1751 Gentilly Blvd.,
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jim Mulvihill, Communications and Pari-Mutuel Marketing Manager, 504.948.1233, james.mulvihill@fgno.com
Contact: Graham Ross, Staff Writer, 504.948.1255, graham.ross@fgno.com
jockey richard eramia earning new ranking
Also:
· Family
· Horse Ownership Seminar Set for Saturday
By Graham Ross, Staff Writer
NEW ORLEANS (Monday, December 13, 2010) – Tied for leading rider honors through last weekend and among the leaders since the Thoroughbred Racing Season began on Thanksgiving Day is jockey Richard Eramia, off to an unusually fast start for someone in only his second season at Fair Grounds.
“Yes, I’m off to a very good start,” said Eramia, a 31-year-old native of
“I came to
“I ride a lot of horses for trainers like Michelle Lovell, Morris Nicks and Sweet Hodges, both at Louisiana Downs and down here, and they’ve put me on some very good horses,” said Eramia, who rode for about 10 years in his native Uruguay before coming to this country. “I don’t know if I can stay on as leading rider, but if I can stay near the top and finish in the top seven or eight riders I’ll be very pleased. This is a very good jockey colony down here and I like all these guys very much. I figure all I can do is keep working hard, and if I do maybe the Good Lord will pay me back.”
As a devoted family man, Eramia speaks constantly of his wife Jessica, his 6-year-old daughter Cynthia and his 2-year-old son Laffit, who remain at their home in
“I’ve never met him, but I met (Hall of Fame) Braulio Baeza once and he called him up and put me on the phone with him,” Eramia said. “I told him I named my son after him and he said: ‘That was very nice of you. Thank you very much. I am honored.’”
One who has watched Eramia’s constant improvement over the last few years is Roy Wood, state steward at Fair Grounds and also at Louisiana Downs.
“I’ve been watching Richard for several years and watched his riding ability improve constantly over that time,” said Wood. “I’ve been very impressed.”
Equally impressed has been conditioner Michelle Lovell, currently on or near the lead in the trainer standings at Fair Grounds in the season’s initial days, and a horsewoman who names Eramia on most of her stock, both at Louisiana Downs and at Fair Grounds.
“He’s always been a real good rider,” said Lovell, “and now he’s coming into his own to be an even better rider. He’s honest and he always gives you 110-percent. We always try to support him because he’s been very good to us.”
FAMILY
Also, an exacta worth $2,000.40 and a trifecta worth $10,900.
Trained by Earl Bankston, Doo Wap Daddy had a late rider change to Bankston’s son Earl Bankston III. It turned out to be a family affair because the jockey, a college graduate, became available after he took time off from his regular job at Exxon.
“He (Earl III) used to ride full time, but now he just rides occasionally,” said the senior Bankston. “When I found out he could take the time off from his job I went ahead and named him on the horse.”
ANOTHER HORSE OWNERSHIP SEMINAR SET FOR SATURDAY – Fair Grounds’ second Horse Ownership Seminar for prospective new Thoroughbred owners this season will be held on the second floor of the
Trainer Bret Calhoun, who saddled two Breeders’ Cup winners at Churchill Downs Nov. 5-6 and was honored by
About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest racetrack, has been in operation since 1872. Located in
-FG-
___
James J. Mulvihill
Communications & Pari-Mutuel Marketing Manager
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
A Churchill Downs Incorporated Company
1751 Gentilly Boulevard,
504.948.1233 [office]
504.481.8770 [cell]
504.944.7853 [fax]
Starlight Racing with The Boogie Men - December 17, 2010
Santa Super Saturday - December 18, 2010
98th
This Churchill Downs Incorporated communication (including any attachments) is intended for the use of the intended recipient(s) only and may contain information that is confidential, privileged or legally protected. Any unauthorized use or dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify the sender by return e-mail message and delete all copies of the original communication. Thank you for your cooperation.
