Inside the Jockeys’ Room with Chantal Sutherland-Kruse

Photos courtesy of BetAmerica unless otherwise noted.
Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens and Chantal Sutherland-Kruse, a two-time Sovereign Award winner in her native Canada, take America's Best Racing's readers inside the jockeys' room in 2014. Stevens and Sutherland-Kruse will provide answers to all sorts of questions such as how jockeys get paid, what goes on between races, whom they admire and what type of music and fashion style they favor.
In this edition of Inside the Jockeys' Room we learn a little more about who Sutherland-Kruse admires and she divulges her first celebroty crush.
How many horses do you ride in a typical day?
SUTHERLAND-KRUSE: In a day I typically ride about one or two horses here at Santa Anita. It seems a far cry from the good old days in Canada two years ago when I would typically ride 10 or 13 on any card of any day; I loved it! No regrets, and being humbled has taught me much about myself and who I aspire to be.
AFTER WINNING BIG 'CAP

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire

Would you rather win the Kentucky Derby or the Breeders’ Cup Classic and why?
SUTHERLAND-KRUSE: The Breeder’s Cup Classic would be amazing to win and same with the Derby. So, I can’t decide which one I would rather win.
Which living person do you admire most and why?     
SUTHERLAND-KRUSE: I admire my Dad because he is a self-made man, and although he made mistakes, and we all do, he gave me a great life and opportunity to be anything. He is generous, a little rough on the edges and he made me strong and capable.
First celebrity crush?          
SUTHERLAND-KRUSE: First celebrity crush is a tie between Rob Lowe and Tom Cruise and now it’s Chris Hemsworth, aka THOR!
What is the most money you ever won in a single horse race?           
SUTHERLAND-KRUSE: Most money won in a single race would have to be the Santa Anita Handicap or the Valedictory.
LOOKING FIERCE

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?    
SUTHERLAND-KRUSE: Hello Kitty
What kind of car do you drive?     
SUTHERLAND-KRUSE: Jaguar
Roller-coaster or haunted house?
SUTHERLAND-KRUSE: Roller-coaster.
It’s easier to have fun when … ?   
SUTHERLAND-KRUSE: I’m relaxed and after I have worked out.
You can never have too many … ?
SUTHERLAND-KRUSE: You can never have too many shoes.
Even at my age, I am still able to … ?      
SUTHERLAND-KRUSE: Even at my age I am still able to wear pig tails. … I have never met the pig-tail police yet.
BETAMERICA PHOTOSHOOT