(Tyler Conner boots Wolfie’s Dynaghost to victory in the Prairie Bayou Stakes at Turfway Park / Coady Photography)

By Dennis Trusty / aka “Trusty Picks”

Tyler Conner is one of the newest jockeys on the Kentucky Thoroughbred racing circuit these days, and has moved his tack to the Jockey’s Room at Turfway Park. Recently, he got his first Stakes win in Kentucky on Saturday, Dec. 16th for trainer Johnathon Thomas. Conner was aboard Wolfie’s Dynaghost in the Prairie Bayou Stakes.

While Conner may be a new jockey to the Bluegrass, he’s been around for 10 years. Now, he is a 30-year-old rider, and he is very interactive on social media. He’s from Pennsylvania, but he’s also rode in California and is now trying to make Kentucky his home.

I’m glad I got to do this interview with him. I hope you enjoy reading more about Tyler Conner:

So far, Conner has 5 wins at Turfway in his first 39 mounts. So, I asked him what he has learned at Turfway?

Tyler said that it’s mostly about learning rider tenancy’s and how this track plays.

“It is similar to grass courses. I enjoy riding on and try to close on it. The biggest thing I have noticed is when it rains it changes a lot.”

So, correlating with surfaces, I asked what track surface is his favorite, and he answered with Santa Anita. He said it was the consistency of the track and that the turf course is consistent, as well, and they do a fantastic job taking care of it.

Conner is also into motocross racing, and I asked him how has those experiences translated to riding horses and if it has helped, in any way.

He answered passionately:

“Well motocross was my life before horse racing. The main thing is balancing the racing style is not similar, but when turning and turning a horse and balancing on them. As well as reaction times the gate for motocross the gate is different, but the response time is very similar! Which I was interested to learn.”

When I bring up “Wow Whata Summer,” what does that mean to you? That horse won the Penn Mile with Tyler Conner.

He said that horse means a lot to him, winning a Grade 2 at odds of 82-1 last summer — which boosted his racing career immensely. After that, Conner started riding for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr., and everything started falling in place. In that Stakes event, Conner and his horse held off an accomplished runner by the name of Annapolis, who is trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by the great Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Conner also has ridden at a number of tracks all over the country, which means a lot of traveling. He rode at 6 different tracks in 6 days, and he told me that Joseph is the only one who has offered to pay for his traveling fees.

“But being on the road I enjoy it,” Conner said. “I have done flights, car rides and it feels really good, especially when you’re on a great horse that you feel has a good chance.”

I said to him, that I as a fan I enjoy how transparent you are with all of fans on what was formerly known as “Twitter,” and is now referred to as “X,” and I think a lot of people enjoy it too.

I asked if he enjoyed that interaction.

He said:

“Yeah, a lot of people don’t like it in racing, from racing workers perspective. But I think fans need to know something, and I hope people realize when its a bad race because the horse didn’t respond and not just immediately say it was due to a bad ride because it might not be a bad ride. And a lot people don’t understand the difference sometimes. I try to be positive to racing fans and I hope some riders start to do the same, as well and be more positive.”

I asked Conner if any other rider has reached out to him and has offered advice. If anyone at Turfway Park has helped him make the transition to Kentucky.

“Not really anyone from Turfway, but Joe Rocco has been awesome to talk to. There really hasn’t been any one rider to help me, but my former agent had a brother who used to ride and he taught me a lot.

“My mother also rode, and she was always there for me but not hands on. I mainly just watched.”

So I in turn asked, “Who did you watch the most?”

He replied:

“I do remember watching Johnny V(Velazquez) and Mike Smith just to try to do the things and moves they do and see what they do to horses to get them to respond.  I tried to watch everyone. And if you’re at a new track really watch the track.”

As a handicapper, I get asked Conner how he learns the best path and best angles at a new track. I told him that I take notes. And, I see who does well with what type of horses, which to me was great to learn.

I also asked Conner if he prefers to ride in the cold, the hot, or in rain or snow. I asked if any of that mattered to him.

He said:

“I hate the cold. I don’t mind the heat as much, but I really don’t want extreme heat, either. If I had to choose, I would want the hot. And when it comes to poor weather, I would much rather ride in the snow than the rain because the rain changes the track and snow doesn’t as much. So, snow over the rain for sure!”

In closing, I asked Conner what are his future plans, if he had any?

He said:

“Just making Kentucky home. I have goals, but no true plans. I just try to be the best jockey I can be and be satisfied with my career.”

To put a bow on the interview, these are my own words:

I am so glad I got to do this interview with Tyler Conner. I really think he’s going to do well in Kentucky. I appreciate him taking his time out of his day to talk to me and give me his insights. Keep an eye on him throughout Turfway and Keeneland for sure! He is worth the time.