Jennifer Stisted
We have both seen Jennifer ride over at Philadelphia Park and also on TV at Delaware Park, Charlestown, and Laurel Park. After a bad phone connection prevented us from publishing her previous chat we met up with Jennifer over at Philadelphia Park and here is what was said:
FOTH: Where were you born
and where did you grow up?
JS:
I was born in Freeport, Bahamas. I grew up pretty much in Annapolis, Maryland.
FOTH: Any brothers or sisters? Are you close with your parents?
JS: Yes, I have one brother. John, he is a year younger
than me. He grew up with the horses and ended up being an electrical engineer.
Yes, I get along very well with my mom and dad.
FOTH: What did you want to be when you were growing up?
JS:
No clue. But I always wanted to be around the horses.
FOTH: How did you end up getting involved in horse racing?
JS: My
mom was working as a secretary at the Senate and she missed being with the horses
so in order to do something in the morning with the horses, she went to the
race track. And I used to watch and stuff when I went with her. You could gallop
horses for fun or make money at it so I ended up doing that.
FOTH: What was your opinion of jockeys when you 1st went to the race track?
JS: Didn't
like them. Not one. (we both laugh)
FOTH: Who helped you out when you were first starting out?
JS: When
I first started riding it was Hugh McMachon. He was a jockey that ended up going
overseas.
FOTH: What were some things you were taught as far as riding goes?
JS: You
can't make a horse run faster than it is capable of. Your job is to help then
to think the race and to give them encouragement.
FOTH: What was it like getting up on a horse for the first time?
JS: I
was so little I don't remember. Par for the course I was so young you don’t
know any better.
FOTH: Tell us about your first race?
JS: It
was at Hawthorne Racetrack and the filly was called "Leadership." It was interesting
cause bug riders usually get stuck on speed horses and she wasn't speed, she
comes off the pace.
FOTH: Do you feel you were a good "bug" rider?
JS:
Yes cause I was older then most of them. I had been around horses for quite
awhile.
FOTH: Was it hard for you getting mounts after losing the bug?
JS:
No. As a matter of fact I got lucky after I lost my bug, I picked up some mounts
on some of the top trainers. I was already riding for King Leatherbury and Grover
Delp picked my up the day after I lost my bug.
FOTH: Kaymarie Kriedel (another female jockey) says racing for females in the
state of Maryland is tough. Do you agree and what do you think can be done to
change it?
JS:
I don't think you will change it. It's something that is hard to explain. One
day they will wake up.
FOTH: What is the biggest
race you have ever won and biggest race you were ever in?
JS: I
can't think of the biggest race I've won. The biggest race I think I ever rode
in was the Black Eyed Susan.
FOTH: What tracks have you ridden at?
JS:
Laurel, Pimlico, Churchill, Delaware, Philadelphia Park, Hawthorne, Penn National,
Charlestown, Meadowlands, Monmouth Park.
FOTH: Describe the feeling for going out to Canterbury Park for the Claiming
Crown Day?
JS: That
was great. It was great cause I went out with a good team, Scott Lake's team
and my horse happened to run after a long layoff and tired in the stretch. The
whole thing was very well hosted.
FOTH: What would you like to accomplish as a jockey?
JS: I
just got from race to race. I like to win. It doesn't matter it is 5 or 500
I just like to win.
FOTH: How long do you think you will ride for?
JS: I'll
probably do what I am doing for another year or two.
FOTH: Do you feel female riders don't get half the respect they deserve?
JS: I
think the good ones get the respect they deserve. I think there are a lot of
not so good female riders which makes it a downfall.
FOTH: Have you ever been taken off a horse due to being a female rider?
JS: Yes
I have.
FOTH: What track would you like to ride at that you have not if there is one?
JS: Up
in New York. One of the tracks up there.
FOTH: Have you ever had any thoughts of maybe being a trainer one day like boyfriend
Scott Lake? Do you plan on staying involved in the sport after you retire?
JS:
Oh yeah, I'll be involved. I'll probably just gallop. I have no desire to train.
Never have. Have a trainer's license too. (laughs)
FOTH: Any last words we appreciate your patience with getting us this interview.
JS: I love this. I love the game. You gotta love it. I think anybody in this game loves it. It just becomes a personal relationship between you and the horse even if you might only know him for 15 minutes, he becomes your best friend. And that is the greatest feeling in the world something like that.