Alicia Wincze is the turf writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader. She started riding at age 8 and was a four-year member of the Pace University equestrian team.
Lillie Langtry creates some drama
Posted by Alicia Wincze on November 5, 2009
So, trainer Aidan O’Brien has had an interesting start to his morning. While leading his Ballydoyle contingent through their morning exercise on the track, his Juvenile Fillies Turf contender Lillie Langtry dumped her rider.
O’Brien proceeded to hop off his pony and get on ‘Lillie’ himself, galloping her around the track with no helmet or flakjacket (although something tells me he can afford to pay the fine).
O’Brien later said the filly became frightened and reacted, dropping the rider, who held onto the reins.
“She got a little detached from the others and got confused,” O’Brien said. “When she started looking, she was like a child after losing her mommy. She started looking, and she didn’t know whether to go forward or backward. And she couldn’t see the other horses.”
O’Brien said he wanted to make sure the filly calmed down.
“She was in a confused state and we had to get her out of it and into her own comfort zone quick,” O’Brien said.
Sometimes when you want a job done right, you just have to do it yourself.
