“Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby” continues with a second hat up for bid to honor 1997 Belmont Stakes winner, Touch Gold!
This unique Derby hat auction series, now in its ninth year, is an annual event which features one-of-a-kind couture Derby hats created and donated by Sally Faith Steinmann of MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® to benefit the retired racehorses of Old Friends in KY. All proceeds from the auction go to Old Friends.
This month we are delighted to have jockey Carson Sullivan and his wife Emily joining us to model our “Touch Gold” auction hat for us!
Carson is one of American horse racing’s up-and-coming riders. He and Emily were married last year and now live in Shelbyville, Kentucky. Both Emily and Carson grew up around horses and we are delighted with their news of a baby due in April!
I recently got the chance to interview Emily and Carson following their big “Touch Gold” hat photo shoot at Old Friends this past October.
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Emily and Carson, welcome to my Hats and Horses blog!
We are thrilled to have you join our “Hats Off” team for our 9th straight year with our annual Derby hat auction fundraiser for the retired racehorses of Old Friends. I’m so glad I got the chance to catch up with you and ask you a few questions for this Q&A!
Sally: Where are you living now, or do you spend the year in other locations for for your racing schedule?
Carson: We currently live in Shelbyville and are here year round. We are expecting a baby in April so I stayed with Emily for the winter.
Sally: For each of you, what is your earliest memory of a horse? Did you both ride when you were little?
Emily: I’ve ridden since about the age of 3. I didn’t get into racing until after college, but grew up jumping and general pleasure riding. My family has always owned horses so I was around them from a young age.
Carson: My earliest memory of a horse is sitting on my grandfather’s pony at the track. He’s a racehorse trainer in Florida so I was around them a lot.
Sally: Carson, did you ride racehorses when you were young?
Carson: I actually didn’t ride really until the age of 26. But as a kid I sat on a few ponies.
Sally: When did you know that you wanted to be a jockey, and what is it about riding racehorses that you enjoy?
Carson: I always wanted to but was kept away from it by my family, until my mid twenties. I love the feeling of two athletes being a team.
Sally: What would you like to accomplish in the coming year in your racing career?
Carson: I’d like to win a graded stake and possibly a riding title.
Sally: You’ve ridden some incredibly talented racehorses over the years; do you have any favorites among them? Or perhaps a favorite race?
Carson: My favorite horse was Little Orphan Ellie trained by Aggie Ordonez at Golden Gate Fields. We had a great few runs together and she was a horse I just really connected with. She was orphaned twice as a baby and was considered to be pretty unfriendly but we just clicked! Favorite race was an allowance at Churchill on Obsidian Splendor trained by James Fugate. It was my first win in KY so it was pretty special for me.
Sally: Being a jockey means early mornings and a lot of travel. Tell me, what would be the perfect day to you?
Carson: A light morning with races close to home and a lot of wins!
Sally: I read in an April 2017 interview on Horse Racing Radio Network that you’re quite a musician! What do you play? Do you sing? Do you ever miss the music?
Carson: I play guitar, I tried to sing but I’m terrible. I was in a band in NY with a few friends and did that for a while before I became a jockey. There are definitely times I miss it.
Sally: Emily, have you had a history with horses as well? Growing up did you have any experiences around horses or around racing? Do you own any horses?
Emily: I’ve been riding since about age 3 and grew up taking lessons, owning horses, and as a kid there were a few situations where I was mucking stalls in exchange for rides on the weekends before I got my first horse. My mum has ridden all her life too so it just rubbed off on me! I’ve always had the ‘project horses’ rather than the pony club-ready dream ponies! <laughs> I didn’t get into racing until after college. I have a BA (hons) degree in Equine Business Management so when I was done with that I became the marketing coordinator, then marketing manager, at Golden Gate Fields in Northern California. We actually own three ex-racehorses and two miniature horses.
Sally: Being the wife of a jockey must mean quite a bit of travel time. How would you describe your perfect day?
