Page 41 - August 2016

Jill sees her biggest success as their breeding program.
horseman, and sought out excellence. That’s what I really liked about her: We were going to do what it took to get the job done.
“That particular meet, Develop A Plan foundered and she helped me through that,” Janet adds. “I was a new client to her and was there with just one horse, and she gave my needs and my horse’s needs the attention that was required.”
EMPHASIS ON FAMILY
Jill sees progress and growth in more
than just the tangible aspects of the family’s business. Just a few months ago, Jill bought Waterloo Animal Hospital in Edmond, a small animal and equine practice. With two other veterinarians on staff, the shift will give her more time to enjoy raising the babies and watching them progress to the track.
“With the purchase of the animal hospital,
I’m shifting more towards being closer to home,” Jill says. “I needed to slow down and the animal hospital is helping me do that. It’s only a mile
from The Mixer Ranch and I’m taking more of a management role. That’s the only downfall of being a racetrack practitioner: It’s seven days a week.
“In my first 15 years of veterinary practice, I’d say I got the most enjoyment out of helping trainers help their horses be sound and healthy and happy and win the big, major races,” Jill continues. “But now that we’re breeding and racing, the most enjoyable thing I do is going out in the pasture and messing around with the foals — getting to know them. I see veterinary work and the race industry from a different perspective now and I understand better how the owner and the horse feel.”
The slowdown from being a track vet to working in the practice will allow Jill to spend more time with her family. “I don’t ride like I used to,” she says. “I used to team rope. Now I like
to spend time with the babies, and I read a lot when I’m able — for fun instead of for business. Our vacations now entail going and watching the horses race. And, my parents are at the age where I’m spending a lot of time helping them.”
Her shift in gears is one that will allow her to enjoy the life that she and her family have built together and to enjoy the successes that their breeding program bring not only to them, but to others as well. “I’d say my mom is probably proudest of her family and the accomplishments in the race business that we’ve made together — that it’s been a family effort, and that we’re all involved in it and happy,” says Duke. “I don’t think the trophies mean as much to her as us being able to do it all together.”
A Tres Of Paint, shown winning the $307,000 Remington Park Derby on 4/23/16, is out of First Painted Sign.
First Valiant Sign, shown winning the $731,250 Rainbow Derby-G1 at Ruidoso Downs on 6/7/15, is out of First Painted Sign.
Jill Mixer with her multiple stakes winning homebred filly A Tres Of Paint
SPEEDHORSE, August 2016 39
Gayla Segura
Dustin Orona Photography
Ruidoso Downs