Apprentice jockey Kristina McManigell won her first career race when she piloted Real Stormy to victory in the second race Jan. 7 at Tampa Bay Downs. Real Stormy is a 7-year-old Stormy Atlantic gelding owned by Kelly Hickey, trained by Donald Pittman, and bred in Florida by Freddie Hyatt.
McManigell, a native of southern Illinois, attended the North American Racing Academy near Lexington. Although she gained an interest in the sport by attending the Ellis Park races when she was growing up, McManigell had never ridden racehorses before she attended the jockey school.
“I felt like I had so much horse under me; the outrider had to pick me up – I was so tired! I asked him, ‘Did I win?’ I wasn’t even sure.” McManigell said.