Abigail Fuller

Abigail Fuller (born 1959 or 1960) is an American retired Thoroughbred jockey who primarily competed between the early 1980s and early 2000s. While competing in graded stakes races, Fuller won two Grade III events, one Grade II event and four Grade I events. Fuller won the majority of her graded stakes with Mom's Command between 1984 and 1985. Fuller was the 1985 Filly Triple Crown champion with her wins at the Mother Goose Stakes, Acorn Stakes and the Coaching Club American Oaks.

Abigail Fuller
OccupationJockey
Born1959 or 1960 (age 63–64)
Boston, Massachusetts
NationalityAmerican
Career winningsUS$5,000,000+
Career wins582
Major racing wins
Astarita Stakes (1984)
Comely Stakes (1985)
Alabama Stakes (1985)
Mother Goose Stakes (1985)
Acorn Stakes (1985)
Coaching Club American Oaks (1985)
Seneca Handicap (1988)
Significant horses
Mom's Command

Other graded events that Fuller won with Mom's Command were the 1984 Astarita Stakes, the 1985 Comely Stakes and the 1985 Alabama Stakes. In 1989, Fuller won the Seneca Handicap with Fuller's Down as her last graded stakes event victory. During her career, Fuller had 582 wins while collecting over $US5 million in prize winnings.

Early life and education

In 1959 or 1960, Fuller was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Growing up, Fuller undertook horseback riding training throughout her childhood and teens.[1][2]

Career

When Fuller was eighteen years old, Fuller become a show jumper and equestrian teacher. She then worked as a stable hand before transitioning to horse racing in November 1982.[3] In 1983, Fuller had her first career racing victory at a Suffolk Downs event.[4] As an apprentice jockey, Fuller remained at Suffolk Downs before moving to Oaklawn Park in early 1984. While in Arkansas, Fuller went to Keeneland, Kentucky for a single race before her apprenticeship was to end in August 1984.[5]

Following a third-place finish at the Frizette Stakes in late 1984, Gregg McCarron took Fuller's place at the Selima Stakes.[6] When her father could not find a jockey for the 1985 Hollywood Starlet Stakes, he chose Fuller to compete at the race. At Hollywood Starlet, Fuller finished in fifth place.[7] During these two years, Fuller won six graded stakes races with Mom's Command ranging from Grade III to Grade I. In Grade II and Grade III events, Fuller won the 1984 Astarita Stakes and the 1985 Comely Stakes.[8] She also had a second-place finish at the 1985 Test Stakes during the Grade II event.[9]

At Grade I events, Fuller finished in first at the 1985 Alabama Stakes.[10] That year, Fuller became the Filly Triple Crown champion of 1985 with Mom's Command. Her Triple Crown was achieved with her wins at the Mother Goose Stakes, Acorn Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks.[11][8] By winning these three Grade I events, Fuller became the first woman to ever win the Filly Triple Crown.[8][12] With Fuller's Folly in 1988, Fuller had a Grade III win at the Seneca Handicap and a Grade III runner-up at the Niagara Handicap.[13][14]

After being injured with a spinal fracture in January 1992, Fuller left horse racing in April 1992 to become a publicist at Suffolk Downs.[15] In May 1996, Fuller returned to horse racing and began to race in Delaware Park.[16] Following a 2002 retirement, Fuller worked in Florida as a horse trainer in the mid-2000s.[17][18] In August 2011, Fuller restarted her racing career after participating in a charity horse race event earlier in the year.[17] In November 2011, Fuller was a Grade III runner-up with Trip for A.J. at the My Charmer Handicap.[19] After her last event in 2014, Fuller had 582 wins and over $5 million in prize winnings.[20]

Personal life

Fuller is married and has three children, one of whom is from a previous marriage.[21][22]

References
  1. Indrisano, Ron (March 19, 1983). "Suffolks suffragettes". Boston Globe. p. 25.
  2. Lemery, Bob (July 14, 1985). "One filly remains for 'Mom' to eclipse". Lowell Sun. p. C9.
  3. Indrisano 1983, pp. 25, 32
  4. Bickelhaupt, Susan (May 19, 1999). "Jockeying for equality". Boston Globe. p. C11.
  5. Indrisano, Ron (May 20, 1984). "Fuller tries the big time". Boston Globe. p. 77.
  6. Harris, Russ (June 2, 1985). "Abby defies track critics riding high on dad's filly". Daily News. New York, New York. p. 72.
  7. Montville, Leigh (December 6, 1984). "A ride in the big time". Boston Globe. pp. 85, 94.
  8. "Abigail Fuller Graded Stakes Wins". Equibase. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  9. "Abigail Fuller". Equibase. 1985. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  10. "Alabama Stakes (Gr. 1)". Equibase. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  11. "Mom's Command fulfills 'dream' by winning CCA Oaks". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. July 7, 1985. p. C1.
  12. Stathoplos, Demmie (July 15, 1985). "A Crown for the Fuller Fillies". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  13. "Seneca Handicap (Gr. 3)". Equibase. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  14. "Abigail Fuller". Equibase. 1988. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  15. "Female jockey retires, joins staff at Suffolk Downs". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. September 4, 1992. sec. D p. 2.
  16. Indrisano, Ron (February 8, 1997). "Mom's in command of horses". Boston Globe. p. E8.
  17. Paulick, Ray (September 5, 2011). "Welcome back, Abby Fuller!". Paulick Report. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  18. Riley, Lori (May 7, 2005). "Enduring Derby Image". Hartford Courant. p. C1.
  19. "Abigail Fuller". Equibase. 2011. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  20. "Abigal Fuller Statistics". Equibase. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  21. "Abigail Fuller Wins First Race at Gulfstream". Bloodhorse. January 15, 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  22. Koch, John (1998-04-19). "The Interview Abigail Fuller". The Boston Globe Magazine. p. 12.
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