth and I guess he lugged in with a lot of people, but I never touched his mouth and he just went right on up there. Actually it was really cool cause I had been riding so many 50-1 shots and stuff like I am riding at Oaklawn (laughs) and it is funny, your on the horse and your not used to being up there and when he went up there and I crossed the wire I looked both ways to see if I was crossing the wire and I saw nobody else was up by me. (laughs) That was so cool. I couldn't believe I won, then I got so caught up in the moment that I completely forgot you get creamed. So I am walking back and the valet is like trying to get my attention by saying "Here give me your vest" and I am like "what...you talk to much" So I give him my vest cause I had no idea why is was asking for it ya know. I just keep walking and uh man they got me with ketchup, mustard, eggs, and I stunk so bad. I made the mistake of only having one bra and one pair of underwear with me and they were so soaked I had to throw them in the dryer they stunk so bad. (we both laugh)
FOTH: When you began riding at Turfway did you think you would do as good as you did?
KP: Um, yeah I am very kid like in that aspect. People would ask me how they think I would do and I would say "Heck yeah, I'm gonna have a good meet" In my kid aspect, I thought I would break every record and this and that. Rationally after it happened I was very surprised. I guess I have two sides to that. I was very fortunate. I wasn't supposedly riding the best horses in the beginning. My partner James Lopez was riding the "better" horses but I was winning on the other ones. For some reason they ran really well that week and once you start winning people start giving you the live ones. Right now I am still second leading rider there and I was only at Turfway a week and a half. I came down here to Oaklawn to give it a shot. I came here kinda late and I am just breaking in here, but we will see what happens. (about a week later Kris departed for Mountaineer Park-Chris)
FOTH: How did it feel shattering the Turfway Park meet record for most wins by a jockey and also breaking the record for most wins on a card by a jockey?
KP: It felt really good and extraordinary. When I broke the wins for a day I was kinda behind horses and I kinda made that hole.
FOTH: I saw the race while I was working over at Garden State Park.
KP: I figured they could call me on it, but I would either lose the race or at least take a shot. So we decided to take a shot. And luckily nobody called anything so I was really happy. I thought the guys were gonna claim foul or something.
FOTH: Yes I was watching the race with a friend Ray Mullin and we both knew you had 5 wins and that another win would break the record and after you squeezed through there and the inquiry light went up we both thought they were gonna take you down. Thankfully like you said they did not.
KP: I thought they were too, but there was nowhere else to go and I had to try it, so I just decided I am gonna go through there. (laughs)
FOTH: This isn't coming from me, but some people say you are a little arrogant and are cocky. Jennifer Bramblett told me you didn't and you don't seem to have one as I am concerned. What do you say in response to this?
KP: I've always been smiling and happy. I mean here at Oaklawn I haven't even won yet (but she did the next day ha ha-Chris) and I am still grinning and joking as much as I always have. I haven't changed. But my smile and how it is perceived changes with my success. But I have never changed. I've always had a positive attitude. I just give it the best I have. Definitely there is some jealous people in the sport and I'm real happy for anyone that wins, but I guess when I win they think I am taking something from them, but I definitetly get a lot of that. It is kinda funny when people say "What are your goals and stuff" and I'm like "I'm gonna win The Triple Crown and this or that" and I don't think it has anything to do with me, but just as I explained to you I mean I am a kid in that aspect and I don't think any more of my talent than anyone else's. I think I'll get lucky and get that special horse. Horses do the winning all we do is steer.
FOTH: I know you came up this way to ride at The Meadowlands and Aqueduct for a short time. It was like a week or so. What led to you coming up here and why did you leave so quickly?
KP: I planned on going up there cause the "bug" is accepted up there. I went up there with Joey DiAngelo who was Julie Krone's ex agent. He is a great guy. One of the best people I have met. And I think it would have went well, but while I was up there my agent Steve Elezy called me and said 'Would you like me to take my book?" and I was like 'sure" cause he is a really good agent and it just worked out that way so I just came back right away and plus I am a Montana girl and I think NY was a little far fetched for me. It was pretty busy. I was pretty surprised. I was like "Where do people go at 3am?" ya know. Go home.
FOTH: Do you think a lot of the male jockeys were jealous of you at Turfway cause I had heard and read they were?
KP: I know some were jealous. I think anywhere you go your going to have those types of guys. I think your quality rider guys that know they are good don't feel your taking anything away from them. Like me and Tony D’Amico were always positive. He never gave me a hard time. Jose Martinez who rides there now me and him were really good friends. Brian Peck too. Your older, classier riders I never had any problems with. Sure there were some that were jealous, but I won’t mention their names.
