Jockey Don Pettinger

Born: 12/21/61, Lamar, Colorado

Resides: Hot Springs, Arkansas

Family: Jan, wife; Heather and Courtney, daughters;         Derek and Colton, sons 

Don Pettinger, who is approaching 30 years of race riding, has given no thought to retirement. Now 47, he has long been a fixture at Oaklawn. 

“I was born in Lamar, Colorado, but have called Hot Springs home for some time,” he reflected. 

He has lost count of the stakes he’s won. 

“I remember winning three consecutive runnings of the Honeybee Stakes here Bedanken, My Trusty Cat and Yoursmineours. I was regular rider of the millionaires Donnie (Von Hemel) trained –Clever Trevor, Mr Ross and Bien Nicole. 

“One year, I won three of the seven stakes that made up Oklahoma Classics Day at Remington. There were the Distaff on Jazzy Okie, the Filly and Mare Turf on D Fine Okie and the Oklahoma Class Turf Sprint on Notable Okie. The three “Okie” horses were owned by Richter Family.” 

Clever Trevor, the first of Donnie K. Von Hemel’s millionaires, will always be first in Pettinger’s heart.  

Last year at Oaklawn, he took part in 61 races, from which he won four. 

Looking back, he recalls winning the $200,000 Fantasy aboard See How She Runs, the $100,000 Razorback on Mr Ross and the Dixie Belle and Honeybee astride Bedanken and the $200,000 Oaklawn Breeders’ Cup on Bien Nicole. 

He won the 1997 Dixie Belle with Hollow Miss, 1998 American Beauty and Spring Fever on Capote Belle, 1991 Martha Washington with Chance To Dance, 1996 Oaklawn Breeders’ Cup astride Belle Of Cozzene and 1998 Count Fleet Sprint on Chindi. 

Discussing his long association with the Von Hemelbarn, Pettinger explained, “When Donnie and I were just  kids in Omaha, we hung around his dad’s barn and frequently walked hots. Growing older, I galloped horses for the father. The son later went on his own as trainer and I rode for him for years.