Jennifer Schmidt

Jennifer Schmidt is a young bug rider who started riding at Philadelphia Park after a short stint at riding at Thistledown. We recently had a chance to ask her some questions and here is what transpired:

Chris poses with Jennifer Schmidt at Philadelphia Park, November, 2003

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

JS: I was born in Kettering, Ohio. I grew up mostly in Ohio and a little in Tennessee.

FOTH: Any brothers or sisters and what do your parents think of you being a jockey?

JS: I have 2 sisters and both are younger than me. My sisters like it, my dad absolutely loves it and my mom likes it. My dad is also very supportive of it too.

FOTH: What sort of girl were you growing up?

JS: I was very adventurous. I like to experiment with a lot of different things. I was always getting into stuff and trying new things.

FOTH: What did you want to be when you were growing up?

JS: A lot of times my sisters and I would take out little saddles and wrap our stirrups and race each other around the property. Being a jockey was always kinda on my mind, but not really, really serious till this year. I always wanted to be involved with something that had to do with horses.

FOTH: What event or events led to you becoming a jockey?

JS: Actually it was a canceled wedding that worked out for me to become a rider a rider cause I was not gonna ride if I got married and when that got canceled I really started thinking seriously about becoming a rider and a lot of riders at Thistledown when they would work horses with me they would say 'when you gonna start riding?" and question me all the time. Well, the opportunity was there and I jumped on it.

FOTH: Did anybody help you out at all?

JS: Trainer Joe Shuman at Thistledown was a big help. Jockey Jane Magrell she was great. Russell Woolsey was by far the biggest inspiration as a friend and as a rider. I can't say enough about him. He did incredible things to get me where I am at today and he was the one that got me to come to Philadelphia Park. I can't put into words how much he helped me.

FOTH: What was going through your mind when you first got your actual jockey license?

JS: I was excited. I was really excited to ride my first race. I kept hearing horror stories about people that fell off at the gate, your going to be so nervous you will throw up in the paddock, etc. None of those things really crossed my mind. I always knew the minute they put me up on that horse everything would be fine. As soon as I got up on my first mount I was so relaxed and I knew that this where I belong.

FOTH: Tell us all about your first race.

JS: It was at Thisteldown, September 13 or 14th. The horses name was Run Risena Girl and the trainer was Rick Shordan (hope that is right) and I had been galloping and working this filly all summer and she had to get out of the gate several times to get approval from the gate crew. I was really excited about the race. She was a speed filly and she had a breathing problem and she just stopped at the top of the lane. It was great being out in the lead and everybody thought I was gonna win cause the filly was flying for me and she just put on the brakes when she couldn't breathe.

FOTH: What was going through your mind going through your mind when you first walked into the jock's room and the paddock for the first time?

JS: The jock's room I wasn't so much overwhelmed as I had been hanging in there with Jane Magrell in the past and I knew a bunch of the riders and the clerk of scales. The first time going into the paddock I felt so excited and I wasn't nervous. I didn't want to have this stupid grin on my face too much, but it was a cool feeling to be walking out there.

FOTH: Tell us all about your first win.

JS: That was also at Thistledown. Not too long after my first race. The horse's name was Natures Pick. The trainer was Paul Marino. The horse was 50-1 and I won in a dead heat. I had no idea I won, this horse came for me in the last 16th and we came between horses and it was a close call and I was ready to get off the horse and they said "no no I think you won it." So we got our picture taken and it was a neat feeling especially with a horse that paid that much.

FOTH: Did you get taken care of after the race?

JS: It wasn't as bad as it could have been cause everybody was waiting for the photo to come up and it was really, really cold so they got me with water and baby powder and I had to ride 2 more races so they didn't get me too bad.

FOTH: For those who have never been there what is Thistledown like?

JS: The track itself I really like. It is a very unbiased track. It is not bad at the rail or any spots on it. The people that are they are good and the riders are very, very nice. The riders, they ride in a straight line and you don't have to worry about anybody dropping you. The clerk of scales is great. It is a friendly home track and I'd love to go back there if the purses were better. But the purses aren't so good and the slots are coming here so...

FOTH: What made you decide to come out and ride at Philadelphia Park?

JS: Through Russell. He was on the internet with some friends he had not talked to in a couple years and they gave him the name of this agent named Gary and Russell called Gary and talked to him and he checked a few things out for me and he also used to ride here so he contacted some friends here and this was not the original plan. The original plan was to go to NY or Florida. The way things came together, it was so quick, but things worked out well.

FOTH: What is tough leaving Ohio to come to PA?

