Troilo looking to take spot as steward spot

There is life beyond horseback. Bill Troilo, who retired in the spring after 27 years as a jockey, has been working as an entry clerk in the racing office at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky. Troilo, 48, aspires to be a steward.

"I'm going to the stewards' accreditation school in November at the University of Louisville," said Troilo, a 10-time leading rider at River Downs in Cincinnati in the 1990s. "Hopefully I'll be able to work my way up as time goes on."

Competing primarily in Kentucky and Ohio, Troilo booted home 2,512 winners before chronic knee ailments forced him to retire after he guided Letherdoherthing to a runner-up finish on April 2, closing day of the Turfway Park winter-spring meet. He underwent a knee replacement in June and continues to undergo physical therapy four days a week.

"It's going pretty well," said Troilo. "My doctor even told me I could probably ride again, but right now I've had enough of it."

Troilo, who will be the clerk of scales at the upcoming Kentucky Downs meet, said he hopes to be on staff during the long winter at Turfway.

Female jocks get their soaking

Two female apprentices have taken the ceremonial dousing from fellow riders by recording their first career victories at Ellis this summer. Those riders are Oriana Rossi, a native of Italy who worked for years as an exercise rider in England, and Stephanie Slinger, who began her riding career by accepting several mounts at the end of the Churchill Downs spring meet.

Rossi, 26, won for the first time on Dancing Sky on Aug. 16. Entering the second-to-last weekend of action at Ellis, she had gone on to win twice more.

Slinger, 22, scored aboard Table for Five on Aug. 22. Slinger grew up in Detroit before galloping horses for a variety of well-known trainers, including D. Wayne Lukas and Bobby Frankel.

Both women were treated to the traditional messy mixture of eggs, water, talcum powder, and shaving cream following their first win.

Meet's end draws near

After a nine-race Sunday card at Ellis, just four days (Sept. 4-7) remain at the 2009 meet, which owner Ron Geary has said might well be the last in the track's 87-year history.

There is no real feature Sunday, as a starter allowance on the turf and two maiden special weight races will serve as the top attractions.

The last of four stakes of the meet, the $50,000 Cliff Guilliams Memorial for older horses on turf, will anchor the closing-day card. First post daily is 12:10 p.m. Central.

Kentucky Downs to hold qualifier

Kentucky Downs will host a handicapping contest during its live meet next month. The Sept. 26 contest will offer $10,300 in cash prizes and three berths in the National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas in January.

Kentucky Downs, the turf-only track located near Franklin, Ky., will host its four-day meet on Sept. 19, 21, 26, and 28.

Sept. 26 also is the date for the Kentucky Cup at Turfway. The turf version of the Kentucky Cup will be held the previous Saturday, opening day at Kentucky Downs.

* Both the jockey and trainer races at Ellis are tight. Entering Friday action, Jon Court held a one-win lead over Corey Lanerie in the Ellis jockey standings.

* Sunday is the annual College Scholarship Day at Ellis. Scholarships worth $1,000 each will be raffled off to registered students throughout the day. Winners must be present.