Monica Stanley
We have
both seen Monica ride via the world of horse racing simulcasting so when our
great friend Kim Stover (yet again) offered to hook us up with an interview
with Monica we fired off some questions to her and this is what she said.
FOTH: Where were you born and where did you grow up?
MS:
Yale, Oklahoma. I grew up in Navata, Oklahoma, and went to college in Stillwater,
OK (Oklahoma State).
FOTH: Any brothers or sisters and are you close with your parents?
MS: 2
older sisters Ava Hanson, Tina Stanley, 1 older brother David Stanley. My father
died when I was 6 yrs old. I was close to my mother until she died when I was
14 years old.
FOTH: What did you want to be when you were growing up?
MS:
Growing up I wanted to be a jockey, but hid it. I loved horses.
FOTH: What events led you to becoming a jockey?
MS: When
in college at Oklahoma State, I got a job breaking and galloping horses. I didn't
actually think I could be a jockey, I thought only people like Bill Shoemaker
could be a jockey.
FOTH: How helped you out in the beginning? What makes it easy and what makes
it hard being a jockey?
MS:
John Harper who I worked for on the farm encouraged me to ride, so I started
riding in the bush tracks in Oklahoma. In some ways it was harder, in some it
was easier. When you get on a good horse and win a race its so easy, it’s dealing
with the people that make it hard!
FOTH: How long did you gallop horses before becoming a jockey? Do you think
you have a certain riding style?
MS: I
galloped horses two years before I ever rode a race, and those races were on
unrecognized tracks, but the experience was worth everything. Just riding a
race teaches you so much more then anyone can tell you how to do it. I think
my riding style is sitting quiet, and getting horses to finish, but, there are
different styles you ride on certain kinds of horses. Horses are all different,
you don't ride them all the same.
FOTH: Tell us about your first race.
MS: It
was a quarter horse, he won and I was hooked. The track was a little bush track
in Stroud, Oklahoma.
FOTH: Tell us about your first win in a thoroughbred race then. Did they get
you after the race?
MS: When
I started riding officially I was in Raton, New Mexico. I didn't win a race
for about 6 weeks. The horse was Candy's Bold One, no fuss, but they painted
me.
FOTH: Do you feel you were a good apprentice rider?
MS: I
was pretty good, because I had already had quite a bit of experience, so I could
pick a horses head up and know where I was at least most of the time.
FOTH: What tracks have you ridden at?
MS: Raton,
New Mexico, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Sunland Park, New Mexico, Albuquerque, New
Mexico, Fairmount Park, Sportsman’s Park, Churchill Downs, Santa Anita, Hollywood
Park, Bay Meadows, Golden Gate Fields, all the Northern California fair meets,
Louisiana Downs, Fairgrounds, Delta Downs, Evangeline Downs, Monmouth Park,
Los Alamitos, Fairplex, Del Mar.
FOTH: How long have you been riding for and do you know how many wins do you
have? How long will you ride for?
MS: Officially
since 1982, that's right at 20 years, YIKES! Including all breeds I've ridden,
right at 500, I don't really know the exact count. As long as I stay healthy
and able.
FOTH: Take us through a day you go through.
MS: I
get up a 4:30 am in the summer in order to be at the track and on my first horse
at 5:30. The track is open from 5:30 to 10:00am. I would generally gallop somewhere
from 8-14 head on a regular basis, then I fix 8 horses feed for the evening.
I then go to the farm to feed my broodmares and whatever other horses I have
turned out. Then home by 3:30. My boy gets off the school bus, we discuss school,
find out his schedule, if he has to go to any practices for football, soccer
or whatever he's into at the time. Then it's back to the barn for horse time,
now this would be a non-race day. If it's a race day everything has to happen
according to what races I'm in.
FOTH: What is the biggest race you ever won and biggest race you were ever in?
MS:
I won the Friendship Stakes at Louisiana Downs in 1999. It was worth $100,000.
I rode in a $300,000 race in California and Bill shoemaker, Russell Baze, Pat
Day, and Gary Stevens all rode in the race.
FOTH: What injuries have you had so far?
MS:
Of course getting dropped in races hurts, but all in all I've been very fortunate
and only dislocated my wrist. I had to have surgery and was out for 4 months,
but I was very lucky, and have had full recovery. They thought I might not ride
again.
FOTH: Ever been taken off a horse due to being a female? Do you feel you don’t
get enough respect as a rider, due to being a female?
MS: Yes,
it happens you get taken off horses because you’re female. We definitely don't
get the respect men get, but it is definitely getting better. We get more stock
to ride and prove we can ride with anyone. It's changing all the time, but the
better horses women get to ride the more we can prove it.
FOTH: Any other female riders you like?
MS:
Chandra Rennie, Kim Stover, Jerri Nichols, Michael Fetters, Deirdre Panas.
FOTH: What would you like to be known for and any thoughts of staying involved
in the sport after you retire?
MS: Known for being able to ride. Maybe I’d like to
be a steward.
FOTH: Do you have a favorite horse you rode?
MS: Preening Eagle. She always broke on the lead, if
the pace was fast, 21 and change, she would lay 2nd or 3rd, if it was 22 and
change she'd probably stay on the lead. Around the 5/16 pole she'd make her
move and usually wouldn't let a horse run her down. I won 12 races on her, of
which I had 6 in a row at Bay Meadows. You just had to keep Eagle clear and
be a good passenger, she did the rest. She would run.
FOTH: Do you ride quarter horses much anymore? How do you prepare for each race?
MS: I don't ride many Quarter Horses anymore. To prepare
for a race I stretch, read the form and program. Ride the race.
FOTH: Any problems with weight?
MS: I've always been pretty naturally light, but we
all have our fat days. Being small framed I've never had to fight it much.
FOTH: Monica thanks for the interview. Any last words?
MS: Thanks for letting me join this group of women
and thank you.