For Hill, Stability of Family Helps him Climb Mountain

The more Channing Hill tries to talk about himself, the more he keeps mentioning the names of others.

As he stood on the Churchill Downs backstretch discussing prior successes from his years based in New York, the affable jockey was quick to give verbal hat tips to those like trainer Mike Hushion and owner Barry Schwartz for putting him on horses "you couldn't even try and get beat."

And when breaking down the intangibles that allowed the Nebraska native to rack up earnings last year that were his best since his most lucrative season in 2008, he about had to pause for breath as he name-checked his wife, his in-laws, his father, his owners, and even made sure his godparents got a mention in the grand scheme.

Gratitude and humility flow freely from Hill, something the 29-year-old is particularly mindful of these days. He remembers all too well when that wasn't necessarily the case and doesn't want to forget the consequences that came about as a result.

"I kind of went through a little rough spot, just in my day to day life and the way I used to process information and the way I used to think of this game," Hill said. "So of course, you're going to have to skid off the bottom to appreciate some of the top stuff."

The good stuff for Hill is hard to miss at the moment. Nearly five weeks ago he checked off a milestone when he rode in his first Kentucky Derby (G1), piloting Fast and Accurate to a 17th-place run. Fourteen days later, he was being legged up for his first Preakness Stakes (G1) and, with it, earning his initial Triple Crown placing when he guided Senior Investment to a third-place outing in the middle classic.

The trifecta of big-race starts comes June 10 when Hill again teams with Ken McPeek-trained Senior Investment in what will be the rider's maiden Belmont Stakes (G1). Add to all that the fact Hill has already notched more graded stakes wins this year (three) than he did in all of 2016 and that he entered the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) on a filly in Farrell considered at one point to be the best young distaffer not named Unique Bella, one wouldn't fault his humble ways for cracking just a tad in the face of a massive career upswing.

Success without the proper perspective can often ring hollow, however, which is why Hill is steadfast in maintaining his even keel even when repeatedly presented with opportunity to tout himself. He has been the hotshot before after all—an Eclipse Award finalist for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey in 2005 when he was barely out of high school, a winner of at least 80 races a year in each of his first six full seasons in the saddle. Yet, how he treated himself during that time wasn't something he counts among his finer moments, especially not when he endured a two-year slump in 2011 and 2012 when he won just 84 races combined.

It was in those difficult moments when Hill knew he needed to make some tough decisions if he wanted to stick with race riding as his career path. He started by giving up the drinking he determined had become a little too prevalent in his life. He then found his most solid reason to make himself better across the board—her name was Shelbi Catalano, daughter of trainer Wayne Catalano.

"Probably the real turnaround is I stopped drinking in 2011. I stopped drinking right before I went to Saudi Arabia (for a riding stint) and then obviously I got married," Hill said. "Above all, that's the biggest key is my wife. Even before we had our kids, she gave me something I didn't want to lose, she gave me something to work for. Because mentally, I didn't think I could continue just going through the day to day stuff. With her, she makes me want to get up, want to go to work, want to make her proud of what we can do.

"And it's the whole family too. I got so lucky marrying into this family, not just because Wayne is a great trainer and he puts me on a lot of good horses like (Farrell) this year. Just the emotional support they give, Wayne and Renee are the greatest in-laws. Those are two people where I couldn't be more proud that they are my kids' grandparents. That is probably the most fortunate thing I've had in my whole life is my wife and her family."

Hill's support system is something he acknowledges he has never really lacked. As the son of former jockey Allan Hill, he was blessed with a front-row seat by which to foster his love for the sport but was also balanced out by a father who insisted he make finishing school a priority before carving out a life in the irons.

"You know my Dad was fantastic. He never pushed me into this and but he also never hindered me," Hill said. "He always did the best I could have asked for growing up. I just had a fantastic childhood with my father."

The talent has always been there for Hill as well, as evident by his 1,069 career wins and the fact he more than held his own when he started out on a New York circuit that has carved up many a young rider before him. What has noticeably improved is his mental approach to the wild emotional swings of racing.

"I stopped judging my self-worth based on winning and losing. So I win a lot better and—more importantly—I lose a lot better," Hill said. 

Added Wayne Catalano, who conditions multiple graded stakes winner Farrell, "He doesn't get nervous, he's pretty calm. He doesn't get impatient and he doesn't get (his mounts) in trouble. The art and skill of race riding takes a while to learn and ... he's handled himself good in the big races. To get experience riding those kind of horses is what it's all about when you're a jockey. He's done a great job and we're just very lucky to have him as part of the family."

Poised to ride in all three classics for the first time, on two different horses no less, says plenty about Hill's progression. It's one thing to be fortunate enough to a get a single opportunity at a potential career-shaping race ride. That Hill has progressed to the point where he is again gaining notice for making his own luck is something he is making a point to not lose sight of.

"For people off the track, when they go 'Did you ride the Derby?' now I can say yes. And that's very fulfilling," Hill said. "But for the people at the track, you kind of establish yourself in these kind of races to where someone hopefully has the confidence to let me ride it next year. 

"It just goes to show you how funny this game can go. That's what you get out of bed for, that's what you work for. That's why you just try to keep the people that are helping you happy so that you get the opportunities like this."