Inez Karlsson recently
returned to riding after taking a bit over a year off. That time was taken to
bring the beautiful Sophia into the world.
Inez has been the
darling of Chicagoland racing since she became a jockey and much has been
written about her so we won’t go into the distant past but instead we’ll just
give a little bit of an update and tell you about a recent purchase.
“I feel great”, was the
way Inez started off the interview. “I really hadn’t planned on coming back
until the spring but I realized that if I did want to come back then, I would
have to go someplace over the break to get fit. I didn’t want to travel with a
baby so I decided to come back here this fall. I’ve only been taking a few
mounts, just getting my strength back. I’m not trying to hustle too many
horses. I just want to take my time, ride for good people, and get back in
shape. It’s working out well.
“But, I’m really
planning on coming back 100% in the spring.
“Sophia got to see Santa
Claus yesterday. She was very brave. She’s growing. She’s still not sleeping at
night. That’s another reason why I didn’t want to come back full time yet. I
have so much else to do. I’m up at 6:00 am with her every morning, even if I do
have the opportunity to sleep in. She has to go to the babysitter for two and a
half hours every morning while I’m at workouts. Then I watch her until Anthony gets
home, he watches her while have to go ride, and then I come home and take over
again, making dinner and doing things around the house.
“But, I wouldn’t have
changed it for anything. I’m really happy right now. Everything is intense but
since I came back I feel better than ever. I feel better physically, I feel
better mentally, and I really have more energy. Obviously waking up a couple of
times a night can take its toll, but when I come home and see my daughter
smiling at me, it’s all worth it. I’m so happy. I love my life right now.
“Everybody comments on
how happy I am now. It was great having my daughter. It was great coming back.
I had heard that Inez
just made an interesting purchase so I asked about it.
“Death Valley was the
very first winner that I rode. Chris Block had him at the time. I won seven or
eight races on him. He’s just one of those hard-knocking horses that tries so
hard. He’s gotten claimed a number of times, a few by Jimmy DiVito because he
always liked him too. I always told Jimmy that I wanted to buy him when he was
done with racing and give him a good home. Then he got claimed and went to
Prairie Meadows. Jimmy claimed him back because he also wanted to see him have
a good home.
“Right now he’s in
DiVito’s barn. If somebody has any suggestions, they can always talk to me.
I’ve spoken to Jan Ely about the Galloping Out Thoroughbred Rescue (www.gallopingout.org).
I’m signing him up for that.
“Winning that first race
on Death Valley was one of the happiest moments of my life, along with giving
birth to Sophia of course. At one of the rare moments when I’m feeling a little
down and out, thinking about that cheers me up.
“I rode him in his last
race. He’s still a good horse. He’s sound, he’s happy. I really wanted to take
him now and find him a good home. I think that he’ll make a good riding horse.
I don’t expect any money for him. I don’t want any credit. I just want him to have
a good life. It’s my way of giving back.
It is the season of
giving. We thank all of you for all that you do.