FOTH: You had an injury at the starting gate at Turfway in 2001. Tell us what happened and what the set back did to you.
KP: Extra Exchange is a horse that is known for acting up in the gate at times and you can't have a gate person with ya. I had ridden her 2 or 3 times before this and this time she was in the 2 hole. Basically she sat too long, got fidgety and when the other horses were going she just flipped and didn't get me any time and pinned my knees there. So later here I am in the hospital thinking I am gonna go ride this horse for Bernard Flint later on while in the hospital. I was pretty bummed for a while, but I was actually a good sport the first time around. I learned a lot and the time off did me good and I got to hang out with Donna a lot and went back to Montana with my parents. Coming back I injured my shoulder almost immediately. That I have to actually say was devastating because when I hurt it I still rode for like a week with it like that. I won at Churchill and everything cause I wanted to ride so bad little did I know I was doing a ton of damage to it in the process. I really had a hard time with that as I tried to come back too soon, I had to go back out. It's funny cause Jorge Chavez always said "whatever you do don't come back too soon" and I should have listened to him as that was the best advice I ever had and I learned the hard way.
FOTH: That leads me to my next question. How did you hurt your shoulder? That was galloping in the morning correct?
KP: Yeah. Here I am going to the pole galloping along nice and easy and out of nowhere the horse decides he is gonna go off the track now and she went so fast that my feet got stuck in the stir-ups and I had to keep holding on with my arms so I could try and get my feet out cause I was like 'great there goes my knees again" and when I let go with my right arm it put all the pressure on my left arm and I just kept jerking on it and jerking on it and I felt it pop out of the socket. It came out of the back end, pushed in and ripped that muscle and I couldn't get my feet up and this took a long time and ripped my shoulder pretty bad. It tore the tendons off and stuff. It was not good.
FOTH: Did you ever have any thoughts of quitting? Is your shoulder and leg 100% now? What sort of therapy did you do and how did you stay in racing shape?
KP: Well to stay in shape I actually didn't do anything the first time I was off cause I have always been really fit. I actually worked on trying to gain weight and I was fine when I came back the first time. I didn't even gallop I went straight to the racetrack and I was really, really tired. (laughs) During the first day I couldn't stand up after the wire. It was ridiculous. I swam a lot for 45 minutes and rode the bike for like 45 minutes as well. I used to run, but that is really hard on the knees so I took up biking. I lifted weights and used rubber bands and went to physical therapy 2 times a day and did it at home. They gave me a lot to do at home. Actually the doctors told me I would only get 30% strength and right now I believe I am up to 75%. I had very good doctors though.
FOTH: How long do you want to ride for? Any long term or short term goals for yourself?
KP: Well since I only rode for 3 months last year my short term goal is to ride this year (big laugh) and long term goal would be to prove to people that I am a quality rider. Anyone can get on a good horse and ride them. That's not a quality rider to me. I don't know how long I'll ride for. I usually find an interest in something and then take it as far as it will go and then go onto something else. I used to take Judi, became state champ and I quit that, did soccer, became MVP, quit that and then went into rock climbing. (giggles) I don't know how long I'll do it for, but I am really enjoying myself when I do ride.
FOTH: Is being a jockey easier or harder than you thought it would be?
KP: Easier. Before I started I didn't know how hard it would be and it seemed like it should be harder than you kid like dream of it. It is pretty much like my dream when you hop on it and it seems like there is a lot more to it, but I guess it just comes naturally and things come naturally to some people and riding to me seems to comes natural. A lot goes on in a race and sure once you pick up on it, it should come naturally. Galloping is tough. The other things dejection and the crowds when you not riding well. (laughs) It is not that your not riding well, it's that your not riding the best horses. I guess it's when your working real hard and right now like me I came down here late and I am only riding sometimes 1 horse a day and I'm used to riding the card. So those parts of the business are really hard and very depressing. In this sport you have the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows and getting through that I think makes you a quality rider. One thing I have been on top, but I have also seen the other side and I made it through it. Hopefully from here we can have some good luck again.
FOTH: Any other female riders you like besides Donna and Julie?
KP: Yeah. P.J. Cooksey. She is definitely a good rider. She is also a very strong person. She had breast cancer and made it through that. Greta Kunzweiler is someone I respect she rides well and seems to be dedicated. I rode with Diane Nelson in NY. I think she is very good. I am sure I am missing some. Unfortunately compared to the guys they aren't many or well known quality woman riders. Right now I am riding with Cindy Noll who is also very good and I respect a lot. She is a hard worker and a quality person. There are also a lot of guy riders I respect. A jock is a jock I guess.
