Rosier Struggles With Disease and Profession
There are some that call the role of being a jockey one of the toughest jobs at the racetrack. Jockeys are the fittest athletes in the world and they have to be prepared to expect the unexpected. One jockey at Oaklawn not only battles the dangers of the profession, but that of being a type I diabetic.
Jockey Chris Rosier (pictured) goes through the every day grind of being a race rider and also has diabetes. Diabetes affects the pancreas in the body as to whether or not it will make the hormone insulin, which controls the amount of sugar in the blood. Everything a diabetic does, eating, exercise, and sleeping, has an affect on the body. Rosier rides 1,000 pounds thoroughbreds and has to weigh a certain amount to compete at the top level.
“It is hard being a diabetic and a jockey. I wear an insulin pump that helps control by diabetes, I don’t wear it riding races, but when I work horses I wear it,” says Rosier. “Eating is my biggest issue being a jockey and a diabetic. I am supposed to eat certain foods to control my diabetes, but can’t because I have to make weight to race ride. I check my blood sugar ten or more times a day. I want to stay on top of my diabetes.”
In 2004 Rosier broke his collarbone in a riding accident and it was in the hospital he discovered he had the disease. “I went blind for four days, and they didn’t know why. It was scary. They then told me I had diabetes,” commented Rosier between races. “I live with it now, and everyday is a struggle, but it makes you a stronger person.”
Rosier has had success this meet riding for trainer Tim Ice and will ride Blushing Romeo in the $50,000 Rainbow Stakes on Saturday. “I am happy with the success I have had this meeting. Tim and I have a good work ethic. I gallop 90 percent of Tim’s barn in the morning,” reflected Rosier. “Tim gave me a shot down at Louisiana Downs and I am grateful for that. I am wiser person now then when I started riding. I got too much too soon, and it went to my head. I am happy with my second chance.”
Rosier now also may have a possible Arkansas Derby mount in Summer Bird, who broke his maiden last Thursday by two and a quarter lengths for owners Dr. K.K and Devi Jayaraman.
Top Three-Year-Olds in Friday Allowance Race
The eighth race on Friday’s card will highlight one of the most talked about horses on the Oaklawn backstretch. Hamazing Destiny (pictured) will look for his first win since his hefty purchase by Westrock Stables LLC and since being transferred from Mac Robertson’s barn to D. Wayne Lukas’ stable.
The son of Salt Lake broke his maiden at first asking by a commanding ten and one-half lengths early in the meet. After that dominating win, original owner Barry Butzow sold a percentage of the talented three-year-old and the horse was transferred to Lukas’ barn. Hamazing Destiny ran in the $300,000 Rebel Stakes on March 14th where he finished eighth to Win Willy from Robertson’s barn. Now Hamazing Destiny lands in an allowance optional claiming race and Lukas can find out if his million dollar horse has the stamina to go in a route or should stay short where he has shown talent. Jockey Israel Ocampo will replace Terry Thompson for Friday’s race.
Trainer Charles “Scooter” Dickey will send out Pointing Home on Friday. Fresh off of breaking his maiden on February 22nd by a length and a half, the son of Point Given ran a beaten sixth in the Rebel Stakes. Pointing Home picks up jockey Quincy Hamilton, who has had a stellar 2009 meet at Oaklawn and sits third in the jockey standings as of Sunday’s card.
A horse that has been improving is Good Sermon from the barn of William “Jinks” Fires. The son of Honour and Glory has hit the board in his three outings at Oaklawn. In his last start, Good Sermon set soft fractions going a mile to score a gate to wire victory under jockey Jon Court, who has the return mount for Friday.
The rest of the field will include, horse listed with trainer and jockey: Moscow Adventure, Donnie K. Von Hemel, Cliff Berry; High Spirit, Hal Wiggins, Terry Thompson; Har D Boy, Steve Asmussen, Luis Quinonez; Falling Knife, Thomas Amoss, Eusebio Razo, Jr.; Smuggler’s Hold, Ernie Witt, Rohan Singh. Post time will be 4:44 p.m. CDT for the mile and one-sixteenth race.
A Little Bit More
Lil E. Tee, an equine legend who left his mark at Oaklawn, was euthanized on March 18th. Lil E. Tee ran second in both the Southwest Stakes and Arkansas Derby before his most memorable win in the 1992 Kentucky Derby. As a four-year-old Lil E. Tee took the Razorback Handicap and ran second in the Oaklawn Handicap for owner W. Cal Partee and trainer Lynn Whiting.
Papa Clem, prepping for his start in the $1,000,000 Arkansas Derby, worked five panels over a fast Oaklawn track Tuesday morning. Working under jockey Larry Sterling, Jr. the Smart Strike colt went in 1:01.40 first after the break for trainer Gary Stute.
William “Jinks” Fires worked Prom Shoes (pictured) this morning in preparation for a possible start in the $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap on April 4th or the $100,000 Fifth Season Stakes. Breaking from the five-eighths pole, the son of Include bullet worked in 1:00.40 under regular rider Chris Emigh.
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