Apprentice Mathilda Burnham goes from horse shows to the big show
As recently as earlier this month, Mathilda Burnham split her time between exercising horses for trainer Peter Miller at San Luis Rey Downs in Southern California and participating in horse shows.
The horse show aspect of her career is on hold. On Friday at Golden Gate Fields, Burnham, 24, makes her debut as a jockey, riding two of the nine races.
Burnham, a native of Maine, is booked to ride Hannah In a Hurry in the second race for trainer Marcia Stortz, and Bob’s Vai in the seventh race for trainer Faith Taylor. Burnham, who claims 10 pounds, is the only apprentice jockey active on Friday’s program.
Burnham said on Tuesday that she hopes the absence of an established apprentice in Northern California will benefit her at Golden Gate and the fair circuit.
Burnham, who moved to Northern California in early April, hopes her background in show jumping can pay dividends in race riding.
“Event riding was my career,” she said. “I’m no stranger to performing under pressure.”
Burnham worked for trainer Walther Solis prior to joining Miller’s team. She credits Miller for the opportunity to ride workouts in the last 18 months in preparation for her career as a jockey.
“He put me on a lot of workers,” she said. “Through that, I’ve wanted to be a jockey.”
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.