Jockey Antongeorgi Adopts Mare He Rode at Golden Gate
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Photo: Courtesy William Antongeorgi III
Gratzie outside her paddock
Gratzie, whose name is spelled like the English pronunciation of grazie, meaning thank you in Italian, is now being shown thanks to a Golden Gate Fields jockey who rode her.
Rider William Antongeorgi III, known as "Billy the Kid," has adopted the 10-year-old mare following her recent retirement from racing, according to Tweets from the jockey and Golden Gate Fields track announcer Matt Dinerman.
The daughter of Three Valleys won 13 of 62 starts and $261,610, racing in California since 2017. She won her final start under Antongeorgi for trainer Manuel Badilla and owners Ronald Charles and Samuel Gordon in a claiming race for horses with an $8,000 tag at Golden Gate Feb. 4. It was the eighth time the jockey rode her.
"Giving this mare a good home and happy retirement makes me so happy. Gratzie was so good to me on the track, and she deserves a happy retirement," the rider tweeted.
Prior to her campaign in California, the mare raced in Britain, winning multiple races, including the Investec Mile at Epsom, a handicap race (Class 2) in June 2015.
According to a tweet from Dinerman, Gratzie "arrived at Billy and his mom's farm in North Carolina on Tuesday. Thanks to Bill, trainer Manny Badilla, and owners Ron Charles and Sam Gordon!"
The adoption of Gratzie illustrates the attachment that some jockeys establish with their mounts, a bond rarely acknowledged by anti-racing forces that claim animal rights abuse.
Four protesters disrupted racing at Golden Gate by laying on the racetrack March 4, forcing the cancellation of the day's first race and delaying six others by more than six hours.