The Kentucky Derby is four days away and once again, Acadiana will be represented at Churchill Downs.
Janice LeBlanc, from Berwick, is looking for her second straight victory on the sport’s biggest stage.
"I would’ve never dreamed of being–until I went to the Kentucky Derby and I said ‘I want to do this,’" said LeBlanc.
And so she did. Five years later and now she owns partnerships in 13 horses, and counting.
"Well if I get up to 20,I get to name a horse, and the guy is always picking on me and tells me he’s going to report me to my children if I get out of control so I tell him, ‘Look it’s mama’s money,’ so if I get a horse that’s what I’m going to name it, Mama’s Money," she joked.
Last year one of her horses, Always Dreaming, won the Kentucky Derby.
"It was surreal, it was just so exciting," she reminisced.
This year, LeBlanc has another horse in the derby, My Boy Jack.
"It’s better than Vegas I’ll be honest with you," she said.
For LeBlanc, horses are her hobby.
"[My motivation is] the fun part of it, the adventure I guess. I love going to the races. I love it when they come to New Orleans and I love being in the Winner’s Circle because I don’t think it’s something you can make money on it, you gotta do it for pleasure," she said.
She has her derby hat, her horse and her hope for a second year of wins.
"I hope you see me in the Winner’s Circle, just look for the hat," she said.
Maurice native, Kent Desormeaux will be riding My Boy Jack in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.
Desormeaux has won the derby three times as a jockey, most recently in 2008.
His brother, Keith, is the horse’s trainer.
My Boy Jack will run out of the number-10 post in Saturday’s race.
