Maggie Kimmitt

How long have you worked for Herringswell Stables?  Since April, 2009.

How did you become involved with horses?  I started riding at age 9 and competing at age 11. My parents bought my first horse when I was 13; I had him for nearly 20 years and have never been without a horse since. And that’s been a lot of years!

What was your first racing-related job?  I worked for Maryland Jockey Club track photographer Jim McCue for three years. Not only did I learn photography from a true master (and one of the finest men in horse racing), but my experience at the track opened so many doors for me. In fact that’s how I met Graham, Anita and Adrian – which led to great friendships and subsequently the most rewarding and enjoyable job I’ve ever had.

What is your favorite racing memory?  May 23, 2009 at Pimlico. My horse Casi Cielo (called Antley at home), whom I raised, won his first race in his third career start. He was trained at that time by Hamilton Smith, who had just told me a few days prior to that race that “they don’t write races long enough for this horse” and he wondered if Antley would ever actually win a race at all. There was a fairly large group of family and friends at the track that day, and the excitement as he came down the stretch on the lead was insane. Genuinely a dream come true. Most meaningful was that my Dad, who passed away eight months later, was there that day. He had watched Antley grow up and had been with me every step of the way.

Any other fond memories?  My friend Chris Antley’s Triple Crown wins: the 1991 Kentucky Derby on Strike The Gold and the 1999 Kentucky Derby and Preakness on Charismatic. Attending Chris’s Hall of Fame induction with his family in August, 2015. Better Talk Now’s Breeders’ Cup Turf win in 2004; I had a pretty sizable ticket on him that day! Shared Account’s Breeders Cup in 2010. Miss Temple City running – and winning – against the boys. Main Sequence’s remarkable Grade 1 streak in 2014, and of course Animal Kingdom’s Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup victories. We’ve been so fortunate to have such incredible horses here at Herringswell over the years.