Jockey Don Pettinger

Born: 12/21/61 Resides: Hot Springs, Arkansas  Family: Jan, wife; Heather and Courtney, daughters;Derek and Colton, sons

Pettinger, a veteran of race riding, completed the 2007 season with eight wins from 112 mounts which earned more than $229,000 in purse money.

He is most notable as the regular jockey of three millionaires, Clever Trevor, Mr Ross and Bien Nicole, all trained by Donnie K. Von Hemel.

In his riding career of almost three decades, Pettinger has twice been an Oaklawn “regular”. “As a young rider, I started coming here,” he recalled. “I got away to another circuit, but began coming back.”

In 1980, Pettinger began the Turf Paradise meeting at Phoenix as an unknown “bug” rider. He finished it with 119 winners, a record there for an apprentice.

He is a younger brother to former jockey Dave Pettinger, once an Oaklawn regular.

In 2003 he won the $200,000 Oaklawn Breeders’ Cup on Bien Nicole and the $75,000 Honeybee aboard My Trusty Cat.A year earlier the Colorado-born jockey won the $200,000 Fantasy aboard See How She Runs, the $100,000 Razorback on Mr Ross and the Dixie Belle and Honeybee astride Bedanken.In 2001 he won the $125,000 Razorback and $75,000 Essex on Mr Ross.

The veteran got the 2002 Oaklawn season off to an eye catching start when he rode three opening day winners, including Bedanken in the $50,000 Dixie Belle Stakes.

He won the 1997 Dixie Belle with Hollow Miss, 1998 American Beauty and Spring Fever on Capote Belle, 1991 Martha Washington with Chance To Dance, 1996 Oaklawn Breeders’ Cup astride Belle Of Cozzene and 1998 Count Fleet Sprint on Chindi.

Discussing his long association with the Von Hemel barn, Pettinger tells, "When Donnie and I were just kids in Omaha, we hung around his dad's barn and walked hots. Growing older, I galloped horses for the father. The son later went on his own as trainer and I’ve ridden for him for years."