Moss surrounds herself with quality personnel

Maggi Moss, the perennial leading owner at Prairie Meadows, will be inducted into the track's hall of fame on Aug. 6. She sits atop the local owner standings with 26 wins and $428,797 in earnings, and is 14 wins ahead of her nearest rival.

But, she hasn't gotten there alone. Moss has assembled a winning team with Chris Richard training and Eddie Razo riding. The three have combined for 23 victories this meet.

"The people you associate with, the people you choose to handle your horses and money, is the number one factor to learn," Moss said. "I had to learn a lot the hard way. Finding the right people, it's a lot like a marriage. It's a relationship of trust."

Richard, a one-time apprentice of Tom Amoss, migrated to Prairie Meadows in 2008. The move has resulted in 129 victories.

"I gave him an opportunity," Moss said. "I have found that his dedication and desire to do what is right is exactly what I was looking for."

Richard leads the trainer standings with 30 wins and $508,666 in stable earnings.

Razo is summering at Prairie Meadows for the first time.

"I think Eddie is just an exceptionally smart professional, a gentleman, a smart rider," Moss said. "Foremost, he's a gentleman. He's a hard worker. He's a very good jock.

Razo missed the Oaklawn Park meet after going down in a spill last fall. He sustained a hairline hip fracture and a torn groin muscle. He is fifth in the jockey standings with 38 wins and $967,788 in earnings. A good part of his earnings came last weekend with his victory aboard Shadowbdancing in the Cornshusker Handicap for Terrel Gore.