Scott Spieth

Born: October 25, 1966 | Birthplace: Litchfield, Michigan | Residence: Oldsmar, FL

First Win: Glendale Downs, 1981 (Quarter Horse) | Started Riding: 1981, Glendale Downs

Circuit: Tampa Bay Downs, Belterra Park, Presque Isle Downs

Spieth, who had ridden 4,967 career winners through the end of the Presque Isle Downs meeting, has his sights squarely focused on the 5,000-victory club, which has 37 members. He rode 36 winners at Presque Isle during the summer to finish seventh in the standings. In 2017, Spieth won the riding title at Delaware Park with 51 victories, his first meet title in a decade. In April of 2016, Spieth made his 4,500th trip to a winner’s circle aboard Awesome Indeed at Tampa Bay Downs. Making the occasion doubly meaningful was that the horse was trained by Spieth’s fiancée (now his wife), Aldana Gonzalez Spieth. Spieth rode War Story in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita, and although they finished off the board, the experience provided a wealth of memories. From 2000-2008, Spieth often rode two cards a day, competing at Thistledown outside Cleveland during the day and at Mountaineer in West Virginia at night. Spieth rode 307 winners in 2005 and averaged 269 victories a year from 2005-2007. In 2009, he recorded one of his most memorable triumphs aboard 3-year-old filly My Sister Margaret in the $500,000 West Virginia Jefferson Security Cup Cavada Breeders’ Classic at Charles Town. He credits his parents, Lavern and Gearldine, as well as his brothers, former Quarter Horse trainer Tony and equine dentist and blacksmith Jason, for their lifelong support. Spieth’s daughter Kirsten Swan is a jockey who won the 2014 Darley Award for her exploits aboard Arabian-bred horses.