A conversation with horse trainer Linda Rice

A conversation with horse trainer Linda Rice

Racing horses, we race year round and, frankly, it's a welcome break in December when we get a couple weeks without racing.

How do you keep track of them?

Isn't it tougher up here because all the owners are here and everyone wants to go out to dinner?

Yeah, but I try to shy away from too many social activities in the evening.

Winning that Hopeful in a dead heat with Wayne Lukas (Yonaguska), that was pretty exciting.

Another Grade I victory, maybe my first Grade I (Things Change, 1998 Spinaway) was pretty exciting.

Back in the day, women weren't readily accepted in this game, were they?

No, certainly not in the management role.

[...] women are very fond of horses and are very kind to them and nurturing towards them and they have done a wonderful job with them over the years.

Was it a young age?

Horse racing was important all over the world, not just in my backyard.

Later on, I decided I wanted to be a trainer.

If you were not a horse trainer, what do you think you would be doing?

At some point, I had to give those duties to someone else to take on other responsibilities.

Did you play any other sports?

Favorite sport other than horse racing?

Is Jeter your favorite athlete?

Favorite horse you've ever trained? I know that is tough because you get attached to all of them.

Favorite horse was City Zip.

If you could have dinner with three people, living or dead, who would they be?

The enthusiasm for racing.

From everyone from families to college buddies to an older couple who has been here for 40-50 years.

To me, the greatest thing about Saratoga racing is the enthusiasm.

The horse people, the fans, the locals, everybody.

Why can't it carry over (to Belmont and Aqueduct)?

Walking through the crowd here is a lot different than walking through the crowd at...