Gryder and Krigger Back at Golden Gate
0 fans0
0 favorites0
A couple familiar faces showed up in the Golden Gate Fields jockey colony over the past couple of weeks. Kevin Krigger and Aaron Gryder are the latest to try their luck on the local racing scene.
If you think their names sound familiar, you are right. If you think they are here for a quick cup of coffee, you might want to think again.
“I’m back and I’m here to stay,” proclaimed Krigger. “This is my most excited time to go back anywhere to ride.”
The 27-year-old had two short stints here in the past. He won 54 races as the leading apprentice in the 2001-2002 meet, 42 races in the 2002-2003 season and won 13 times in 2005 meet, to cap off the best year of his career after he won 122 races at Emerald Downs.
When Krigger appeared on the backstretch, thoughts went around that he was just here to prepare for the Emerald meet that begins on April 15th. But the native of St. Croix, Virgin Islands is ready to dispel that notion.
“I was expecting that,” Krigger said. “And that is still the question I will have to answer everyday, probably until the Emerald Downs meet is running an I’m still here and they realize I am here to stay.”
Krigger is attempting a comeback of sorts. Much of the last three years, he has spent back at home in the Virgin Islands building a house for his post jockey life. Currently it houses his parents, until he and his family, including four kids, eventually join them. The time away didn’t leave much for riding, resulting in just 11 wins on 187 mounts from 2008 through 2009.
But when he did return at the end of last year, he won 67 races and is building on that this year.
Now, he says, his mind is fully focused on riding.
“What will make me successful ? ” Krigger said echoing my question. “I want to keep my self healthy, keep myself happy, keep myself strong and ride to the best of my ability.”
On Friday, Krigger netted three wins, giving him a 4-for-17 record so far. He feels confident that he and his agent Boone McCanna, who came with Kevin from Emerald, can get their business going.
“Boone and I have great chemistry, I have as much confidence in him as a rider can have in their agent,” Krigger said. “Coming here has been on both of our minds but this is the first time since my first year that we have both been here together.”
Gryder, is at the opposite end of the spectrum than Krigger. The 40-year old chose GGF as a place to wind down a successful career, because it is close to his children, who live in Southern California.
Gryder spent the last two years riding in such places as Dubai, Hong Kong, Southern California and the Midwest.
After winning the $6 million Dubai Gold Cup (on Well Armed, by a race record 14 lengths), he spent six months in Hong Kong then recently returned from Oaklawn Park, where he was riding for trainer Steve Assmussen.
“To ride for a leading trainer in North America, what ever track it may be at, you’re in a good position and I jumped on it,” Gryder said. “The downside was that I would fly home every weekend to the Los Angeles area to see my children (ages 8 and 11) . It didn’t make sense. I’ve always wanted to be a top jockey, but now I think I have the responsibility to be a top jockey and a top father.”
Gryder is hoping his connections down south will pay off for him here.
“I do believe I’ll ride for more Southern California horseman by being up north, than I would if I were down there. It‘s no knock to this jockey colony, but I have clientele down there that will be coming up here.”
Gryder’s career numbers are impressive. Coming into this year, he had 3.283 win and has topped the 100 win mark 22 of his 25 years of riding.
“I’ve been successful everywhere I’ve gone, but I have never gone anywhere saying I think I can be second best,” he said. “I enjoy riding against Russell (Baze), whether he outruns me or not, but if I come in here thinking I can’t put myself in that position, in time, I’m short changing not only myself , but the people I’m riding for.”
Gryder is happy with the start he has gotten off to.
“ I rode 14 or 15 horses the first week and that was pretty good since I just got here a few days before I got to the races,” he said. “ Dennis (Patterson) had things pretty well lined up for me and I know I have quite a bit of business coming from Southern California and it will only get better when we run on the grass so, I’m pretty pleased.”
What the Nation is saying about Gryder and Krigger Back at Golden Gate...
i got gryder's autograph last week.....he's a helluva nice kid!!!
Meet Don August
I have been involved in horse racing, from a fan to sportswriter, for the past 30 years. The first time my dad took me to the track, I picked a horse named "Black Tornado" and when he won, I was hooked. From then on, I spent weekends and occasional school days at the race track, and my enjoyment of the sport led me to try my hand at being a jockey agent, which i did for 3 years. When that didn't work out as I had hoped, I concentrated on my writing career by covering big races and doing summer fair handicapping, off and on, for the Contra Costa Times.
Today, I stay involved in the sport by being part of a group that currently owns two horses stabled at Golden Gate Fields. As all owners, we have dreams of someday having that special horse. Besides writing about horse racing I enjoy covering many sports and have had the honor of meeting and writing about some incredible athletes.