Winning Ponies

Rosemary Homeister is closing in on being the second all-time leading woman rider. Homeister, one of Tampa Bay Downs' top riders, has won an Eclipse Award and ridden in a Kentucky Derby. Today, the 36-year-old Hollywood, Fla., native recalls that she got the itch to be a jockey at tender age of 2.

Mr. McGee covers the Kentucky and Florida circuits. He is a syndicated columnist for the Daily Racing Form.

Mr. Ness is mainly based at Thistledown and Presque Isle. He is winning at 42% and 35% respectively, and has a 32% win percentage for the year. He won the training title at Tampa Bay Downs in 2009. Ness' father, John, who runs a small stable in Nebraska, put training in his blood. But conditioning wasn't in Ness' immediate plans. He served as sports editor of the Collegian, the South Dakota State University student newspaper, and worked in the sports department at the Brookings Register, a daily newspaper. Ness, 33, whose boyhood dream was to be a football player, began training horses in 1999. His patience was tested early. In his second year, the Heron, S.D., native lost 56 straight races. I never forget that, he said. Jamie will share his insights into racing, and what it takes for a trainer to make his mark in thoroughbred racing in these times.

Mr. Picklesimer is the Racing Secretary at Turfway Park. Racing in the bluegrass state shifts to Turfway Park for the month of September. Mr. Picklesimer is also the Racing Director at Colonial Downs, and works the Kentucky circuit the remainder of the year. Tyler will discuss the upcoming meet at Turfway Park, and overall issues and challenges facing Kentucky's industry.

McKee's father, David, had been a jockey in the late 1970s and early ’80s. ... John was inspired to become a jockey after seeing his father’s win pictures. He grew up in the Cincinnati area where he was always around horses, learned to ride at an early age, and was a star wrestler in high school … His parents tried to discourage his desire to become a jockey but at 17 he got his start with Thoroughbreds at Poplar Creek Farm near Bethel, Ohio, and learned to be an exercise rider.

John Engelhardt is the President of the TPA (Turf Publicists of America) and is the Publicity Director at River Downs. He is an excellent handicapper, and is from upstate NY. He has attended over 15 Travers Stakes, and his family considers this a holy race of obligation. The host will handicap the Travers Stakes, in addition to other big stakes races this weekend.

Mr. Eric Reed is a trainer on the mid-west circuit, and has his own training facility in Lexington, Kentucky. It is called Mercury Training center, which used to be the old Spendthrift farm training location. Mr. Reed has trained many solid runners over the years, and is considered an excellent horseman by his fellow trainers in Kentucky.

Mr. Swaggler has been a Veterinarian in Thoroughbred racing for many years. He will explain what goes on behind the scenes for race day preps, and what to look for in runners going to post. Dr. Jack Swaggler has specialized in Thoroughbreds and Standard breds for many years.

Timothy E. Hamm, from Warren, was re-appointed to the Ohio Thoroughbred Race Fund Advisory Council for a term ending January 31, 2011. Tim has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Youngstown State University & an Ohio Real Estate License. He is the owner of Hamm Construction Inc., Blazing Meadows Farm & Timothy E. Hamm Racing Stable. Tim currently serves on the OTBO (President) & HBPA Boards. Tim Hamm of Blazing Meadows Farm received Horse of the Year Award for second year in a row (Ready for Roses-2005). With co-owner Stonerside Stable, they received the award for TOO MUCH BLING, 2006 Horse of the Year & Special Recognition Colt Champion which Hamm bred. Hamm also received the award from the OTBO and the Blood-Horse magazine for breeder of TOO MUCH BLING. And received awards as owner of ROSE COLORED LADY, voted Ohio Broodmare of the year for the second time (2005) & owner/breeder of 2006 2-year-old filly champion/2007 Accredited Female Champion, MINI MOM with co-owner Larry Lehmann. Tim is

The son of former jockey-turned-trainer Robert Leparoux, he grew up around racing in Chantilly, France, and rode competitive hunter/jumpers until his father allowed him to begin a racing career at 18. He said he knew he wanted to be a jockey from the time he was five. Came to Southern California in January of 2003 to work as an exercise rider for trainer Patrick Biancone. As Leparoux’s riding talents became evident, Biancone made Leparoux his first-call rider. Launched his career at Saratoga in 2005… Attempted a move to Southern California at the end of 2007, but wound up switching his tack to Louisiana in January of 2008. Rode primarily in Kentucky and New York for the rest of the 2008 season.

Rosemary Homeister is closing in on being the second all-time leading woman rider. Homeister, one of Tampa Bay Downs' top riders, has won an Eclipse Award and ridden in a Kentucky Derby. Today, the 36-year-old Hollywood, Fla., native recalls that she got the itch to be a jockey at tender age of 2.

Mr. Aiello graduated with honors from the University of Arizona racetrack program. Handicapper, racing coordinator, and announcer. He has also called races at Finger Lakes.

Mr. Kordenbrock is a Kentucky-Ohio trainer new to the game. He has a long standing family connection to racing, and carries on the tradition. This will be a blue-collar interview with a well spoken trainer with a bright future. He will bring to light how racing is affected by current legislation problems.

Turf Publicist President, and Publicity Director at River Downs, Mr. Engelhardt will talk about the VLT/Slot issue in Ohio. This is current news, and with the State of Kentucky failing to pass any legislation for this issue, it will be a HUGE event in keeping Ohio racing alive.

Mike learned his basic skills at the knee of his father George Maker, who trained at Detroit Race Course and Hazel Park, two tracks in Michigan that no longer race Thoroughbreds. After serving as his father's assistant, went out on his own with a few horses in 1991. Another in the long line of successful graduates of the D. Wayne Lukas School of Thoroughbred Training, Mike joined the Lukas outfit in 1993 and served under Dallas Stewart with Lukas' Midwest division, based at Churchill Downs. He then succeeded to head man of that division when Stewart went out on his own in 1997.

The son of horse owner Ron McPeek, Ken grew up in Lexington and played football at Tates Creek High School. After graduating from college, his roommate asked him what he loved. It was easy, he said. The answer was horse racing. Although he went to New York to interview for a position as a stockbroker, he instead took a job as a hotwalker for trainer Shug McGaughey. He took out his trainer's license in Kentucky in 1985, with his father his first client.

Grew up in the Derby City where he and his three siblings – all first-generation horsemen – developed their interest in racing through their proximity to Churchill Downs … Brother Marty is a columnist for the Daily Racing Form; younger sister Amy is married to and keeps the books for Southern California-based trainer Ron Ellis. Paul got his start in racing at age 15 by walking hots for conditioner Jerry Calvin and later galloped horses for trainers Angel Montano Sr. and Carl Bowman … After attending Louisville’s St. Xavier High School, he graduated from Bellarmine University with a degree in chemistry. Mr. McGee took out his trainer's license in 1987 and saddled his first winner, Pabarene, at Churchill Downs that year. … Plays golf whenever time allows.

He is the President of the Turf Publicist of America. Mr. Engelhardt was on hand for the Derby, and he will recap the Preakness and finally handicap the Belmont with our host. John is a noted handicapper.

Mr. Aiello graduated with honors from the University of Arizona racetrack program. Handicapper, racing coordinator, and announcer. He has also called races at Finger Lakes.

She is an award winning writer, who will give an expert recap of the Preakness Stakes. Ms Rees is greatly respected in the industry, and makes many appearances on TVG, and HRTV.