News
Allen Finishing Season With Victories
by Jada Buchanan
Hoosier Park Racing and Casino is happy to welcome Ron Allen to the racetrack during the end of the Thoroughbred racing season. Allen arrived for the final month of the 63-day meet. He came to finish the meet after finishing the season at Presque Isle Downs in northern Pennsylvania. Typically, Allen will ride at Tampa Bay Downs in Florida and Presque Isle but he has decided to make Hoosier Park a stop on his way home.
“I really like this track and I enjoy riding here,” said Allen. “I think next year I will plan to do the same routine and come to Hoosier Park right after the season ends at Presque Isle Downs.”
Allen learned how to ride from his father and brother who are both in the horse racing industry. Ronnie Allen Sr. trains in Detroit and Tampa where Allen learned how to ride Thoroughbreds. His brother, Mike, is also a jockey and competed at Hoosier Park a decade ago.
“I started from the very beginning,” said Allen. “I started out hot walking horses and galloping until I worked up to being able to be a jockey.”
Allen is originally from Ohio and now lives in Tampa.
“I have one son, Chris, and he is going to Central Michigan University,” said Allen. “I’ll go home from here. I plan to take a vacation after this season at Hoosier Park and go on a cruise.”
Allen is a remarkable jockey for a reason that not many can hold up to. He is very proud that he can say that he has been a jockey for 25 years and has not had any serious accidents. Not many jockeys can say that, especially after racing that many years.
“You have to be aware of what is going on around you at all times,” said Allen. “I just ride as hard as I can and work really hard at my job. I love to ride and race. This is what I want to do and I work really hard to make myself better.”
When Allen was asked what he would tell new upcoming jockeys he expressed many good points to remember, “You should always think safety first when you step out onto the track,” said Allen. “Never forget that. Learn from other jockey’s riding styles. I watched several jockeys ride and learned from what I saw.”
