Cassidy Burg (19) picked up her first victory today aboard Shy She Is Not on the turf at one mile. Riding predominately for Tim McCanna, this is Burg’s 21st mount at Golden Gate Fields under 12 different trainers. Burg, however, isn’t new to the racing scene; she got her start a few years ago as a groom at Pleasanton where she went on to gallop for many years. Burg moved to Golden Gate Fields this year to gallop and work horses for Tim McCanna, riding her first mount on October 20th. “She worked horses for me for over a year galloping. She’s never missed a day. Cassidy has a great attitude and horses run for her. I wouldn’t have put her on these horses if I didn’t have confidence in her,” said McCanna.
The jockeys, in their first win ritual, doused her in ice water on her way to the locker room. Applauds were heard throughout the grandstand as patrons have waited patiently for this victory. Speaking with Cassidy afterward she said it was everything she thought it would be. “I was hoping the day was today. I wanted it so bad. I got so close yesterday. I didn’t know this horse, but I’ve galloped for McCanna for almost a whole year. This was not a horse I had been on, but I was looking at her and I liked her. During the race, she was going real good, I had her nice and relaxed, and I asked her to go and when we hit the wire, I couldn’t believe it. I still can’t believe it. It is actually how I pictured it would be. I’m still in shock. I’ve been dreaming about this for so long,” said Burg.
Burg’s breakthrough celebration didn’t last long as she still had two more mounts to complete and she was quick to say the battle had just begun and that just because you win one doesn’t mean you are going to win more. “I need to treat every race like it is my first race. You want to win every race. My goal was just to win one and now my goal is to win every race. That feeling is amazing. I just want to do that over and over again. That’s the name of the game. I just want to get back out there and do it again,” said Burg.