JS: Yeah it was. I was sacred and didn't know if I was a good enough rider to come over here yet. I was very excited and they outweighed the nerves. The big thing was I didn't want to disappoint anybody cause I had been doing pretty well at Thistledown and I was really worried about disappointing people.

FOTH: Did you leave many friends and family behind?

JS: Yeah, my whole family is in Ohio and friends from the track. They were going their separate way and I am sure we will meet up again someday. I still keep in touch with them and they watch me ride and I also watch them ride.

FOTH: How much different are the horses and jockeys here than in Ohio?

JS: The horses for the most part seem to be a little better. They were getting sore and some were breaking down over at Thistledown. The horses here aren't as sore. I haven't met a lot of the riders here, but they tend to ride a lot more aggressive here to keep your running room.

FOTH: That leads to my next question. What do you think of the racetrack here?

JS: As long as you don't stuck on the rail your alright (giggles) As long as you hustle and you don't let the boys scare ya you will be alright.

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

JS: I am usually up around 3:30am or so and I get up and do some sit-ups and pushups and play with my ab roller and watch the news. I get to the track around 6:00 am or so and walk around, get on horses and here it is way easier than at Thistledown, which I was hustling like crazy there. Work a couple horses and some trainers just want you to come by and say 'hello' to them in the morning as that is all that matters to them, so I go by and get our "hellos" out of the way and then I head on up to the jock's room. That is kinda my alone time to get focused. I go through a whole exercise routine before I ride. I jump and I stretch and get mentally focused before I ride and try to stay in the best mood possible. I like to tell jokes and riddles and stuff just to keep everybody light. Then I go home and I go to the library a lot and read or check entries and get results and I go jog sometimes or take Gary's dog for a walk.

FOTH: How long would you like to ride for and do you have any goals for yourself?

JS: I'd like to ride for as long as I can and for as long as I can do well, without getting hurt. When you get hurt, not if you get hurt in this game. My goal is right now to make it at Philadelphia Park. In the long run I want to be bigger than the next Julie Krone. I want to just keep going up and up there and never look back.

FOTH: Have you gotten to check out much of the area yet?

JS: Yeah, I have been exploring on the dark days. I went down to Delaware the other day to visit a friend. I have been all over Bristol, PA walking and driving.

FOTH: Any track you would like to ride at one day?

JS: There is lots of tracks I would like to go and ride. I'd like to go to Miami, FL and also Tampa Bay Downs as I have a lot of friends that go there. I'd like to California at some point or NY.

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

JS: Never quit following those dreams and always live for yourself. Don't let anyone tell you, you can't do something and if it is something you really want to do be sure to chase that goal and don't let anyone you can't do it, cause you can.

FOTH: Is there any other jockeys you like or admire?

JS: Of course I admire Jane and Russell. Russell I can't say enough good about him, everything about him he is just an incredible person. Julie Krone is an incredible rider, she is so strong on a horse and unbelievable.

FOTH: Do you feel female riders do not get the respect they deserve and have to work that much harder to gain respect in the horse racing industry?

JS: I definitely think it is harder for a female. It is because it is a male oriented sport, most sports are, but I think once you get going and people see that you can ride just as strong as a guy and that you don't give up your room and you ride just as good as any guy does I think it balances it out. Some trainers will ride you just because you are a girl. They like girls. I think it all comes down if you can ride just as good as any guy then it isn't gonna matter whether your a girl or a guy.

FOTH: I know you have not been riding long, but have you had any injuries so far? Were you taught anything as far as riding goes or did you learn a lot on your own?

JS: I haven't had any injuries...knock on wood. When I was galloping I had a horse flip on me, but that was nothing major. I learned a lot as far as riding goes from friends at the track and just the past summer. I think what gave me an advantage over other riders just starting out was that I have been riding horses forever. I have a soft touch with the horse's mouth and I think that is why a lot will run for me and why they won't run for somebody else and that is why I can pull longshots in.

FOTH: Any plans on going back to Ohio or do you plan on at least riding here until your bug is up?

JS: I am gonna here as long as I am doing well. I have no plans right now to go back to Ohio as the purses are real bad there. I want to keep going up as long as I can. If an opportunity comes along to come somewhere better and I have still have my bug, I'll go in a heartbeat.

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

JS: I love to rodeo. I barrel race and rope. I don't have my horse here now but I love that and I like to read and spend time with nature. I like to go on walks and explore.

FOTH: Jennifer I am out of questions. Any last words and do you think when you get your first win here at Philadelphia Park you can give me a thumb's up in the winner's circle ha ha?

JS: Of course I will give you the thumbs up and I don't have any final thoughts, I'm just glad I came here.

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