Sunday, April 08, 2001
Five Questions with: Donna Barton
As Donna Barton, she was the second-winningest female jockey (in total earnings) of all time, trailing only close friend Julie Krone. As Donna Brothers, she still gallops and works horses each morning for husband Frankie Brothers, a top trainer. She co-hosts Churchill Downs' closed-circuit Paddock Preview Show with handicapper Mike Battaglia, and she was part of NBC's Breeders' Cup coverage last fall. She'll also join NBC for its Triple Crown coverage this spring. She's the one who rides out on a pony to do the on-track interview with the winning jockey.
Brothers, 34, a former Edgewood, Ky., resident, retired from racing in September 1998 after an 11 1/2-year career. She lives in Louisville. She took time this week to answer five questions from Enquirer reporter Neil Schmidt:
Q. Do you miss racing?
A. No, I don't. Being a jockey, I gave up a big part of myself. Being a wife and part-time homemaker suits me quite well. I'm still on horses every morning. One of the great things is that Frankie listens to input from all his riders, and it's great to be part of a team. As far as having to sell myself and prove myself every single day (as a jockey), that's a lot of pressure on any person. Twelve years was enough.
Q. What is different now that you get to ride the same horses each morning instead of a million different horses?
A. This is so much more fun. My husband trains for Claiborne Farms semi-privately. So we'll get babies in where we had their moms and dads. That is so cool, to recognize the lineage, to see them do some things the same way their parents did.
Q. What is life like on the other side of the microphone?
A. It was still quite an adjustment. I did so many interviews (as a jockey) that I thought that part would be old hat. But when I first went on camera and had to talk without someone asking me questions ... there was a period of time that was somewhat unsettling. They've watched me grow. Now I'm quite at home. I expected to be nervous at the Breeders' Cup. But I was really interested in asking the jockeys about their races, so I didn't have time to be nervous.
Q. With you and Julie Krone retired, who's the female jockey doing the best right now? Is it Kris Prather (the 22-year-old who recently set the Turfway meet record of 109 wins)?
A. Funny you should ask about Kris — we're so close, she calls me her mother. And she says her second mother is Julie. I just think Kris is it. When Julie and I retired, it looked like there was a little bit of a lull there, and the two of us wondered if anyone would step up to the bat. But Kris has been a remarkable success. I think there's a great many things she'll do. And there's plenty more active and talented women riding, too, like Rosemary Homeister and Jennifer Bramblett.
Q. What are your early projections for a Kentucky Derby winner?
A. The two I like most, everybody does. I was super-impressed by Point Given last year (winning the Kentucky Cup Juvenile and losing by a nose in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile). And Monarchos' race in the Florida Derby (winning by nearly 6 lengths) cannot be overlooked.
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Five Questions with: Donna Barton
