Jockey Kayla Stra Featured on BlogTalk Radio

Kayla Stra returns from an early morning workout at Santa Anita.

I recently listened to a super interview with Southern California jockey Kayla Stra on The Body Politic on Blog Talk Radio. The interview, "Portrait of A Contender," is the first in a special series on American thoroughbred racing featuring the biggest players in the sport. The interview, which aired on March 5, will air repeatedly throughout this month and will also be available indefinitely as a podcast.

Providing a great boost for women, and Thoroughbred racing, the world's major news-wires and newspapers picked up the release on the Stra interview -- many giving it page #1 placement, including: United Press International, CBStv.com, The San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, The Denver Post, The Chicago Daily Herald, The Salt Lake Tribune, The Hollywood Reporter, Media Industry Today, among 50 others.

To read the full press release, go here. (Copyright Ravenridge Media)

Kayla Stra at Work, Santa Anita

Last night's episode of JOCKEYS on Animal Planet was fast paced and engrossing. Much of the story focused on female jockey Kayla Stra who faced a tough decision: should she continue to fight against the odds or pack it up and head home to Australia?

Stra is doing a superb job in JOCKEYS, and brings genuine emotion to the reality show. I'm sure I wasn't the only one cheering when she got her first win at Santa Anita.

Early today she was hard at work exercising horses at Santa Anita, where I caught a photo of her heading back to the barns, her steed blowing steam in the frosty morning air. The day dawned clear and crisp after yesterday's deluge that dusted the San Gabriels with a light snow.

Stra has the mount on Jet Set Lass in tomorrow's 5th race at Santa Anita, for trainer Tom Blincoe. I'll be rooting for her!

JOCKEYS Continues on Animal Planet

Jockey Mike Smith at Santa Anita.

Those of you who enjoyed the premier of JOCKEYS as much as I did are no doubt looking forward to this week's installment on Friday, Feb. 13, at 9:00 PM (ET/PT) on Animal Planet. Two more half-hour episodes are scheduled.

In Episode 3, "At What Cost?" another young jockey arrives on the scene. Fresh from a string of victories in the Midwest, Brandon Meier hopes to build a racing career to rival that of his jockey father. But, like many of his fellow riders, Brandon must decide how far he will go to maintain his weight at a competitive level. Will he risk his health for success on the racetrack? And, after failing to find her way to the winners‘ circle, Kayla Stra faces a tough decision: should she continue to fight against the odds or pack it up and head home to Australia?

And in Episode 4, "Losing Grace," Mike Smith and Chantal Sutherland seek a balance between their competitive working lives and their attempt to create a home together. Things heat up between Joe Talamo and Aaron Gryder after Joe gets a win aboard a horse named for Aaron‘s daughter.

Here's a sneak preview of this week's show. Enjoy!