Opening day at Colonial Downs was on May 29, 2010.  I had eight horses to ride going in.  One scratched so I ended up riding seven races that day.  Lots of favorites and high hopes of winning a few races.  But it didn't turn out the way I had planned.  I ended up with four seconds, a couple of thirds and a fourth.  All my horses ran well but I was a little disappointed because I didn't win a race.  (You always want to go into a new race meet winning right out of the gate.)  I kept myself in good spirits knowing that I rode well and all these seconds will come back as winners. 

The next day I was scheduled to ride seven races.  Again I had high hopes for a great day.  Well another four second place finishes and a third.  Ugh!  Why can't I get to the winners circle?  I am getting a little frustrated now but holding it together.  My valet Richie is always there to listen to me vent it out and give me a positive outlook on things and my agent always tells me "stop putting so much pressure on yourself and just KEEP RIDING, the wins will come."  I know that he is right but I am so competitive and want to win win win all the time. 

The next day I am feeling good, confident and have another group of good horses to ride.  I finally win a race for Kathleen O'Connell on Cynthia's Secret.(What a wild ride that was at the start of the race.  My filly was standing good in the gate but when the doors opened she broke in so hard it threw me to the left, I lost my right iron and was hanging on to her neck for dear life.  All I kept thinking was don't fall off, she is 4-5 favorite and is going to win this race.  I pulled myself back on and regained my right iron within five strides from leaving the starting gate.  My filly kept her composure and let me place her back in the race for a winning effort.)  My 100th win for the year.  What an accomplishment I should be thinking, but all I have on my mind is to keep winning and ride to the best of my ability.  The rest of the day I continued to rack up more seconds and thirds.  But I felt a little better finally winning a race.  I am back on track now.

The fourth day of the meet was awesome.  I rode eight races winning 3.  Woohoo!  Now this is more like it.  There is no feeling like crossing that finish line first, especially multiple times in one day.  I am walking on air and feeling more confident than ever.

The fifth day of the meet went just as well.  I rode six races and won 2.  Now I am back in action and ready for the next to days off to enjoy my week and relax. 

Racing is very physically and mentally exhausting.  It has a lot of high's and low's within minutes.  Race by race you are put thru the test of winning and feeling great or losing and wondering what you could of done different to have made the outcome different.  Having good people around me that understand what I am going thru and giving me positive feed back helps tremendously.  Thank you Mom, agent Tommy, valet Richie, my friends Denise, Millie, Sharon, Susie, Jenny and Nikki.  Your the best!

As of today I am 10th in the country in Wins. 

My stats: 105 Wins and $1,734,334 in purse earnings.