Maryland natives Forest Boyce and Chris Grove wrapped up year-end titles at
the major Maryland tracks for the calendar year in the jockey and trainer
divisions, respectively, following Saturday’s final card of the season at Laurel
Park.
Despite riding only 18 winners during the first two meets of the season,
Boyce won her first riding championship in the state with 104 victories at
Laurel and Pimlico during 2010. The 26-year-old won the riding title for the
Laurel fall meeting with 71 scores where she had 23 multiple win days, including
a career-best four trips to the winners’ circle on December 2 and 16. Erick
Rodriguez finished second in the overall standings with 99 first place finishes.
“It is absolutely amazing,” said Boyce, who also won the riding title during
the Laurel summer meet.
A graduate of Garrison Forest School and the Maryland Institute College of
Art, Boyce spent the majority of the year as an apprentice and credits her
support system, including agent Jay “Shug” Burtis, for much of the success. She
began working for the late conditioner Mikey Smithwick at the age of 11 and
galloped horses for trainer Dickie Small before making her professional debut in
the summer of 2009. Former riders Mario Verge and Jimbo Bracciale serve as
mentors.
“I have a terrific support system,” Boyce explained. “The guys in the room
have been really helpful as well, especially Mario Pino, Harry Vega and Erick
Rodriguez. I also have to thank all the trainers that we were able to ride for,
Dickie, Ferris Allen, Hammy Smith and Alex White. You need to be on the right
horses to win races.”
Grove, a Frederick native, saddled 57 winners at the major Maryland tracks
during the campaign, four more than Scott Lake, who had won five straight
training titles in the state. The Grove barn captured the Laurel winter and
Laurel summer titles.
The 41-year-old Grove won the Barbara Fritchie H. (G2) and General George H.
(G2) at Laurel Park on February 15 with Sweet Goodbye (Louis Quatorze) and
Greenspring (Orientate), respectively, and saddled four consecutive winners at
Laurel on August 14.
“Those two and when Silmaril beat Ashado (in the 2005 Pimlico Distaff H.
[G3]) are the three biggest days of my career,” said Grove, who ranks in the top
50 nationally with a career-best 95 victories and $2.1 million in earnings so
far this year. “This is a nice accomplishment for the entire barn and it was
helped by Lake re-routing his horses out of the state but we were there to pick
up the pieces. I don’t know what is going to transpire for 2011 and beyond but I
want to continue racing in Maryland. This is home.”
Dickie Small and John Rigattieri shared the Laurel Park fall training title,
each visiting the winners’ circle 18 times during the 57-day stand. Hamilton
Smith and Ferris Allen finished one back.