Kelly Spanabel
Kelly Spanabel is a long time riding jockey that we met while we were out at Great Lake Downs. After a night of racing I had a chance to sit down in the grandstand with Kelly and here is what was said.
FOTH: Where were you born and where did you grow up?
KS: I was born in St. Petersburg, Florida and I grew up in Florida and Louisiana mainly.
FOTH: Do you have any brothers or sisters?
KS: I have 2 sisters.
FOTH; Are either one of them involved in horse racing?
KS: Not anymore.
FOTH: What type of kid were you growing up?
KS: I guess I was a tomboy.
FOTH: What event or events led to you becoming a jockey?
KS: My family is in the business. My mom is a trainer and we just always had the race horses.
FOTH: Is being a jockey harder or easier than you thought and why?
KS: It is hard, but it is not any harder than I thought it was. Sometimes it seems it is harder than it was.
FOTH: What are some of the tracks you have ridden at?
KS: I counted it up the other day and I have ridden at 46 different tracks! All the way down to Gulfstream Park through Fort Erie and Woodbine, all the way out to Iowa, Texas, Nebraska, etc.
FOTH: How do you like riding out at Great Lakes Downs as this is your first year riding out here.
KS: It's ok. Track is alright.
FOTH: I know you also ride at Mt. Pleasant Meadows which is not too far from here. How is it riding there?
KS: It's cool. They have quarter horses, thoroughbreds, Arabians, etc.
FOTH: How do you have to adjust your style in order to ride those different kind of horses?
KS: It is really no different from riding here actually.
FOTH: Can you tell us what you remember about your first race.
KS: It was at Tampa Bay Downs. The horse’s name was Dr. Medicine. I finished dead last on the horse. (laughs)
FOTH: Tell us all about your first win.
KS: First win was at Charlestown on a horse named "Jumbo Man" The horse was from Louisiana. It was my first win, the horse’s first win and the trainer’s first win.
FOTH: Oh that is neat. Was the horse a long shot?
KS: Oh he was a longshot. I think he went off 27-1 or something like that.
FOTH: Did you get creamed with stuff after the race?
KS: Oh yeah. It was cold. Yes I got plastered with stuff.
FOTH: Take us through what you do in a typical day.
KS: The training track opens at 7:30 for training so I go and breeze horses and take horses from the gate. I school young ones. We have 6 horses that we school every day getting them ready for the Michigan Sire Stake races. So we work em and see if they are ready or not.
FOTH: What made you decide that you wanted to come out here to ride at Great Lakes Downs this year.
KS: Well we were here at the last year at Detroit. We went down to Louisiana and it is just too hot down Louisiana right now so my mom sent her cheaper stock to run up here. The bottom horses they want to get rid of so that is why we came here.
FOTH: Do you have any goals that you want to accomplish as a jockey?
KS: To keep riding.
FOTH: Are there any other female riders you like or admire?
KS: There are many of them for different reasons. Julie Fritz, she is a hard knocking rider. Jan Jason, she used to ride, but she was one of the first woman riders and she taught me a lot. There is probably something about every female rider that teaches you something about riding.
FOTH: Have you had any injuries over the years?
KS: Without a doubt. It would probably take up your whole tape.
FOTH: What was the worst one then?
KS: I shattered my knee, I got 28 pins in that. I shattered my ankle, I have 3 screws and a plate in there. I had a horse go down and I had half my insides taken out. At Delta Downs the lights went out in March and I suffered a concussion there. It is almost a daily thing with me. (laughs)
FOTH: Was there any thoughts of quitting at all?
KS: No. Just how fast I can get back up.
FOTH: How long have you rode for and how much longer do you want to ride for?
KS: This will be my 16th year and I'll go till I can't ride anymore. When I can't do the job effectively anymore.
FOTH: Do you have a favorite horse and trainer you like to ride for?
KS: My favorite trainer is William Carector (hope that is right-Chris) I have rode horses for him in 1987 and 1988 at Prairie Meadows and we won a lot of races together. He is a good horseman and takes care of his horses and his riders. It doesn't matter where you finish you will never hear him say a cross word to a jockey or complain about them.
FOTH: What was your proudest day as a jockey?
KS: At Prairie Meadows I won 5 out of 6 one day. I also set a stakes record at Blue Grass Downs on a filly as well.
FOTH: What do you think can be changed to make the sport of horse racing better?
KS: There is not enough promotion at most of the tracks. If you get community things out that would help. I have seen different tracks where they have play sections for the kids and they get the whole family out there. This track the buffet kills ya. Nobody is gonna pay $15.99, nobody wants to come to that. They need to do a little bit for the patrons that come here and sit for 20 minutes in between races and that is only the diehards. They need to create some more interest for the everyday people.
FOTH: Kelly thanks for the interview. Any last words you want to say to wrap this up?
KS: Thanks for the interview and good luck with the website.