An Amazing Ride

If the Barbaro thing doesn't work out, racing has an astounding number of stories that are almost equally as compelling. Take, for example, the tale of Sylvia Harris, who, according to BloodHorseNOW.com, became the first African American jockey to win a race at Hawthorne Race Track (outside Chicago) and one of only a "handful" of female African American jockeys to win a race, period. Oh, and by the way, she is 40 years old!

Harris' ride to fame did not come easy. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 19, she drifted in and out of employment for almost two decades. She hit rock bottom in 1999, living out of her car in Orlando. A pastor helped get her back on her feet and she eventually met Elmer Heubeck, Jr, who owned Quail Roost Farm in Citra, Florida. It turned out that Heubeck was in search of a groom. He hired Harris, taught her to ride but then died about six months later. His wife also passed away and the farm was shut down. Harris found another job at another training center in Florida and eventually moved to Virginia where she got her exercise riding license at Charles Town.

By 2005, she was on the road again en route to Canada where she heard they needed jockeys. She only got as far as Chicago where she was hired by trainer Bettye Gabriel. She got her apprentice license in Chicago that same year and actually rode her first mount during the Arlington meet that summer. When Arlington closed and Hawthorne opened, she hooked up with trainer Charlie Bettis, who gave her work galloping some horses and an occasional mount.

One of those was Wildwood Pegasus, whom she guided to a third place finish on November 7. It was Wildwood Pegasus who gave her the wire to wire win on December 1. It was Harris' 17th mount and puts her in the record books.

As for Harris, she doesn't care if she wins another race. "That was a blessing," she said. "That was all I needed....I don't need to be a jockey. I've proved that I can do this and it has given me confidence. I'd like to keep riding for as long as I can, but my goal is to be an assistant trainer. I'm at peace."

Can't you just see those movie credits rolling now? It's a classic tale of triumph over adversity, courtesy of grit, determination and a few kind souls who believe. And it doesn't hurt that horses help make it happen.