PADILLA THE NEW STARTER AT REMINGTON PARK
A life in horse racing has allowed Vic Padilla to work in many capacities at the racetrack. Padilla can now add a new position to his resume as he has become only the third full-time starter in Remington Park history.
A mainstay as an assistant starter at Remington Park since 1998, Padilla has also worked as a valet in the jockeys’ quarters, groomed horses, served as a jockey’s agent and has also trained horses during his career. Growing up in Phoenix, Ariz., Padilla’s parents trained horses at Turf Paradise. As a teenager, Padilla hoped to become a jockey. That plan was dashed by a growth spurt.
“I grew nine inches when I was 16, so that ended. Plus, my parents wanted me to finish high school, something they didn’t do. I continued to gallop horses into my 30s before moving to the starting gate.”
Padilla was first an assistant starter, working in the gate with the horses to ensure the best beginning of a race possible, in 1980 at Turf Paradise. He has also worked at Canterbury Park in Minnesota, Oaklawn Park in Arkansas, Sam Houston Race Park in Houston and Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.
Becoming a starter was something Padilla was ready to accept. He also worked this summer’s Lone Star Park season, his first as the full-time person hitting the button to open the starting gate doors.
Padilla, 58, resides in Edmond, Okla. with his wife Jodi.
Remington Park’s 2020 Thoroughbred Season continues Friday and Saturday, Aug. 28 & 29, with the first race nightly at 7pm-Central.
Tracked by more than 164,000 fans on Facebook and more than 10,400 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $246 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District, Remington Park is open daily for casino gaming and simulcast horse racing. The 2020 Thoroughbred Season is scheduled for Aug. 21 through Dec. 20. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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