Creed Earns 500th Win at Indiana Grand
Jockey Ben Creed will always remember his win aboard Sucess is Racing. The victory marked his 500th trip to the winner’s circle Friday, June 13 at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino.
Trained by Kim Hammond, Creed brought Sucess is Racing around horses in the final turn and fended off opponents for the win by one-half length in the $34,000 Allowance Optional Claiming event. It was a milestone that he has been keeping an eye on since December and one that he will always remember.
Creed’s 500th win was his seventh of the season at Indiana Grand for Thoroughbreds, which places him among the top 10 riders at the track in 2014. He also has three wins in the Quarter Horse ranks in Indiana this year.
“I began riding Quarter Horses last year,” said Creed. “I knew Matt Frazier from Kentucky and he has quite a few in training. I told him if he ever needed someone, I’d ride for him and he started putting me up. Shanley (Jackson) is his main guy, but I started riding a lot of Shanley’s second calls. That’s how I got into riding Quarter Horses.”
Creed caught attention in the Quarter Horse ranks two weeks ago when he guided Achieve The Speed to victory in one of the trials for the Born Runner Classic. The duo came back for the $114,000 final as the fastest qualifier, but did not have any luck in the final, finishing sixth.
A native of Taylorsville, Ky., Creed became interested in horse racing after learning about a new jockey school, the North American Racing Academy, located at the Kentucky Horse Park. He signed up for the second class and learned the trade of riding from Hall of Fame Jockey Chris McCarron. Today, he is the most successful rider to come from the school and keeps in close contact with McCarron, who continues to monitor his progress.
“He (Chris McCarron) called me to congratulate me on my 500th win,” said Creed. “I still go to him for advice, and he still calls me when he sees something to help me out.”
Creed began the schooling to become a jockey with a total of 12 in the class. When they completed the course, only six remained. Out of those six, riders like Kristina McManigell, Ryan Pacheco, and Mike Straight emerged. One other rider emerged from that class and caught a special interest from Creed.
“I met my wife, Claire, in jockey school,” said Creed. “She is originally from Georgia. We have been married three years. She now works as an exercise rider for Eduardo Caramori.”
The Creed family also expanded last year. Joseph William Creed, now 13 months old, joined the family, who now resides in Georgetown, Ky. He is referred to as “Liam.”
“He (Liam) seems to like horses already,” noted Creed.”And, my family is very supportive of my riding career. They come up and watch me once in a while.”
Another person who is very supportive of Creed’s career is his agent, Jamie Fowler. Creed began under agent Jim McNerney in 2009 and won his first career race at Indiana Grand. That fall, he had decided to ride the winter at Turfway Park and McNerney connected him with Fowler. The two have been together as a team ever since.
Since joining forces with Fowler, Creed has been leading rider twice at Turfway Park, once during the Holiday Meet and once during the Winter-Spring Meet. He concentrates on a circuit that is made up of the tracks in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana Grand for a year round job.
Creed’s biggest win to date is the $70,000 Indiana Futurity with Lucky Chuck for trainer David Pate, earned in 2009.
Live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing continues through Saturday, Nov. 1 offering racing Tuesday and Wednesday at 2:05 p.m. with Friday and Saturday action beginning at 5:05 p.m. Thursday racing will be added at 2:05 p.m. July 17. For more information, visit the Website at indianagrand.com.