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| Staff Writer |
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Horse racing, a realm steeped in centuries-old traditions and often perceived as a bastion of male dominance, has witnessed a seismic shift in recent years.
This evolution is undeniably embodied by Jena Antonucci, a remarkable figure whose journey in the sport is as inspiring as it is groundbreaking. Her historic 2023 victory in the prestigious Belmont Stakes, the final and often most gruelling leg of the coveted Triple Crown, shattered long-held barriers. With her champion horse, Arcangelo, Antonucci became the first woman to achieve this extraordinary feat, indelibly inscribing her name in the history books.
This article delves into Antonucci's captivating story, examining the unwavering dedication that fuelled her rise, the societal challenges she confronted along the way, and her steadfast vision for a more inclusive and equitable future in the sport of horse racing.
As a child, I began riding showhorses at the age of three and continued into my adulthood. This experience provided me with a strong fosundation in horse care, the responsibilities associated with caring for horses, and developing a deep connection with horses. I also learned how important balancing a horse and the intricacies of making an athlete are in both the show horse and racing worlds.
I had successfully retrained many thoroughbred horses to become show jumpers. When I started working with them, I got interested in learning about their thought processes, behaviours, and origins. I wanted to help them transition when their racing days were over, so I embarked on the journey to learn how thoroughbreds were started in their initial training.
I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly young horses learned and how much they already instinctually knew. It was obvious they enjoyed learning and were always curious to know more. Growing up in the show-horse industry, I wasn't exposed initially to the racing world, but that didn't bother me much. The racing industry operates differently. People initially struggled to identify who I worked for. However, in my opinion, being a good trainer isn't just about having a singular exposure, it’s about taking notes along the way from all angels. I feel my background keeps me openminded and has enabled me to keep learning and evolving.
Life is full of challenges, and everyone faces difficult phases. As for me, I try to focus on my journey. I firmly believe that regardless of gender, everyone, including aspiring trainers, faces challenges. It's important not to let others dictate your path. What matters is moving forward, having faith in your skills and the horses you work with, and having a supportive team. While some may prefer not to have a female trainer, some believe women are more perceptive and connected to horses. Thus, there is a case for both sides.
Ultimately, what matters is the horse and their development, regardless of the trainer's gender. Fiona has been my assistant for almost 15 years, and we have a great history together. Her spouse is also one of my leading riders, and I feel fortunate to have a team that supports me in developing the best horses we can.
As time has passed, I have noticed some changes. I have always been an independent thinker with original ideas and strong problem-solving skills. As a result, I don't shy away from obstacles or challenges that require me to find solutions. However, I have noticed that this can sometimes make others uncomfortable. I appreciate when people come to me with their problems and potential solutions and we work together for the result. As a woman, I have experienced instances where others tried to ignore or push me away, but that is their problem. Although frustrating, I refuse to let it affect my motivation, desires, or goals.
My main advice would be to remain true to yourself and pursue what makes you happy without sacrificing yourself. In the context of horse racing, many young men and women enter the industry and become disoriented. Individuals must discover a way to stay true to their desires and happiness. Someone who wishes to become a trainer must learn to run a business. Becoming a trainer means becoming a business owner and operator, with full responsibility for everything that happens. By teaching people, the business fundamentals, we can convert more assistants and people interested in becoming trainers.
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Success isn't about labels such as race or achievement but focusing on the horse. Arcangelo's success opened opportunities for us. Our recent success exemplifies that titles will follow if duties are performed to the highest standard. Observing the aftermath has been amazing, although it didn't change my life. It could give our work more respect. More people observe us intently, but we continue working hard, staying focused and training.
Our approach has always prioritised the horses and the owners by focusing on their goals and desires, keeping the horse first. We believe in building strong relationships and working closely with owners to retain them for a long time rather than focusing on our success rate and shortening the time the owner is in the industry.
I started speaking up more about my position, which was difficult initially since I usually prefer to work behind the scenes and let the horses and team members be in the spotlight. I didn't want my gender to be the main focus. Our small team is important to me, and we worked hard every chance we got. With this we were given the opportunity to develop and campaign Arcangelo.
