Kaymarie Kreidel sits on her outrider pony like a rocket ready to launch at the merest glimpse of trouble.  She is part of a safety system implemented at most horse racing tracks throughout the United States. She scans the track continuously on the lookout for loose horses or riders in trouble. Often, she is on her way before the safety siren alerts track personnel that there is an issue on the track. It takes tremendous skill and trust for her to race her horse next to a runaway, lean over and grasp a rein or bridle while seeking to restrain a bolting horse who is creating mayhem. That’s her job as an outrider at Pimlico Race Course, Laurel Park, and Timonium racetrack. She does it well, sometimes in front of a worldwide audience such as when 2019 Preakness contender Bodexpress decided to take a lark around the track without his jockey.

Kaymarie at 6 years old on her first Thoroughbred. (Courtesy of Kaymarie Kreidel)

Being an outrider requires confidence, strength, bravery, and skill. That comes from a lifetime of experience. Kreidel explained that, “I’ve been sitting on a horse since I could sit upright.” Her first horse, named Ebony Spitfire, was “not a pretty pony.” She was half Welsh mountain pony and half Shetland and is remembered for having a Thoroughbred type of body and a “big, ugly Shetland head.” Pretty obstinate, she would buck Kreidel off all the time. But perseverance and love paid off. Kreidel remembers that she “ended up being the most phenomenal pony you could ever own. She was so smart, and she loved to compete in three-day eventing, English and western classes, barrel racing, and jumping. She had a heart like a Thoroughbred.”

Kreidel grew up in what she refers to as the “show world,” riding hunter-jumper and three-day eventing. But there was some disparity as she rode her $175 pony and used makeshift riding tack from yard sales. Her mom made her show clothes. She remembered, “half the time I rode bareback with lead ropes. I didn’t want my tack to break or get dirty because it was the only thing I had to compete with.”

One day after selling her pony she was driving down the road with her tack in the car. She happened to notice a horse farm. She pulled in and said “Hey! Do you need anyone to exercise horses?” Kreidel met Charles Castranze, who explained that they had racehorses who were not easy to ride. But he offered her the opportunity to jog the horses in layup before they returned to the track. She thought, “it was the coolest thing in the world that they were going to pay me to ride horses.” The farm had a difficult 2-year-old and they sent her to the track with him for a couple of weeks. 

Kaymarie Kreidel as an apprentice in 1991. (Courtesy of Kaymarie Kreidel)

She was only 16 and still had the show world in her head. But she was intrigued. She was told to go get a six-month card on a horse at the gate. In her words, “I’m still riding like a show rider. I had no cross. My stirrups are medium length. I’m not perched like a jockey. I’m sitting in the saddle like normal. My hands are back by the saddle. I have no mane in my hands. The horse pops out of the gate and it’s a runner. I somersaulted right off the back. I’m at the gate watching my horse go down the track. What the hell? The babies usually inch out and I wasn’t expecting the horse to come flying out there!”

She had been galloping for two months and nobody had told her to hang onto the mane. She went back to the barn where the exercise rider taught her how to do a proper cross. How to loop her fingers in the mane. She said, “Now everything was so much easier!”

One day, a van driver from Bonita Farm asked Kreidel if she had ever thought about being a jockey. He explained that the farm did a lot to help kids become jockeys. Kreidel was still in high school, but she rose to the challenge. There were not many female jockeys back then. 

Kreidel rode her first race in 1992, and in the following 23 years she has competed in more than 2,500 races with 190 winners. Some years were slim, and some years were exceptional.  She earned more than $600,000 in 2004. She remembers that “There were not many girl jockeys back then, except at Charles Town. They would have all-girl jockey races and it was a lot of fun. I hooked up with some really nice owners that let me travel throughout the country.”

Kreidel flashes a smile during her riding career. (Courtesy of Kaymarie Kreidel)

She started to think about her future. She noted that “a lot of jocks became stewards and agents. I love horses too much. I knew that I would be bored watching everyone else ride.” She was filling in for outriders who needed days off. Kreidel contemplated retiring as a jockey when she was 30, but kept getting good stakes horses and would postpone while she kept telling herself, “I’m going to go another year.” She basically retired as a jockey in 2006 but typically rides once a year for her son, trainer TJ Aguirre.

Kreidel loves being an outrider and maintains close contacts within the jockey community. Many of the jockeys ask for her opinions on races and tactics. She says that she “is pretty lucky to have the majority of respect from the horsemen and riders in Maryland.”

Her son, TJ Aguirre, echoes that sentiment. “My mom is the best. She is an unbelievable hard worker.  She always makes sure her horses get the best. Whether it’s bedding, feed, or hay.  She has a never-give-up mentality. She loves all her animals almost as much as me. She’s one of the few people in this world I trust around my very own horses. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for her being by my side through life.”

Kreidel has had a variety of horses as her outrider ponies. Her ponies are versatile. She also rides them for eventing, jumping, and fox hunting. Kreidel said the best description she has ever heard about an outrider pony was by Joe Rocco Jr.  “Many horses are like three-speed bikes. They have about three gears. An outrider pony is like a ten-speed bike. When you think you are out of gears, you step on it and the horse is going to give you another gear.” 

Kreidel after catching Bodexpress in the 2019 Preakness Stakes. (Eclipse Sportswire/Sue Kawczynski)

Kreidel and her horse Witch Hunter made the national news when Preakness contender Bodexpress reared in the gate, dropped jockey John Velazquez, and bolted down the track.  She was honored with the Touch of Class award at the Maryland Horse Forum and was named MVP of the 2019 Preakness for how she and Witch Hunter caught Bodexpress at the conclusion of the race on national TV. 

Witch Hunter is a 2007 gelding bred by Adena Springs (Ghostzapper — Winning Chance, by Alphabet Soup). She also rides Wolftrap (Street Magician — Maria’s Reply, by Maria’s Mon) who raced in 28 races, primarily in Maryland. She rotates her horses and says that Witch Hunter squeals and rears up in excitement when he wants to be chosen. “He always wants to go out and he acts like a 2-year-old. They have such strong personalities.” She rides her ponies with a hackamore bridle.   

She is very proud of her outrider ponies. “Our job is to protect both horses and riders on the racetrack. Both my ponies handled Preakness week like the classy, productive, smart boys that they are.”

Aidan Butler, chief executive officer for 1/ST Racing and Gaming, offered high praise for Kreidel.  “Kaymarie is a consummate horsewoman. She’s as fearless as she is talented and a credit to not only the Maryland Jockey Club but the whole industry. Plus, she has the cutest ponies!”