'What a ride'; Catholic Boy's groom enjoys his success
On a picturesque Sunday afternoon, Olivia Perkins-Mackey beamed under the Saratoga sun. Her hugs, kisses, and pats for Travers Stakes winner Catholic Boy were plentiful. They were also well deserved, as a day prior the colt joined a rare club of horses -- including Secretariat and California Chrome -- to win a Grade 1 race on both the turf and the dirt.
It's plain to see the heart and soul put into the work by Mackey, Catholic Boy's groom and assistant to rising trainer Jonathan Thomas. The horse strode into the Saratoga paddock calm and collected, while constantly being reassured by his friend.
I recently chatted with her, asking about her background and, of course, barn star Catholic Boy.
Q: What is your background with horses? How
did you get involved in the Thoroughbred industry?
A: My parents
both train racehorses and own a business based out of Lexington, Ky., together. It’s in my blood. I grew up on the backside going to Keeneland and watching
racing all the time. I also started riding myself hunters/jumpers when I was 6
and continued that through college.
Q: What’s your
favorite part of the job?
A: My favorite part is getting to travel and see new places. I’m at an age in my life where I have no real roots, so I can move easily and I’m good on the road getting things done and organized that need to be.
Q: How is Catholic Boy
doing after his impressive Travers win?
A: He’s doing well. As Jonathan would agree, it’s always a good sign when they cool out well and are in their feed tub after a huge run like that.
A: From spending so much time with him, I’ve seen him develop from a kid into a man. He’s great to work around, but with any horse you need to be mindful of just how powerful they are.
Q: Where does Catholic Boy rank
among the horses you’ve worked with?
A: He’s the best horse I’ve ever worked with, hands down. What a ride he has taken me on. I’ve traveled to every race of his since the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. He’s an exceptional athlete, and I feel so lucky to be a part of the team and the path we are on.
Q: In the paddock, I
noticed you petting Catholic Boy a lot, and immediately caught on to your
connection with the horse. What did winning the Travers mean to you?
A: It was an exceptional feeling. A lot of hard work and
long hours goes on behind the scenes, and it’s things like this that reward you
for it all. I didn’t get to be present for the celebrations for the Belmont Derby
because we had a horse in the race after, but this time we didn’t and I was
able to soak it all in. And that I did!