Casual Lies the Memoir

Can a woman from the suburbs refinance her house, invest in a thoroughbred and run him in the Kentucky Derby?

My name is Shelley Riley and that’s just what I did when I used the equity in my home to buy an overlooked thoroughbred colt for $7,500.00 at a Kentucky Bloodstock Sale on a snowy day in January of 1990.

This is the story of my journey from the suburbs of California to the Blue Grass of Kentucky. From saddling horses on the California Fair Circuit to the nose bleed atmosphere of the oldest, most prestigious and coveted three year old thoroughbred race in the world. 

I will tell you how we took on the thoroughbred racing elite and rubbed elbows with both celebrities and princes. Enduring criticism, insults, prejudice and ridicule along the way! You will learn about that special horse who came into my life surpassing even the most extravagant and farfetched fantasies I could have conjured up. I was prepared to embrace the opportunity but I also needed to find the self confidence in myself to stand up and push back against all the naysayers and detractors while maintaining my focus as I guided this brilliant young horse to accomplish the extraordinary.

“Casual Lies the Memoir” is something I have put off for far too long. In one hundred thirty seven years only twelve women trainers have saddled thirteen horses in hopes of beating the odds and winning this race. I was one of them, WOW! I was the first woman thoroughbred trainer to run in all three legs of the Triple Crown of racing. Casual Lies ran and my job was to believe in my horse when so many didn’t.

Is there a market for one more Cinderella story? Perhaps! However when the hammer fell that cold wintry day in 1990 looking back now it was more like going down the rabbit hole than trying on glass slippers for the ball.

Thank-you for stopping by,
Shelley Riley
copyright all rights reserved Shelley Riley 2011