Q&A With Danica Jefferies

What inspired you to capture that particular moment during the breeze?

Raceday Ristretto Photography is a new venture of mine, so I had come out to Palm Meadows hoping to take some shots for my portfolio. I was excited to see trainer Riley Mott’s horses Argos, Grade 1 winner at Woodbine, and Coburg paired to breeze on the turf that morning. I briefly worked for Mott as a hot-walker last winter, then taking videos for owners this fall. I stuck around hoping to catch them at the wire, where I met Rob Landry, General Manager at Chiefswood Stables, Coburg’s owner. The lighting was impeccable, although the rail was in the way from where I stood.

Were you aiming for a specific mood or story with the black and white style?

Racetracks are time capsules of tradition in a world where everything has become increasingly digital. Part of what makes horse photography so enticing is that black and white images feel timeless. You often couldn’t pinpoint which decade it came from based solely on the horse alone.

For this shot, I wanted to highlight the horses’ identical strides, pinned-back ears, and figure-eight nosebands. They are both bay, so removing the element of color made these aspects more apparent. On race day, I’d prefer to keep the pop of colors from the silks and saddle towels.

How did you get started in equine or racing photography, and what do you enjoy most about it?

I grew up riding hunters and the highlight of my year was heading to Lexington for the Keeneland spring meet and Rolex eventing. I would come with an agenda of all the jockeys to meet and ask my dad to place my bets at the window. We’d run around from sunrise to sundown, waking early for the morning works, eating breakfast at the track kitchen, then wait for the races to start.

He’s been a hobbyist photographer most of his life, so we’d both stand at the rail with our cameras — mine a simple point-and-shoot and his a bit fancier. I have a lot of fond memories of those days, which inspired me to trade the cubicle for a gig at Palm Meadows last winter. Now I have a baby at home so although it's a new development for me to pursue equine photography professionally, it feels more genuine than most jobs I’ve done before.

How long have you been photographing horses or racing in general?

If you start counting at age nine, then fifteen years. If you’re asking when I started Raceday Ristretto Photography, about two months ago.

Do you mainly focus on action shots, or do you also do barn, paddock, or behind-the-scenes photography?

I love capturing what makes race day possible. Racing offers so much exciting juxtaposition between the grit and effort it takes to turn a horse into a spectacle of an athlete, and the glamour you see at the races. My favorite part has always been the early morning workouts, and while the world is quiet, the backstretch is like a bustling city all before dawn. A focused groom wrapping legs, steam rising off a horse’s back, riders who hang on no matter the weather — the backstretch is my favorite place to be.

Is there anything special about that day or those horses that made the shot memorable for you?

It required a perfect storm to capture this shot. It’s not something I can just recreate, every variable would need to go right. It was a lovely surprise.