Friday the 13th was anything but unlucky for apprentice jockey Amanda Tamburello at River Downs. The 33-year-old rider won three races on the 9-race Opening Day card. Before a large, festive crowd at River Downs she had no problem handling a shower-soaked track by winning the 4th race on Real Fun ($13.60); the 6th aboard Yore ($14.20) and the final 9th race astride Persevere ($10.00).
"It’s a little different riding racehorses than equestrian horses, but there is still that sense of confidence I have from all my experience,” Tamburello said. “There are things that come naturally for me from being on horses most of my life. I’ve always felt the most comfortable when I’m on the back of a horse.”
Tamburello rode only a few races at River Downs last year, but intends to ride the 2011 meet here. “Being on racehorses is completely different for me,” Tamburello said. “I love it. The experience of being in a show ring has its own feel, but it is more about timing with your horse. There is nothing like going 35 miles per hour on an athlete that needs to run. It’s exhilarating.”