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PHOTO COURTESY OF EMERALD DOWNS

FIRST LADY. Jennifer Whitaker beams after becoming the first woman jockey to win the Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs.

Passing History

At the finish line at the Longacres Mile, more than one first occurred

By Rick Walter

Most any morning, starting at about 5:30, jockey Jennifer Whitaker is at work at Emerald Downs.

She gets to the track and gets on an average of a dozen or so horses, galloping and working them. Then if she happens to be racing that night, she goes home and takes nap, then goes back to the track and rides.

Whitaker has worked exclusively for the past few years for Howard Belvoir and one of her most recent chores for him turned out to be the thrill of her career and an entry in the history books.

When the Longacres Mile Handicap was run on Aug. 17, she was aboard Belvoir’s six-year-old Wasserman going against two celebrated out-of-towners in the $300,000 Grade-III event.

At the end of the 1:35-minute trip, Wasserman had triumphed, and Whitaker had become the first woman to win the race in its 73-year history.

In the middle of an incredible shower of shouts of praise and congratulations on the victory, Whitaker was saying, “I can’t believe we won. I will have to watch it about 10 times on replay to really believe it.”

Well, after watching it at least 10 times on replay, what Whitaker sees is a brilliantly run race, under perfect conditions for her mount.

Flamethrowintexan, who had won the Longacres Mile in 2006, led the field in the start of the race, with Tropic Storm, Call On Carson and Honour the West challenging his lead. In ninth position, Whitaker started to move Wasserman to the outside as they took the second turn. Wasserman slowly started to move himself forward, passing the field that lay between him and the frontrunners, which by this time had changed to True Metropolitan and Tropic Storm fighting for the lead. But Wasserman and Whitaker never gave up, gaining ground and having more fight at the finish than True Metropolitan, who lost by a neck.

Whitaker was born in Seattle and grew up in Snohomish.

A racing career seemed unlikely when her older sister broke her neck at Hollywood Park while working a horse. After some natural hesitancy, her parents did become very supportive of her racing efforts.

Her first race came on Easter Sunday in 2000 at Emerald Downs.

“It was fast. I didn’t think I was nervous, but now I look back and realize I was.”

Her first victory was also at Emerald Downs on a horse named “Hot Spicy Do” owned by Belvoir. A relationship was formed that brought her to the historic moment at the Longacres Mile in 2008.

In a profession where it is difficult for “girls” to get a pretty fair shake, Whitaker’s reputation, loyalty to Belvoir, and attachment to Emerald Downs has served her well.

When asked for advice to young riders, she says she would tell them to take their time and make sure they are polished and ready before they start.

“You can’t get enough experience to do what we do. It is never enough to teach you everything you need to know. Riding is riding and galloping and working horses is another. All the experience you can get from people is great.”

Now when Whitaker speaks as the first woman to win the Longacres Mile, those young riders are likely to listen.

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