LOS ALAMITOS : Gladney’s Rides Are a Bit Faster Now

Jockey Dihigi Gladney earned his first stakes victory last Friday night, with the Arabian Ambir Dragon in the 11th race.

In some aspects, Gladney is an average, up-and-coming jockey. Then again, he is set apart from the rest of the jockey colony at Los Alamitos because he is African American.

He lives in Watts with his grandfather, John Davis, who is partially responsible for Gladney’s involvement in horse racing. Davis owned a riding stable in Gardena, where Gladney rode every day after school.

“My grandfather had horses and that kind of kept me out of trouble,” said Gladney, who had friends involved in gangs.

“We always used to race the ponies in my grandfather’s stable. He used to give us whippings [for running the ponies]. He told us not to run them because the kids had to ride them.”

But Gladney was drawn to fast horses and eventually found a way to ride racehorses through his cousin, who owned a mare that raced at Los Alamitos. Gladney learned the basics of being a jockey while exercising the mare and other horses on the riverbeds before school each morning.

As if the dangers of riding racehorses weren’t enough, Gladney is also known for his bull-riding ability. For the past two years, he often could be found at the rodeo arena, competing in International Professional Rodeo Assn. events.

Lately, however, bulls have taken a back seat to racehorses. That seems to have been a good choice for Gladney, who had several place and show finishes before winning his first race.

“The seconds and thirds were adding up, but there’s nothing like a win but a win,” said Gladney, who rode Ambir Dragon to a 6 1/2-length victory in a six-furlong Arabian maiden race.

While Gladney is starting to make a name for himself as a jockey, he plans to attend college soon to become an engineer.

“You have to really like it,” Gladney said of being a jockey. “You can’t be in it for the money. It’s too stressful. I guess I like it because I know I can go fast, not like on my grandfather’s ponies.”

Los Alamitos Notes

Jockey Jose Fuentes was seriously injured in Sunday evening’s seventh race when his horse, Land Of Dance, clipped heels with Thrillofawin. Fuentes was thrown and suffered head injuries, including a fractured skull. Jockey Polo Sanchez was also involved in the spill when his horse, Samantha Elizabeth, was unable to avoid colliding with Land Of Dance. Sanchez was not seriously injured. Fuentes’ condition is listed as critical but stable at Los Alamitos Medical Center, where he is undergoing tests. Neither horse was injured. . . . Trainer Felix Gonzalez won for the first time when Cassies Sassy Chic took the 11th race last Thursday. . . . World Champion Down With Debt heads the list of nominees to the $40,000 Spencer Childers California Breeders Championship on Friday night. The 5-year-old mare will be looking for her second victory of the year.