Rice rising again in horse racing industry
Trainer Linda Rice is no stranger to the winner’s circle, Saratoga Race Course or the New York Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association, working hard at her craft and earning her rewards along the way.
In 2009 she became the first women to win a training title in New York and it was at Saratoga Race Course, she then went on to win the 2012 Aqueduct spring title after tying for the meet titles in 2011 in the Aqueduct spring and Belmont summer/spring meets.
She has also been active behind the scenes as a board member of the NYTHA since 2002 and was recently elected as the first female, first vice-president with Tina Marie Bond as the secondvice president.
“I think it’s taken a long time for women to get the recognition that maybe they deserve and to also be given those positions,” Linda Rice said. “I’ve been very involved in racing, I have been for a long time, but more in a sup-
portive role in the past and I think that’s changed dramatically.”
Rice is appreciative for the recognition by the board for herself and Tina Bond and is a start to additional equality in her field.
“I think in general, whether it be in politics, females are 50 percent of the population and they should be represented,” Rice said. “I think that’s important.”
Rice doesn’t look at her appointment as a token of appreciation, but recognition for a career in the field.
“I’ve been on the board for 15 years, but I think that it’s a group of owners and trainers and they know that I’m in the trenches and I’m living it,” Rice said. “I’m not in it part-time, it’s not a hobby for me. I’m a fulltime seven days a-week, 365 days a year trainer.
“They know I’m in the trenches and I understand the business well and I think that’s why I was elected to the board. I’ve got some experience with being on the board itself and what the difficulties are what we’ve been trying to change in the industry. I really think that was why I was put there, not because they wanted a female’s perspective, but I’m sure that comes with the territory.”
After starting her career as an exercise rider and assistant trainer, Rice earned her training license in 1987 and began training and saddling horses in New York and New Jersey.
During her career she has won more than 1,750 races and is approaching $70M in earnings and recently was in the Saratoga Race Course winner’s circle with two-year-old chestnut filly Miko ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr for Preferred Pals Stable.
There is more room in the stables, the winner’s circle and on administrative boards for women like Linda Rice and those opportunities need to continue.
“I don’t think they should do it by sex, but I think times have changed dramatically and women are getting a lot of consideration,” Rice said. “They are well educated, they’ve invested a lot of time and energy in their different fields and I think they’re getting their due respect.”