I have added a new photo album from horsephotos.com.  All of these professionally produced photos of Ryan and many other horse photos can be puchased directly from horsephotos.  Please visit their web site to preview other photos and purchase any that you like.  http://horsephotos.com/index.jsp

May 20, 21 2005 - Twenty of Ryan's "best" fans convened on the Pimlico "Old Hilltop" race track to watch Ryan compete in the Black-Eyed Susan races and the Preakness Races undercard. Originating from cities on the East Coast, fans cheered, placed their bets, and even had a chance to join Ryan in the Winner's Circle when Ryan and Simaril won the John Barton Breeders Cup Stake race on Black-Eyed Susan Day. Simaril and Ryan beat the best 4 year-old filly in the country, Ashado.

Ryan's friends included: Kathryn and Len (Ryan's parents) from Moyock, NC; Kristi and Tyler Foy (Ryan's sister and nephew) from Virginia Beach, VA; Ruth Kelley (Kathryn's sister) from Chesapeake, VA; Jeff and Leslie Davis (Ryan's financial advisor and wife) from Va Beach, VA; Charles (Chic) and Lucy Leonard (Leslie's Mother and Dad) from Indiana; Jeff and Margaret Bagdon, Kenny Wright, Angela Smith and Wayne Perry (friends of Jeff Davis) from Hampton Roads; Richy and Carla Fogelsonger (Len's brother and sister-in-law) from Shippensburg, PA; Mark (Richy's friend) from Shippensburg; Dennis Sebastian (Len's college roommate) from Pittsburgh, PA; Rob and John (friends of Dennis) from Pittsburgh; and Gary and Joan Marr (Len's Navy buddy) from Harrisburg, PA.

On Friday night the clan got together for a dinner at the Columbia Hilton sponsored by Jeff Davis and American Express. Ryan and some of his friends joined us. After dinner the group had a question and answer forum that allowed dinner guests to fine tune their thoroughbred racing acumen as Ryan, his agent Kevin Witte, and an up and coming trainer PJ Pane fielded questions from the gang.

The highlight of the weekend. however, had to be the Stakes win by Simaril. Several of the guys from the gang joined Ryan in the winner's circle for a group photo (see photo album). What a race and what a win!!!

Out next outing for "Ryan's Fans" will be this summer during the Colonial Downs meet.

Wednesday, January 29, 2003  Fogelsonger Captures Eclipse Award For Top Apprentice

On Monday night in Beverly Hills, jockey Ryan Fogelsonger was named the best apprentice jockey of 2002 at the 32nd annual Eclipse Awards, capturing 80% of the votes by The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form (DRF) and National Turf Writers Association (NTWA). The 21-year old was named on 175.5 of the 221 ballots, easily defeating runner-up John McKee (36.5), while seven other bug riders combined for nine votes.

“This was the greatest weekend of my life,” said Fogelsonger, who led all bug riders in victories (267), earnings ($4,489,311) and winning percentage (22%), while riding in a colony that featured six of the top 25 riders in the country based on wins. “The experience was unbelievable.” He becomes the ninth Maryland-based rider in the 32-year history of the Eclipse Awards to win this category, joining Chris McCarron (1974), Ronnie Franklin (1978), Alberto Delgado (1982), Allen Stacy (1986), Kent Desormeaux (1987), Mike Luzzi (1989), Mark Johnston (1990) and Jeremy Rose (2001). “Before the ceremony began McCarron and Gary Stevens came over to my table and took a picture with me,” added Fogelsonger, who does not lose his apprentice status until May 24. “I was so nervous that my palms were sweating and I couldn’t talk to anyone at the table, including my parents. Finally they announced the award and said my name. I walked up on stage and just stood there for what seemed to be a minute without talking because it was so overwhelming.”

After taking two months to win five races and officially begin his apprenticeship the Silver Spring (MD) native took off in the second half of the year, winning more races than any other rider in the nation (244) and capturing both the Pimlico summer/fall meet and Laurel Park fall meet titles. “After I got off stage I did a ton of interviews and had what seemed to be a million pictures taken,” gushed Fogelsonger. “Bob Baffert interviewed me for ESPN and told me maybe I’d ride a Derby horse for him. I felt like a rock star.”

This year he ranks third in the nation in wins with 38, including three this afternoon. The Maryland Jockey Club will honor Fogelsonger for this accomplishment on Sunday, February 16. “I am living a dream world and don’t know when I’ll come down from cloud nine.”