Trainer goes back to riding
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Gennadi Dorochenko, a former jockey who has trained horses since 1998, will resume his riding career Thursday at Bay Meadows and has a live runner for his first mount.
Dorochenko will ride Lemon Fresh Tide for Steve Miyadi in a 1 1/16-mile turf race for $8,000 claimers. Lemon Fresh Tide has recorded both of her wins on turf, including a $25,000 claimer on the grass here last Nov. 15. The 4-year-old Lemon Fresh Tide will be making her first start of the year.
Dorochenko grew up in Russia before coming to America in 1993. He rode on the East Coast and in Kentucky and California. He retired from riding in 2002, with his last win coming on a horse that paid $101.20.
While on the East Coast, Dorochenko rode horses he trained, but California does not allow jockeys to train or trainers to ride competitively.
"This is a freedom country, but I don't know how this is freedom," Dorochenko said. "Only in California, you can't do this. I don't understand. Back east at Delaware Park and in Maryland, I could do both. I was the only person who was the rider, trainer, and owner of the horse."
Last year, Dorochenko had few horses, so he decided he would turn in his trainer's license.
Bay Meadows steward Darrel McHargue said Dorochenko could ride as long as he turned in his trainer's license and obtained a jockey's license by Wednesday. Dorochenko said earlier this week that he will meet those conditions.
"I have been working horses for everybody," Dorochenko said. "Every day I worked my own horses before, so I'm in very good shape. All my life, I was a jockey. I want to go around these courses."
Intriguing groups of maidens
Thursday's card includes a pair of interesting maiden races.
Siphon the Kitty, third in a very fast Santa Anita race after breaking slowly, may attract most of the attention in the second 2-year-old race of the meet. Two first-timers, Sassy Blend and Sierra Sunset, both have three-furlong bullet drills.
Nine runners, including the 3-year-old Santa Anita shipper Tycoon Doby, will compete in the other maiden race, going 7o1/2 furlongs on turf.