Thanks to Veronica Gizuk • Mar 27, 2021, GatetoWire.ca – Veronica is becoming one of the best journalists in Horse Racing.
Twenty-year-old Kylie Wellington has been dreaming of becoming a jockey since a young age. She grew up watching her father Tom Wellington ride thoroughbreds and quarter horses in the mid-west.
Kylie’s father started taking her to the track when she was eleven, where she began learning how to tack up and hot-walk. Fast forward to 2017, and Kylie got herself a pony license. She started ponying for her parents racing stable, but she quickly realized that’s not what she wanted to do. Once she turned eighteen, Kylie moved to Lexington, Kentucky, and got a job at Winstar Farm galloping babies, the job didn’t end up working out, and Kylie was let go. Being let go didn’t stop Kylie from chasing her dream; soon after, she started freelancing at Lexington’s Thoroughbred Centre. After gaining more experience, Kylie got a job with trainer Brad Cox in July 2020 at Ellis Park and worked with them until November as she decided to move back home closer to family.
This past January, Kylie went to Oaklawn without a job and started freelancing for a few different trainers. A month after doing this, Kylie received a job opportunity with well-respected trainer D Wayne Lukas. Since starting with him, Kylies’ riding and confidence have significantly improved. As the Oaklawn meet comes to an end, Kylie is excited to be moving with the Lukas barn to Churchill Downs. “Mr.Lukas has been my greatest teacher, and I’ve learned so much in the short time I’ve been in his barn,” said Kylie.