This Saturday, Zach Miller will be one of many jockeys competing for a win at Foxfield Races, Charlottesville’s bi-annual steeplechase event. It’s a meaningful homecoming, years in the making, for the Charlottesville native, who’s raced, and won, at Foxfield numerous times—Miller even met his wife after a 2005 win. Foxfield has been hosting steeplechase races in Albemarle County since 1977, with the spring races often attracting up to 15,000 locals and visitors. The steeplechase is a distance horse racing event with ditch obstacles and fence jumps. The strange name stems from the race’s origins in Ireland, where riders raced from church steeple to church steeple. foxfieldraces.com
Name: Zach Miller.
Hometown: Charlottesville.
Job: Full-time dad, part-time jockey, farmer and owner of Timbercreek Farm, horse trainer.
How did you get into racing: I grew up riding ponies, my grandma always had a pony around. I really liked going fast, I got really into it and I competed a bit in some different disciplines, so when the opportunity presented itself I went to work in Fairhill, Maryland, for a trainer there. One thing about me is, I’m a normal-sized human being, so I was never gonna be small enough to ride on the flat—that’s the Derby. So I got into riding steeplechase races because the weights are a little higher, and they’re jumping too, so that was fun.
Do you remember your first race: I do, my first jump race I rode in Fairfax County in the spring of 2003. I rode a horse called Sail My Vessel, he was the little horse that could, he was a smaller horse, but he was a lot of fun. I finished third on him that day.
When did you become a professional jockey: I took out my first license when I was 18, and I was a full-time, professional jockey until I was 23.
You’re headed to Foxfield next, have you raced there before: That’s my hometown track, that’s my favorite! Over the years I’ve probably ridden in a dozen or more races. But this will be my first ride at Foxfield in 17 years.
How does it feel to be back: Amazing! It’s my favorite track.
Favorite part of being a jockey: Winning races.
Second favorite part: What you get to do on race day is you get to put together all the fun parts with the tactical parts. Steeplechasing requires some tactics, it’s not just going as fast as you can. It’s a test of skill of the rider, it’s challenging… if your tactics are wrong or your horse isn’t jumping well. You’re moving 35 miles an hour, surrounded by thousands of pounds of horse. It’s thrilling.
Do you have a race-day routine: Nothing really special. I always walk the course, look at how it’s set up, what’s the fastest way around—it’s not always the inside. You have to factor in terrain and turns, the fastest way around might be slightly on the outside. So some tactical preparation. Making sure I’m centered and my head is clear.
What’s going through your mind when the gates open: First I make sure the horse is settled and jumping well, and don’t get in a hurry. The race is two miles, and it’s a very testing track. Riders can get impatient and rush it. Then you have to pay attention to what’s going on around you strategically—how are the horses around you doing, how much horse are you sitting on, where do you need to start thinking about making a move.
Who are you riding on Saturday: I get to do this for a guy named Richard Valentine, he’s a trainer who’s given me some tremendous opportunities. He put me on a winner in Saratoga, he’s the trainer of Remonstrative, he’s [a] top 10 trainer. There are two horses I can ride, Sea Mast or Tease and Seize. Sea Mast is an American Kentucky-bred, I won a prep race on him two weeks ago. He has a high turning speed, his specialty is grinding competition to a pulp. Tease and Seize is a French horse, he’s a tremendous athlete, you could leave a little for later with him.
What’s something about being a jockey that people would be surprised to learn: How challenging it is to ride a horse. My heart rate riding a horse peaks higher and quicker than when I run four miles on foot. There’s a lot of balance and strength, but you’re also pretty active on the horse, you think the horse is doing all the running and work, but that’s not totally true.
Proudest accomplishment: Making it to 39 years old and being able to stay riding and competing.
Favorite horse movie: I like them all. National Velvet is a classic, I’d be remiss to not mention it, it’s an old one with Elizabeth Taylor. I love Seabiscuit, it’s an underdog story. And Secretariat is cool because he’s Virginia bred, he’s the hometown hero.