Jockey Rosie Napravnik after the $1 million Kentucky Oaks.
I always envy Donna Brothers, former jockey-turned-NBC-correspondent, riding her pony alongside the winning horses and jockeys, experiencing those elated post-race moments first-hand.
Can you imagine? Rosie Napravnik, 24, who won Friday’s $1 million Kentucky Oaks, told Brothers: “This is how it feels to have your dreams come true.”
Napravnik’s only the third woman to ride in the Oaks (Julie Krone rode in ’93, Gretta Kuntzweiler in ’05, and Napravnik herself placed second last year), and has now made history as the first woman to win it. Aboard the aptly named Believe You Can, she held off 2011 Kentucky Derby-winning jockey John Velazquez by a three-quarter length margin at the wire. Go Rosie! [Baltimore Sun]
Mike Huber was also a big winner this weekend, topping the Greenwood CIC** on Applause and the preliminary on Bally Whatnot. Taylor Wood took the CIC* title with On Eagle’s Wings, and Alyssa Phillips and Exploring won the intermediate. [Greenwood Scores]
Ian Roberts and Faolan were the CIC** winners at Will O Wind; Jessica Phoenix went one-two on Executive Decision and A Little Romance, respectively, in the CIC*. [Will O Wind Scores]
Elena Ceballos and Nounours du Moulin won Poplar’s intermediate, and preliminary winners included Sophie David and Cornichon, Andrew Palmer and Tatendrang, Jennie Jarnstrom-LaManna and Chant Des Artes, Alexandria Slocum and Hot Cocoa and Kimberly Keeton and Accolade. [Poplar Scores]
At Catalpa in Iowa, Leah Lang-Gluscic and AP Prime were the preliminary victors; Camie Stockhausen and Fabulouso won at training, and Mary Loeber and PlayBoy, Debbie Stern and Gogarty’s Oliver Twist, and Madeline Johnson and Royal Frenchman were novice winners. [Catalpa Scores]
Stephanie Butts and Peabody topped the prelim at Difficult Run, and Christina Donovan and Fuzzie’s Hero won the training. [Difficult Run Scores]
Hallie Coon and Namaste’ brought home the blue in the University of New Hampshire HT’s prelim, and Alison Eastman-Lawler and Otto Rocket won the PT. [University of New Hampshire Scores]
On a side note, EN Tipster Mary tells us there’s a proposed plan to pave UNH’s grounds, eliminating the eventing facility. Competitor Molly Tulley sported this bumper sticker in protest:
Image via Mary.
For John’s recaps of MCTA and Southern 8ths, click here.
Set your DVRs: Neville and Boyd will be profiled on NBC’s Rock Center with Brian Williams this Wednesday, May 9 at 9pm/8c. [NBC] [Via @carrotsandbute]
Rails were flying at this weekend’s Jardy CIC*** (France), where the Aussies went one-two-three: Clayton Fredericks was first and third with Bendigo III and Walterstown Down, respectively, and Bill Levett was second on One Two Many NJ. [An Eventful Life]
I’ll Have Another’s jockey, Mario Gutierrez, 25, is unknown no more: “Pretty much all my life I’ve been riding horses, but nobody knows where I spend my six years of riding in Vancouver,” Gutierrez told ESPN. “Top trainers, top owners, of course they’re not going to know anything about me. But I’m glad this happened to me. I think we all need the opportunity and great things can happen.” [ESPN]
Kentucky Derby 138: The Day in Pictures [Kentucky Confidential]
On June 4, rider Lindy Spencer Bernard will set off on a 300-mile horseback journey to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and raise funds for a cancer trust. Bernard will be accompanied by a carriage, a polo player, a jockey and an eventer. “They represent the equestrian sports with which The Queen and Prince Philip have been closely involved during her reign,” Bernard told Horse & Hound. [H& H] [Donate]
Top of the Tweets: Francis Whittington: #fantasybadminton riders still walking the course. Really is on the soft side http://pic.twitter.com/4l0MYn46
Jardy CIC*** Interviews:
Heath Ryan and Regardez Moi winning this weekend’s Hamilton Island Grand Prix Freestyle (Australia) [via Horsetalk]:
Rosie wins the Kentucky Oaks:
