Photo by Molly Harrell

Arch Kingsley enjoys the ride.

“Both my parents were jockeys.  It ran in my blood,” Arch says.  His mother was the first woman jockey to ride professional races.  Arch has been a national champion and won both the Carolina Cup and the Colonial Cup, twice each. 

“When you go to the winner’s circle, when you’re lucky and everything comes together, you think ‘oh yeah, I like this place.’” In 2000, not only did he win the cup, he and wife Wendy married on the course after the race.  

Now off the circuit, Arch trains horses in Camden, including some he hopes to race at the Carolina Cup on March 29.  He might also be readying another Kingsley for the winner’s circle: his two-year-old climbs on her rocking horse, pulls down her goggles, and insists she’s going to be a jockey.  “Who would I be to say no to something that’s brought me so much pleasure?”

What do you like about reading skirt!? “I can keep an eye on sales when I’m looking for my Cup outfit.”

And wearing a skirt?“I just learned on the photo shoot that it feels really good when you gallop.”