Cheryl White
Cheryl White had been a jockey for over 20 years and is still involved in the sport as she is now the first woman to be a steward at a CA track. She was also the first African-American female jockey. Sit back and enjoy this interview with did with Cheryl.
FOTH: Where were you born
and were did you grow up? Any brothers or sisters?
CW:
Born in Cleveland, Ohio. Grew up there, Chagrin Falls, Rome, Ohio. One younger
brother.
FOTH: What sort of kid were you growing up? What did you want to be while you
were growing up?
CW:
I was a little tomboy I suppose, spent a lot of my weekends with my father at
the racetrack. When I graduated at that time I wanted to become a teacher of
algebra.
FOTH: How did you get involved in horse racing? What did you think of a race
track the first time you saw one?
CW: I
grew up on the tracks so to speak. One of those kids who could ride before they
could walk.
FOTH: When did you know you wanted to be a jockey? You rode in the 70's. Were
there many female riders back then?
CW: Women were not allowed to ride until '69' I believe.
My father would not let me ride until I graduated from high school. There were
a few women riding at the time. Mary Bacon and I were very good friends. Diane
Crump, Patty Barton also.
FOTH: You have told me you were the first female black jockey. Did you have
to overcome extra barriers because of your skin color?
CW: I
received world wide publicity as being the first black female jockey. At the
time, I think I was also the youngest woman rider. I don't believe I ran into
many barriers due to race or at least I was not aware of them. Maryland is the
only place that, that may have been a reason. The racetrack actually is one
united family.
FOTH: What sort of things were you taught as far as riding goes? Do you still
go to race tracks and have any interest in horse racing?
CW: I
don't know how to answer this one. As a rider you learn constantly during your
career. I will always be involved in racing in one capacity or another. It is
in my blood. I have passed the stewards test in California. I am a racing official
at various meets in California. I also still gallop during the year. I love
breaking babies and am very active in the business.
FOTH: What was the first track you rode at and do you remember anything about
the race?
CW: I
rode my first race at Thistledown in Cleveland, Ohio. My good friend, Kim Sawyer,
of whom I believe is a steward there now, was riding there also. They had a
very large crowd due to the publicity of me and the roar of the crowd during
announcing my first ride scared her horse in the post parade causing it to flip.
I was worried whether or not she had been hurt. My horse broke fast, led for
a bit then ran last.
FOTH: What are some of the tracks you have ridden at over the years? Do you
have a favorite track or horse that you rode?
CW:
I have rode at many tracks all over the country throughout my 21-year career.
Many different breeds also. Thistledown, Waterford Park (now Mountaineer Park),
Charles Town, Raceway Park, Penn National, Erie, Commodore, Finger Lakes, Beulah,
Latonia, Atlantic City, Monmouth Park, Hazel Park, Ruidosa, Sunland, Turf Paradise,
Portland Meadows, Salem, Sun Downs, Boise, Liberty Bell, River Downs, and all
of the California tracks and Fairs. My favorite places are where I am doing
well. Winners are my best horses. I did like a mare that my father trained very
much named Lexilou. She had a heart as big as the race track. I believed she
would die trying to win for you. I also have ridden many of the top Appaloosa's
in the country in my day.
FOTH: Did you pretty much get along with all the jockeys or did problems arise
at times?
CW: I
believe I always got along with the other riders. As in all competitive sports
some problems arise but none serious out of the scope of competition.
FOTH: You also told me you moved to the West Coast and began riding there. What
made you decide to leave the Ohio area and go west?
CW:
I went to visit a friend. Galloped at Pomona for a few months then went back
to Penn National, then came back to California and stayed. I rode a few at Pomona
Fair and the major meet that was running at the time. I had a woman trainer,
Betsy Wilson, ask me to ride the fair circuit for her the following summer.
So it began, my career in California.
FOTH: Was it hard to get mounts in California? What was the atmosphere and difference
between the 2 areas as far as trainers and horses go?
CW: California
was and still is very much behind the times where women riders are concerned.
When I got here there was one at the fairs, Susie Barrett, and one down south,
Robin Smith, at the major meets. I came from where there were always 5 or more
women jockeys at every track. The people back east are better and more receptive
of women jockeys. I was doing quite well at Penn National when I left. In California
it was very hard to get decent Thoroughbred mounts. The first people to give
me a chance on their horses were the Quarter horse and Appaloosa trainers. I
was very good out of the gate and was successful enough to get typecast as a
Quarter horse and Appaloosa jockey. Funny thing was, I had ridden for 3 years
all Thoroughbreds back east and would not have known one of the others if you
had led it up to me.
FOTH: How long did you ride for and what made you decide to retire?
CW: I
rode for 21 years. I had other mountains to climb, i.e., steward, official.
Which has been slightly derailed at the moment. I wanted to quit before I became
a has-been, while the choice was still mine to make (not due to injury), and
had other avenues in the industry I wanted to pursue. I won my last race at
Los Alamitos also, so I got to retire a winner too.
FOTH: Looking back is there anything you regret you did or would have liked
to do differently now?
CW: I
would have liked to have gotten more and better Thoroughbreds to ride in California
but basically I have done very well. I was always one of the leading mixed breed
jockeys. I have been leading Appaloosa jockey of California 5 times and of the
country 4 times. I was the first woman jockey to win two races in two different
states on the same day in 1971. I was the first woman jockey to win 5 races
in one day on a major California track in 1983.
FOTH: Do you feel female jockeys get a fair shake in our sport now?
CW: I
have not been back east for many years. There are many women jockeys back there
that are very successful and I think they will always do well there. California
is another story. I do not believe you will ever see a woman jockey be as successful
at the major tracks here.
FOTH: What was the biggest win of your career? You said you rode your last winner
at Los Alamitos (CA). Did you know at the time it would be the last winner you
ever rode?
CW: I
can't say what was my biggest win. Purse wise I don't know and horse wise, there
have been many that stand out to me. I rode around 750 winners I think. Yes,
I knew that that was going to be my last ride at Los Alamitos that night. Wasn't
sure he would win but he was a very nice horse and I am glad that he did.