Jockey is a man in demand
delawareonline.com/newsjournal By JACK IRELAND Staff reporter 04/26/2003
Trainer H. Graham Motion is not alone in his admiration for jockey Ramon Dominguez.
Motion, one of the nation's top young trainers, has won several big races in the past few years at Delaware Park with Dominguez aboard.
And therein lies the problem. The more Dominguez wins, the more other trainers want him for their horses.
As DelPark opens its 66th season of thoroughbred racing today, Dominguez will be riding for Motion and several other trainers at the Stanton track.
"I feel it's a big advantage to have Ramon on my horses. He is such an asset," Motion said.
Dominguez, a native of Venezuela, was leading the DelPark jockey standings last year with 104 wins before missing the last 3 1/2 months of the meet because of a broken wrist. He still finished fifth for the season and had purse earnings of $3,402,882.
After having surgery and going through intensive rehabilitation, Dominguez returned and has been one of the top riders in Maryland over the past five months.
"It's a shame what happened to him last year at Delaware," Motion said. "He was having a phenomenal year. He's a very good rider, but it is getting harder and harder to get him."
Dominguez, 26, said he is fit and ready to work harder than ever. With the retirement of Mike McCarthy, DelPark's leading rider six of the past seven years, Dominguez is the favorite to win his first jockey title at the track.
"I think some people assume it's a done deal that I'll be the leading rider at Delaware," said Dominguez, who rode 11 stakes winners at the track last year. "I think I have a very good chance, but it's not a sure thing. I never underestimate the competition.
Dominguez admitted he feared losing his edge after being injured.
"It was four months, and it was too long," he said. "My therapy after the surgery seemed to take longer than I expected. I was concerned at the time and hoping I would not lose too much business. You never know how horsemen are going to respond. If you don't get the mounts, you start to second-guess yourself.
"A lot of people in Maryland were supportive. I won with my first mount back at Laurel on Quick Punch. I was sure of myself again."
Mike Gill, the nation's leading thoroughbred owner, has used Dominguez on his horses and been impressed by his demeanor.
"For as good as he does, Ramon doesn't have an ego," said Gill, who has been barred from racing this year at DelPark. "I think he's the best in the Mid-Atlantic region. I'll still look to use him when I can. He's very approachable. I like this guy."
John Robb, a trainer for Gill in Maryland, said he also would like to use Dominguez more regularly.
"It gets so frustrating, and I wish I could get him to ride more for me," said Robb, who has been training for 30 years. "With such a big outfit, you would like to get the same riders. I'm loyal, and I want my riders to be loyal.
"Ramon is just doing what is best for his business. There are a lot of people out there who want him."
Dominguez has a strong family connection to horse racing, both thoroughbred and harness. His wife, Sharon, is an exercise rider for Motion at Fair Hill, Md. Bobby Wyatt, her father, is a harness trainer and owner from Harrington.
"I met my wife at Delaware Park when she was galloping horses," Dominguez said. "It's a great situation for us."
Dominguez said he wants to take advantage of any opportunities during the DelPark meet. That, he said, is why he doesn't limit himself to riding for a handful of trainers.
"I feel fortunate to ride for such good trainers like Graham Motion, but I really don't have a first call," Dominguez said. "I want to ride for a lot of trainers at Delaware Park."
Reach Jack Ireland at 324-2808 or jireland@delawareonline.com.
The News Journal/JENNIFER CORBETT Ramon Dominguez earned 104 wins before missing the last 3 1/2 months of last year's Delaware Park meet with of a broken wrist. He still finished fifth in the jockey standings and had purse earnings of $3,402,882.