ENGLISH TEXTS
of March with my apprentice Ebbe Verhestraeten, and also for Xaarta, a lovely filly by Goken who should debut in April.”
Settling In, step by step In the meantime, Amy and her team continue to adjust to their new life:“ My husband stayed in England but should be able to join me in about six months,” she shares.“ He’ s in Newmarket, which really isn’ t that far from Chantilly. We’ ve been warmly welcomed, but it’ s not always easy to settle into a new country. I do regret not paying more attention in language classes! I have French staff trying to help me, and once I master the language, everything will be easier.” Then she adds with a smile:“ It’ s a challenge— but I love challenges!” True to form, Amy Murphy won’ t waste any time mastering the language of Molière. Go Amy!
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JOCKEY
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Par Paul Casabianca
DELPHINE SANTIAGO:“ I’ M A WARRIOR!”
March 8 is International Women’ s Day. In the racing world, the most well-known among them is Delphine Santiago. With a remarkable first quarter under her belt, the multiple-time winner of the female Cravache d’ Or is still hungry for victory.
Galorama. Delphine, you’ re currently in third place in the jockey rankings It’ s safe to say 2025 is off to a flying start...
Delphine Santiago. I must admit, this start to the year has been pretty exceptional. Being in the top 3 at the end of March-honestly, I didn’ t expect it at all. To tell you the truth, I went to Lourdes with my grandmother this winter, and I made a wish. I think it’ s starting to come true...
G. Even if it’ s not always good to reveal them, could you tell us a little about that wish?
D. S. I want to give 3,000 %! I’ m aiming to win the female Cravache d’ Or in 2025 and to beat my record for wins in a single year( 80 in 2023).
G. For those who may not know you well, tell us about your journey...
D. S. Before becoming a jockey, the first time I ever rode a horse was just for fun. I would let the others go ahead just so I could catch up to them at full gallop. I often ended up in tree branches( laughs). After that, I took riding lessons. I earned my“ Galop 6” certificate, then entered the AFASEC school in Mont-de- Marsan. I followed my apprenticeship with the Guille- min family( Jean and Didier). I trained jumping horses there before riding in races in 1995. After that, I continued learning with Bruno de Montzey, Patrick Nicot, Robert Collet, Criquette Head, and John Hammond before becoming a freelance jockey.
G. You had your first race ride in 1995. Back then, it was tough to carve out a place in male-dominated fields. Thirty years on, you’ re still here-better than ever. What’ s your secret?
D. S. I don’ t really have a secret. To succeed in this job, you need a lot of luck-being in the right place at the right time, gaining professionals’ trust, and always respecting the horses. I don’ t know if I’ m more talented than others, but I respect my horse. I listen to it. I calm it down when it’ s anxious and try to put it in the best mindset before the race so it can give its all.
G. More and more young women are attending AFASEC schools. What advice would you give them?
D. S. This job is like a marriage. It requires a lot of dedication, no excess, discipline, love— and it also involves many sacrifices. To make it, I’ d tell them: be disciplined and work hard. You also need luck-and to avoid falls. All of my injuries left their mark. I learned a lot during recovery periods, and after going through hell, good things eventually came. I met the
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