Despite our best efforts, humans cannot completely control how others perceive or talk about them. I once found myself in a situation where I was about to speak on TV about the Belmont race, and a handicapper nearby was making negative comments about myself and Arcangelo, not realizing that I was the trainer. Although it wasn’t desirous to hear, I tried to maintain humility and not let the comments get to me. It's important to keep the conversation going even when faced with doubts and negative attention. I wished the handicapper luck and made light of the situation. Inevitably, we'll occasionally be the target of negative remarks, but we must handle them with grace.
It was an opportunity for everyone to see that we are good at training and caring for horses. Although we had campaigned racehorses before, we had never had the chance to showcase our skills at that level. Winning four races in a row with any horse is an accomplishment, but having this horse do that at his level was such an immense accomplishment. This experience demonstrated our program's consistency and the importance of building a strong team.
I have never placed my horses with the concern of the morning line odds. The individual's responsible for entering that number don't know what goes on in preparing for certain races. When I first started racing in New York, we won a small Stake race with a filly at 100-to-one odds! You can't let the white noise affect your decision-making, like people saying, "That horse shouldn't be in there." The real challenge is assembling a team that shares this belief and finding jockeys willing to take a chance on a horse's potential. If I had gone with outsider opinion and placed Arcangelo according to their opinions, we would never have accomplished what we did.
I am a student of observation regardless of gender. Watching strong horsewomen like Kathleen O'Connell, Carla Gaines, and Vicki Oliver just to name a few, navigate the same challenges helps in the big picture. They excel in their craft, continue to buck the naysayers, and quietly continue their lives. As the industry can be challenging, I like to watch how different individuals deal with their work and personal lives and who tries to find the balance and how.
I'm fortunate to have the natural ability to adapt to changing situations which is so important in this industry. Additionally, to take a step back to analyse things. However, I understand that diversification is crucial for the industry's sustainability. There are many exciting avenues you can take with young horses, and by staying informed about all facets of the industry, I try to ensure that I am on top of things.
I have tried some technologies in training but feel we may have tried too early. The technology has come along well in the last several years. I primarily use it for client communication, including images and videos. While heart rate monitors can be helpful, relying too much on technology can make you overlook the intangible qualities of a horse or a simple nuance. I believe technology can only supplement and not replace the importance of listening and slowing down while working with horses.
I was pleasantly surprised by the support and enthusiasm I received from all walks of life. It made me appreciate the sport and fellow horsemen and women even more. It's important to raise awareness about the remarkable horses in our industry and work towards improving the industry to prevent people from losing interest. I am proud to share my story and hope to inspire others to do the same.
I can be impatient at times, but horses have taught me patience even in challenging situations. It took me some time to learn that it's important to set boundaries and say no with grace. Women often want to please everyone, but finding balance is key to caring for ourselves.
One statement that has always bothered me is when people say, "Women are too soft on their horses to train them." I think it's unfair to generalize based on gender. As I've worked with older businesspeople in the industry, I've seen that some prefer to work with men because that's what they're used to. It's not because women are inferior trainers, but rather a matter of familiarity. This is something that's slowly changing, though.
I am always striving for balance - always trying to find my balance between work and personal life. Horse people tend to talk about them nonstop! It's important to find a balance and take care of ourselves, even if it's not something I'm particularly good at. Having other hobbies and interests is important.
I enjoy the business side of the industry and believe that giving back to our community is crucial and extends beyond just advancing the industry. I think it's important to be associated with some of the horsemen's boards and participate in the nonprofit and charitable sectors.
I am thrilled that he is doing well and has started his stud career at Lane's End Farm in Kentucky. His first couple of mares are in foal, which is great news. We plan to send some mares his way, and I can't wait to see the personality he instils in his foals next year.
As Jena Antonucci continues to pave the way for women in the industry, her remarkable journey serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for aspiring trainers worldwide. Looking towards the future of women in racing and eagerly anticipating Arcangelo's next journey of his offspring starting in 2025, we extend our most profound respect to Antonucci for her extraordinary accomplishments and undeniable impact on the world of horse racing.