Terry West (jockey)

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Terry A. West (born ca. 1958) is an African-American equestrian from Maryland, former jockey and member of the state's Racing Commission. She is notable as one of the first black female jockeys in the United States to have a racing license. After retiring from racing, West continued in the horse industry as a competitor in hunter and jumper shows. In 2022, she was inducted into the Maryland Horse Show Association Hall of Fame.

Contents

Biography

West grew up in Washington, DC. [1] She began riding at age five, and her father was involved in horse showing and owned a farm in Howard County, Maryland. As a junior, she showed ponies and horses up the East Coast, as one of the few black equestrian competitors at events such as the Upperville Colt and Horse Show, the Devon Horse Show and the Washington International Horse Show. [2] [3]

Horse racing

Maryland's Laurel Park Racecourse, the site of West's final professional race as a jockey. Laurel Racetrack 1998.jpg
Maryland's Laurel Park Racecourse, the site of West's final professional race as a jockey.

In the 1970s, she began riding thoroughbreds as an exercise rider. In 1977, she became one of the first African-American female jockeys with a racing license in the United States. [2] [4] West's first race was on July 1, 1977 at Charles Town. Her first win came several months later on November 17, 1977 at the same track.

West's background as an African-American woman was a rarity on American racetracks. As a jockey, she described prejudice against female riders, recounting the difficulty it was to receive horses to ride. At the time, Maryland trainer King Leatherbury recounted the climate for female jockeys at the time when West was racing, "“With all due respect to females, I’ve just never seen a female rider that’s as good, as strong, as aggressive as a male rider.” [1] Overall, West would ride as either a jockey or exercise rider for 27 years. [5] West would spend 10 years as a professional jockey, eventually riding in 2018 races. Her final race took place at Laurel Park on June 20, 1987. [2]

Later life

After retiring from racing, West became involved in the retraining of thoroughbreds and in the horse showing circuit, where she competes in hunters and jumpers. [6] [7] [8] [9] In 2017, her and her horse Truckin' Gold won Maryland's Dark Hollow Farm Open Hunter Classic. [10]

In 2022, she was inducted into the Maryland Horse Show Association Hall of Fame, noted for her involvement of over fifty years in the Maryland horse industry. [11] [12]

In 2023, Maryland Governor Wes Moore appointed West as a Commissioner to the Maryland State Racing Commission. [13] [14] As commissioner, West is the current chair of the Maryland Bred Race Fund Advisory Committee. [15] [16]

West's granddaughter Kaitlyn Nicely-Harvey has followed in her grandmother's footsteps as a professional equestrienne, winning the 2019 Laura Pickett Award and 2018 MHSA Hunt Seat Medal. [17] [18] [19]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Perrone, Vinnie (1985-11-24). "Black Jockey Finds Prejudice Against Women". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  2. 1 2 3 "February 2023 Cover Story: Terry West". The Equiery. 2023-02-08. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  3. ↑ MHBA (1967-10-01). Maryland Horse October 1967. MHBA. Maryland Horse Breeders Association.
  4. ↑ Jonathan Munshaw, The Baltimore Sun. "After 40 years, Terry West keeps riding". baltimoresun.com. Archived from the original on 2014-07-11. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  5. ↑ "Former Jockey to Compete in Pimlico Thoroughbred Show". Paulick Report | Latest news and commentary from the horse racing and equine world. 2014-07-12. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  6. ↑ "Former Jockey Terry West To Tackle Jumps In Third Annual Totally Thoroughbred Horse Show This Sunday | Pimlico". www.pimlico.com. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  7. ↑ Biz, The (2014-07-08). "Former jockey Terry West aims to defend jumper title * The Racing Biz". The Racing Biz. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  8. ↑ Sun, Baltimore; Munshaw, Jonathan (2014-07-11). "After 40 years, Terry West keeps riding". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  9. ↑ Gallo, Jon (August 10, 2000). "Joy Riding in Columbia". The Washington Post.
  10. ↑ "Totally Thoroughbred Horse Show Raises $7,000 For Thoroughbred Aftercare". Paulick Report | Latest news and commentary from the horse racing and equine world. 2017-07-14. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  11. ↑ Klemm, Piper (2022-11-28). "Terry West Inducted into Maryland Horse Show Association Hall of Fame". The Plaid Horse Magazine. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  12. ↑ "Hall of Fame | Maryland Horse Show Association" . Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  13. ↑ Kurtz, Josh (2023-03-17). "Nominees to state ethics, racing panels among dozens of new Moore appointments sent to the Senate". Maryland Matters. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  14. ↑ "April 2024 Minutes of Public Meeting - Maryland Racing Commission - Maryland Department of Labor". www.labor.maryland.gov. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  15. ↑ Vespe, Frank (2023-08-01). "Pimlico to host September meet * The Racing Biz". The Racing Biz. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  16. ↑ "Tactical Approach Saves Ground, Upsets in 98th Hambletonian". Past The Wire. 2023-08-06. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  17. ↑ TANTV (2024-04-06). "Beyoncé Honors Black Cowboys and Cowgirls". TANTV. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  18. ↑ "The Plaid Horse February 2021 - The Stallion Issue by The Plaid Horse - Issuu". issuu.com. 2021-01-20. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  19. ↑ "WIHS Regional". Washington International Horse Show. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
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