‘Once I’m on good rides I’m going to win’
History-making female rider targets more success at Caymanas Park
Published:Wednesday | September 29, 2021 | 2:41 AMRobert Bailey/Gleaner Writer
HISTORY-MAKING female jockey, Samantha Fletcher, said she is not getting carried away by Monday’s success in the saddle and remains humbled by her achievements at Caymanas Park.
The 29-year-old Fletcher became the first female rider to ride a hat-trick of winners at Caymanas Park, following Monday’s 11-race card.
Fletcher won aboard CAT’S RIGGER, JUST TRICK ME and HONEY BUNCH, pushing her tally of victories for the season to 10. Fletcher told The Gleaner that she always knew that this day would come. Also, she expressed confidence in her abilities to become a top jockey in the sport.
“I knew that (multiple winners) would have come because I have been working very hard every day of the week,” said Fletcher. “I always said that once I am on the good rides then I am going to win races.
“I have always been working very hard, but it’s just the rides that weren’t coming,” Fletcher said.
The soft-spoken Fletcher has now ridden 25 winners since she began riding in September 2018. She also leads the female quarterly incentive championships with nine wins, while Abigail Able and Natalie Berger have one win each.
FOUR JOCKEYS
She is among four jockeys who are currently riding at Caymanas Park, which is based in Gregory Park, St Catherine. The others are Berger, Able and Melissa Ward.
Fletcher underscored that her achievements in the saddle has made her a lot hungrier for more success.
“I am feeling excited, but I am not going to get carried away,” she said. “I am happy to know that I am the first female jockey to make history at Caymanas Park and so this is a good feeling.”
She continued: “I am fit mentally and physically because I have been working a lot of horses in the mornings, and the more you put in, the better you are going to get.”
Fletcher, who is a former student of the Innswood High School in St Catherine, is currently slipping two kilos in the saddle. According to the Jamaica Racing Commission rules, once a jockey does not record more than 60 career wins then he or she is allowed to slip two kilos. However, she expressed a hope to hit that 60 target.
“I want to keep on winning races because this year I would like to accomplish 60 winners and finish my pugs (stop slipping), and so that is my target,” Fletcher stated.