FOTH: I read where you said you didn't want to be known as just a Turfway rider. What did you mean by that?
KP: Well because people even when I rode Churchill and I was winning and stuff and I wasn't riding 2-1 horses...sorry ya know. (laughs) The crowd would always be going "Rider at Turfway" and this and that. My point is I would only be good at Turfway it seems. Even though I only rode at Churchill for a week and won it wasn't long enough to prove myself and the same with Ellis Park when I was there for a brief time and won 8 races in like a week, but it wasn't enough. You need to ride at a track for an extensive period of time. So I just wanted to prove I could ride at other places and not just be a one track flash in the pan.
FOTH: What is the biggest race you ever won and the biggest race you ever rode in?
KP: Well I had a lot of good opportunities coming up, but I got injured. I won a couple stake races at Turfway. I was gonna ride a couple good horses in the Spiral Stakes, but I got hurt. I watched them run while in Montana and I got sick. (laughs) Maybe we will make it this year.
FOTH: Your father does your website. (see it listed on our links page) What do you think if it?
KP: I think my dad totally loves me. (giggles) It is pretty cool and he did a really good job and I like that he put up my poetry on there and my art cause I think that is something important to me and something else that I do. I think it is kinda funny when I first looked at it I was like "Dad you can't put these pictures up on there," but now I really trust him and I think it's pretty cute.
FOTH: What do you do in your spare time?
KP: I like a good movie. I like to watch movies sometimes. I am avid reader. I mean I get on-line and I email a lot of people.Donna and I email each other back and forth everyday. I search the web a little. Mainly I like to go to Barnes and Noble when I am in Kentucky and here there are a few good bookstores in the mall. I like hanging out with some coffee and reading a good book. Actually I love to hike. When I am racing it is easy for me to lose weight so I try to ride and not do too much other physical activity. But if I wasn't riding I'd definably be hiking or something.
FOTH: Take us through a Kris Prather day.
KP: At Churchill I would wake up at 4am and get to the track by 4:45am. Here (Oaklawn) I am still waking up way too early as the track doesn't open till 7am. I hang out and have coffee for a while. I don't drink too much cause I don't want to get too wired. Then I go to the track and make my rounds. Visit the trainers, see if they need anything. I get on 4 or 5 horses. Then I try and go get warm. I usually take an hour or so and sit down and write things I learned. Basically it is my time and God's. I say all my prayers and what I'm thankful for my family and friends and stuff. From there I check my emails and pack up my laptop and put it in my backpack. Go to the jocks room and get dressed and then I usually ride. After that I come home and fix a meal or pick up something. I mainly eat protein or vegetables. I am trying to stay away from any breads or pastries. I usually watch tv as I eat dinner. Good humor stuff like Seinfield. I usually call Donna or my parents and call it a night. I am from Montana and I don't have much of an appetite for nightlife.
FOTH: What do you think can be done to give female riders more respect in the sport of horse racing?
KP: It's gonna be up to us. I think if we had more good woman riders that would help. Cause there are so many good male riders, so the female riders that come in and are weak, lazy, and not dedicated to the job they give us female riders a bad name you know. You need to be very dedicated, eat right, make sure you stay strong enough to do the job, have good work ethics and it will pan out.
FOTH: Any tracks you would like to ride at one day?
KP: Sure. Actually I'm not interested in Gulfstream, but I would like to ride at Santa Anita or Del Mar. Pretty interested in that actually. I went there one day with Julie and I like the riders over there too and the track is beautiful.
FOTH: Do you feel you have a certain riding style?
KP: No, not really. I pretty much adjust to whatever horse I am on. Sometimes you will see me wailing on these big ole colts that don't want to run. And then you will see my riding a filly and she will give you everything she has got. You just have to ask her and don't even touch her with the stick. I pretty much adjust to the personality of the horse and warm them up differently and ride them differently.
FOTH: At Turfway they used to play music when the winning jockey went into the winner's circle. Your song was "Music" by Madonna which we hard quite a bit. Did you pick that song?
KP: We get to pick our songs and I thought that was cool. I wish they still would have done that.
FOTH: Any last words to wrap up this long interview. We really appreciate you taking some time to talk with us for our web page. Best of luck Kris.
KP: I guess to tell everyone to follow their dreams cause you got to shoot for what you believe in and you got to believe in yourself cause if you don’t believe in yourself nobody else will so I think people should believe they can do it and then try it to.
Kris Prather puts the final touches on her record-setting six-win day!