Jockey Elaine Castillo takes early retirement at 29

Jockey Elaine Castillo, who earlier this season became the first female rider at Finger Lakes to win 500 races, has retired at age 29 to pursue a career in culinary arts.

Castillo, a native of Mexico City, Mexico, rode for the final time in last Friday’s eighth race, when she finished seventh aboard Momsboy. Coincidentally, Momsboy provided Castillo with the lone stakes victory of her seven-year career in the 2008 Finger Lakes Juvenile.

Since she began riding in 2003 at Tampa Bay Downs, Castillo won 528 races – all but three of them at Finger Lakes. She ranks sixth in this year’s standings with 51 victories.

* To replace one day when racing was canceled, Finger Lakes has added a card on Wednesday, Nov. 24. First race post time will be at 12:15 p.m