Emily: The perfect day for me would be pretty simple! Wake up, take care of our 10 million animals (slight exaggeration but close), have a good breakfast, spend some time with Carson before the races, then go and get some wins! Come home, make a nice dinner and relax! We’re constantly surrounded by animals so they’re always a part of that!
Sally: Congratulations to you both on your recent wedding in 2017! How/where did the two of you meet?
Emily: We met at Golden Gate Fields. Our time there overlapped for about 6 months so we got lucky! It was at the Christmas party that is held for the backside workers and their families. I was pouring sodas and Carson was taking them to tables! It wasn’t until a few months later that we eventually went on a date.
Sally: Am I right that you are living in Louisville, Kentucky now? How do you like living in the Bluegrass State? Do you have any pets/livestock in your life together now?
Carson: We live in Shelbyville as it’s a perfect location between Louisville and Lexington. We love it here! Although this cold winter is a little tough compared to CA! We currently have five horses, two dogs,three house cats, one barn cat and a guinea pig!
Sally: Our February hat that’s now up on the block is the “Touch Gold”chapeau that you modeled at Old Friends. Had either of you ever been to Old Friends before, or met Touch Gold?
Emily: Neither of us had ever been! Or met Touch Gold! It is such a great place and as owners of three retired racehorses, we love what they do!
Sally: How did the photo shoot go?
Emily: it was great! I was three months pregnant at the time so it was nice to actually dress up and do my makeup haha!!
Carson: We really enjoyed it! And loved that it’s for a great cause.
Sally: Did you get a chance to meet Little Silver Charm (the mini horse), or any of the other retirees while you were there at Dream Chase farm that day for the shoot?
Emily: We did meet Silver Charm! It was a really wet day so he was hiding in his shelter, but we briefly got to meet him! We’re a fan of minis!
Carson: It was cool walking through the barn and meeting some of the horses. Alphabet Soup being one of them! Most were out in their turnouts but we got to say hi to a few.
Sally: I have to tell you that you both look GREAT in hats! Do you think of yourselves as “hat people”? Where is your favorite place to wear a hat (other than on a horse wearing a racing helmet)?
Emily: I’ve always been more of a fascinator person, in fact this photo shoot was my first time wearing a nice big hat! I really loved it…and may have actually become a hat person!!
Sally: I am sure that people are going to be inspired by your support of Old Friends. Why is it important for us to support these retired Thoroughbred athletes, and do you have any suggestions for how people can get involved and participate in helping the retired racehorses?
Emily: It’s something that I’ve always felt strongly about. I think as an industry it’s important to remember that without these athletes, there would be no sport! Therefore it’s the duty of anyone involved in racing, to ensure that the horses get a retirement they deserve. Whether that’s a pasture full of grass and a happy retirement, or a new career! Many of them still have SO much to Give! We have a horse at home named Rocky, who retired from racing at age three.
He’s now seven and is in his element jumping fences! He’s really really talented and willing to learn!
I just think it’s important to remember that after racing they don’t become ‘useless’. They’ve given their working years to us, so the least we can do is support them in their retirement! In terms of helping, I think educating yourself is the best way! Go to Old Friends, learn about the horses, and see how you can help! Donate, spread the word, just become educated about it.
Carson: Without these animals we wouldn’t be able to get to do what we love. So like Emily has said, it’s important that we take responsibility for them even after they’re finished racing.
Sally: Thanks again you two for helping us with our Ninth Annual “Hats Off to the Horses” auction series with the “Touch Gold” chapeau. We are really fortunate to have you on board this year as part of our “Hats Off” team!
And to my readers, please enjoy this “behind-the-scenes” video from the “Touch Gold” photo shoot with Emily and Carson at Old Friends, a special treat from our friends Matt and Wendy Wooley of EquiSport Photos!
The “Touch Gold” auction hat is currently up for bid on EBay. Bidding ends Sunday, February 11th at 8 PM EST.
To learn more about Touch Gold, the horse, please visit the Touch Gold webpage. For more information about the “Touch Gold” Chapeau please visit the Touch Gold hat webpage.
Note about Photography: All images that are shown here without credits have been provided with permission from the Sullivan family.