Former exercise rider Janice Norwesh dies at 57

Janice (Traister) Norwesh, 57, died Tuesday after a long battle against ovarian cancer.

As a teenager, Norwesh was initially interested in becoming a veterinarian and entered University of Kentucky as a pre-veterinary medical student. A year later, however, a friend talked her into becoming an exercise rider.

Norwesh left school, moved to the East Coast, and soon began riding in New York.

By the late 1980s, Norwesh was well known as an outgoing, driven exercise rider for trainer Scotty Schulhofer. Through the mid-1990s, she was the regular morning partner for many of Schulhofer’s stable stars, including Colonial Affair, Unaccounted For, and Cryptoclearance.

Norwesh was known and respected both for her style on a horse – her “quiet hands” could calm tough or nervous horses – and her unusual physical strength. She also was known for her sharp wit, sense of humor, strong character, and, despite that strong character, a very empathetic nature.

In the mid-1990s, Norwesh moved to Aiken, S.C., for a short while, before shifting to work for James McMullen at Arlington. She worked as both an exercise rider and assistant for McMullen for several years – he says she was very instrumental to his success there – before leaving racing and moving to New Hampshire.

In New Hampshire, Norwesh became a tennis pro and the coach of the local high school tennis team.

However, Norwesh returned to the track one time. After initial treatment for ovarian cancer, she visited Saratoga Race Course in 2016. There, Norwesh galloped Tony Dutrow’s stable pony around the Oklahoma track, giving many old friends the chance to see her again.

Norwesh leaves behind her husband, Ed, and daughters Kolby, Kaylyn, and Allie. She also is survived by her mother, two brothers, and a sister.

Services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Norwesh’s name may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute or The Jimmy Fund.