Celebrating Mothers: Ten Famous Moms in Racing

Pop Culture
Shea Leparoux, with son Mitchell and husband Julien, is one of the more recognizable mothers in Thoroughbred racing. (Eclipse Sportswire)

On this Mother’s Day, we’re taking a minute to acknowledge some of racing’s most recognizable moms, including a few women who’ve just recently become mothers, and celebrate all moms in the industry. The dedication required to be a “racing mom” is unmatched, so thank you!

Maggie Wolfendale Morley: The popular TV host and racing analyst for the New York Racing Association, Maggie and her husband, trainer Tom Morley, had their first child, Grace, in November 2016, and on Feb. 3 welcomed another baby girl, Willow, into their family.

Linda Gaudet: For years, Linda operated an extremely successful racing operation in Maryland with her husband Eddie. Their daughter Lacey has emerged as a successful trainer on the circuit, and youngest daughter, Gabby, is a popular racing analyst and reporter for TVG. 

Abby Castellano: The wife of leading national rider Javier Castellano, Abby has spent a lifetime in racing as the daughter of the national manager of the Jockeys’ Guild and former NYRA President Terry Meyocks. Castellano is a mother to three children, Kayla, Sienna, and Brady.

Rosie Napravnik with son Carson and husband Joe Sharp. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Rosie Napravnik: She’s one of the most successful female jockeys in the history of horse racing, despite being just 32 years old and having retired six years ago to start a family. Napravnik and her husband, Joe Sharp, have two little boys, Carson, who will be five next month, and Tucker, 3.

Anita Motion: Along with her husband, Graham, Anita runs Herringswell Stable out of Fair Hill, Md. She’s an outspoken advocate for Thoroughbred aftercare. Anita is also the mother of two children, Jane and Marcus.

Leona O’Brien: The daughter of horse trainer Leo O’Brien, Leona is married to now two-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey John Velazquez. She is also the mother of two, a daughter named Lerina, and a son named Michael Patrick.

Tammy Fox: A former jockey, Tammy is an exercise rider for her partner, trainer Dale Romans. She is also the mother of two children, Bailey and Jake.

Christina Blacker: Christina has been a staple in racing TV for a decade, having worked for HRTV and TVG. The analyst and host has three daughters (Margo, Violet, and Eliza) with her husband, trainer Dan Blacker.

Shea Leparoux: A professional singer who used to perform at Disney, Shea regularly sings the national anthem at major racing events. Married to jockey Julien Leparoux, Shea became a mom in 2015 to Mitchell Leparoux and the couple welcomed another son, Vinn, in 2017.

Angie Stevens: The wife of Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens, Angie is a talent manager for athletes, actors and other entertainers. Angie is also a mother to Maddie Stevens, a 10-year-old daughter who has served as a roving reporter for Breeders’ Cup.

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