Photo credit: Tom Von Ahlefeld
Amanda Tamburello decided to become a jockey at the age of 32, a highly unusual age to take on one of the world’s most dangerous and male-dominated sports. Generally, people think about becoming a jockey in their late teens, starting first as gallop riders then working their way up to races. Tamburello took an alternate route to enter the Sport of Kings.
Photo credit: John Englehardt
Horses weren’t new to Tamburello when she made her new career choice. She started riding when she was eight years old and slowly found her way into the world of three-day eventing. Tamburello was competing at the intermediate level when the sport of thoroughbred racing caught her eye.
Competing on horses, in any discipline, is an expensive endeavor and it isn’t unusual for event riders to make money galloping racehorses. It is a great way for event riders to become comfortable riding at speed, as well as improving on’s internal clock. Like many riders before her, Tamburello found herself a job galloping. It was her first job in 2006 with Four Roses Thoroughbreds that turned Tamburello’s head. “I found so much joy and freedom being on a horse that was doing what it was bred to do,” Tamburello said when asked why she switched sports. “I overthought all the buttons to push on the eventing side that I often lost my confidence.”
By 2009 Tamburello had sold her event horses, moved to Kentucky and found a galloping job with Ken McPeek. It was within her first year of working in Kentucky that Tamburello’s friend, Hall of Fame jockey, Kent Desormeaux, suggested she become a jockey. With Tamburello being small in stature and a health fanatic it wasn’t such a crazy idea.
Photo credit: Jennifer Powell
During her apprentice year in 2011, Tamburello won the Rodney Dickens Award, a sportsmanship award that is voted on by her peers, was the leading jockey at Beulah Park and was nominated for the Eclipse Award as most Outstanding Apprentice in the nation.
Amanda Tamburello on the 6 horse. Photo credit: Tom Von Ahlefeld
Today Tamburello spends her time racing at Churchill Downs, Indiana Grand, Belterra Park, Turfway Park and, occasionally, Keenland. When asked how she feels about thoroughbred racing, her answer is short and concise, simply stating that to her “racing is the purest form of competitive riding.”
Amanda Tamburello on the lead horse. Photo credit: Coady Photography
