Boyce to Join Fair Grounds Jockey Colony

Maryland-based jockey Forest Boyce – a winner of multiple graded stakes, nearly $14 million in purses and 480 wins over the last six seasons – will shift her tack from the Mid-Atlantic to the Fair Grounds next week and be represented by recently retired Rosie Napravnik’s former agent Derek Ducoing. Boyce, like Napravnik, comes from a long line of Maryland-based female jockeys to develop under the tutelage of late conditioner Richard “Dickie” Small in the early parts of their careers and then move on to bigger and better accomplishments. 

The 2014-15 meet will not be Boyce’s first experience with the Fair Grounds. “Years ago I was in college and working for Dickie and would go down and work horses for him,” she explained. “It’s been a long time since then, but I’m excited to do it again and am somewhat familiar with the track. I ride at Churchill Downs on Saturday and then drive straight down to New Orleans from there.”

Boyce rides talented turf stakes filly Nellie Cashman – among many stakes runners in Boyce’s rolodex – in the Grade III $100,000 Cardinal Handicap at Churchill on Saturday. A multiple graded stakes-placed performer this year under the Maryland native’s handling, Nellie Cashman recently won an allowance at Laurel and was third two starts back in the Grade II Ballston Spa Stakes at Saratoga.