Page 8 - The Game August 2006

8 The Game, August 2006 Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper
Woodbine's Winning Sister Act
By Chris Lomon
When Julia Brimo went looking for a new agent, she decided to keep it in the family.
It took a great deal of convincing and some pleading on her part, but Brimo, Canada's champion apprentice rider in 2003, finally talked her younger sister, Alicia, into accepting the role of jockey agent prior to the start of this year's thoroughbred meet at Woodbine.
"She has some great public relations skills, so I told her that she should at least try it and we'd see how it went," recalled Julia, whose first career victory came aboard Four Storms on June 24, 2002 at Fort Erie, a 4 1/2-length score for trainer Norm DeSouza. "Every morning, I'd ask her, 'Are you going to come and work for me?' Finally, she agreed. I think she likes it."
While the younger Brimo has had success in other business fields, such as event coordination and human resources, she decided to accept a new challenge and is thrilled to be part of the horse racing industry.
"When I first started out, it wasn't as tough as I had anticipated it would be," said Alicia. "As it progressed,
probably around the second month, you begin to see the other side of it, just how demanding it can be at times.
"Every day, you're pounding the pavement and learning the ropes. You get more comfortable in the position. But as
circle on 33 occasions at the Toronto oval, tying her for 19th in the standings.
After a seven-win campaign at Woodbine in 2005, Julia is focused on upping her win totals and profile in one of North America's most competitive
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done and over with. When you have an agent who isn't a relative, you have to be diplomatic in the way you say things. In this case, we're very honest with one another."
Jockey Julia Brimo (top) and her agent, sister Alicia Brimo
riding colonies.
"Once you lose your bug, it's
almost as though you are rebuild- ing," she said. "But it's starting to incline again."
Thanks in large part to thoroughbred racing's sister act.
"It's very much a team," said Alicia, who celebrated her first official agent win when Julia guided four-year-old gelding T And T Time to victory at Fort Erie. "It has to be that way. I have to perform in the morning or she won't able to in the afternoon. If she doesn't ride the races she needs to ride, we both suffer."
Still, the Brimos, who share a house with their father and sister Susan in Mississauga, are quick to admit there is plenty of fine-tuning
I said, I love the challenge. You can be more forward and get down to busi-
ness here."
So far, the sisters are pleased with the working relationship, even when the odd argument arises.
"She'll tell me I'm difficult at times," smiled Julia. "I don't think I am, but that's what she says. In this business, you have to work hard every day and that's what both of us are doing.
"It's good, actually," she continued. "We can always tell each other how we feel about a certain situation and then it's
straight-
Julia, 30, is in fourth year as a full-time rider, and her second campaign without her apprentice allowance.
She posted 12 top-three finishes from 44 starts in 2002. The Ontario native credits two horse rac- ing professionals, Edgar Prado and George Hosang, in assisting her in becoming a rider.
One year later, Julia recorded 58 victories, finishing ninth overall, while amassing $2,626,967 in purse earnings en route to a top apprentice Sovereign Award, when she received 179 votes, 47 more than the runner-up.
In 2004, Julia posed for the camera in the winner's
to be done to get to the level they both want to achieve. The key to success, present and future, both note, is in self-motivation, self-improvement, determination and a
never-give-up attitude.
"I'm still learning the game," noted Alicia, who, along
with Julia, recently spoke at Feminesque, a special event for women held at Woodbine's Trackside Tent. "There are going to be people that are your friends that you might never do business with. Learning to take criticism, even if it's harsh, is something you have to be able to handle. In any job you have, you want to constantly improve yourself."
Julia concurs.
"I like different riders for different things. Every rider has a unique something they are good at. I try and look at what they do best and incorporate it into my own style. I keep looking at ways to get better at what I do."
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