Jockey Talliyah Timentwa Brings Elite Indian Relay Skills to Professional Thoroughbred Racing

Apprentice jockey Talliyah Timentwa is rapidly ascending the ranks of professional Thoroughbred racing by translating her champion bareback skills into track victories. The young rider has captured the attention of veteran trainers with her fearless approach, deep horsemanship, and a strong work ethic forged in native competitive traditions.

Jockey Talliyah Timentwa operates as a compelling force in the equestrian world, showcasing profound riding capabilities that surpass her compact physical stature.

Observers describe the rider as bold, capable, resolute, centered, and highly driven. As the daughter of Trisha and Ernest “Rocky” Timentwa, her introduction to horses occurred prior to walking. Her father previously rode as a professional jockey in Canada. Her mother notes that Timentwa experienced her initial racetrack outing at just 2 weeks old at the Okanogan facility, a hub for training Indian Relay horses.

Timentwa holds official enrollment with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, situated in the scenic landscape of eastern Washington. The Colville people maintain a deep, spiritual allegiance to horses, which remain central to their cultural identity.

Her earliest memory involves navigating a family horse named “Hotshot” inside a grandmother’s round pen, preparing for an upcoming junior rodeo.

Timentwa notes that her entire family shares a history with horses. Her mother initially advocated for rodeo participation, involving her in barrel racing, pole bending, and various arena events. The rider expresses gratitude for being raised within that specific equestrian environment.

At age 12, she transitioned into competitive Indian Relay, a high-intensity sport requiring athletes to race bareback and exchange moving horses without protective gear. Her mother initially favored traditional rodeo safety, requiring years of persuasion before allowing her entry into the discipline. Backed by notable physical power, Timentwa secured the inaugural Ladies National Championship at the 2019 Indian Relay Champion of Champions in Walla Walla, Washington, at age 13. She claimed the title a second time in Wyoming four years later.

Family guidance established her rigorous operational mindset. Her parents required her to build horse fitness comprehensively, utilizing swimming, trail riding, and thorough breaking before approaching the track environment. This methodology emphasizes mutual care between rider and animal, helping Timentwa identify specific equine traits to build pre-race confidence.

Her father frequently reinforced the philosophy that labor outpaces raw talent when talent fails to apply effort, a principle she integrated completely.

The jockey expressed deep fulfillment regarding her relay career, describing a feeling of total capability and absolute freedom while competing bareback on the circuit.

However, Timentwa has redirected her focus toward the complexities of starting-gate Thoroughbred racing. She has developed a strong passion for the sport and is actively advancing her professional standing as an apprentice rider.

Emerald Downs media relations representative Vince Bruun detailed her recent career progression.

Timentwa initiated her apprentice career at Emerald Downs in June 2025. She secured her opening victory on August 7, 2025, at the Tillamook County Fair in Oregon, driving Steel Nerves to victory in the Don Hooker Jenck Memorial Stakes. Her official apprentice weight allowance runs through September 2026.

Multiple trainers based at Emerald Downs assist in her professional growth and express high regard for her underlying capabilities.

Trainer Dione Asmussen, a cousin of Hall of Fame member Steve Asmussen, emphasized to the Daily Racing Form that Timentwa functions primarily as an authentic horseman. He praised her deep empathy for the animals alongside her lack of fear. Veteran conditioner Candice Cryderman echoed those sentiments, labeling her skills as exceptionally high.

Furthermore, Timentwa actively analyzes senior riders at Emerald Downs to refine her technique. She studies multi-graded stakes winner Javier Matias, who possesses over 9,500 career mounts, alongside Frank T. Alvarado, a veteran with over 4,100 victories from 27,000 starts. She also leans on Silvio Amador, a graded-stakes-placed jockey with more than 5,000 rides. Matias commended her lack of intimidation on the track, while Timentwa credits Alvarado with an effortless style and thanks Amador for consistent technical assistance.

Jockeys’ Guild western regional manager Darrell Haire outlined the steep learning curve encountered by modern apprentice riders.

Haire stated that apprentices must master breeze work, gate exits, and internal timing mechanisms. Continuous refinement involves monitoring veteran athletes and observing race development in real time. He emphasized that the profession demands elite discipline to navigate the intense mental and physical fluctuations of the sport, adding that Timentwa possesses an excellent trajectory if focus remains sustained.

Trainer Howard Gibson verified her upward trajectory, noting that her galloping skills have improved at a rapid pace. He credited her increasing mount opportunities to an aggressive morning work schedule. Gibson projected that her competitive placing trends indicate she will begin winning races with higher frequency in the immediate future.

On Sunday, June 21, 2026, Timentwa recorded a career milestone by securing her premier victory at Emerald Downs aboard a 2-year-old filly named Made to Impact in a maiden special weight contest. Timentwa positioned the filly along the inside rail, engaging in an extended speed duel before outlasting veteran riders in the stretch drive. Owner Eliana Rosales expressed immense gratitude for the debut victory, commending Timentwa’s extensive morning preparation work with the young horse.

The rider expressed satisfaction with the day’s performance, which yielded a win, a second-place finish, and a third-place finish. She noted that validating her pre-race assessments of her mounts brought excellent professional satisfaction, particularly given her demanding routine of exercising nine horses per morning.

Timentwa concluded that horse racing dictates her entire daily existence, making it an entirely instinctive pursuit. She noted an inability to envision any alternative career path due to her lifelong connection to horses.

She attributes this professional drive to her upbringing, reiterating her parents’ focus on outworking raw talent. Timentwa welcomes the reputation of a tireless worker, stating that consistent performance when fatigued forces successful competitive results on the racetrack.

She continues to execute her legacy, managing her progression one mount at a time.

History of Indian Relay Racing

The competitive discipline of Indian Relay is recognized as one of America’s oldest traditional sports, dating back over 2 centuries among Plains and Plateau tribes. Developed as an extension of horse culture, warfare prep, and hunting skills, the modern sport features teams consisting of one rider, three horses, and two handlers on foot.

Riders circle a track bareback at high speeds, leaping off their mount at the end of a lap to instantly mount a fresh horse. The transition requires elite athleticism, exceptional balance, and absolute trust between the human and the horse. Today, organizations like the Horse Nations Indian Relay Council oversee national championships, preserving tribal heritage while serving as a proving ground for elite professional jockeys like Timentwa.

FAQs

What is Talliyah Timentwa’s tribal affiliation?

Talliyah Timentwa is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, located in eastern Washington state.

What milestone did Timentwa achieve on June 21, 2026?

Timentwa secured her first career victory at Emerald Downs on June 21, 2026, winning a maiden special weight race aboard the 2-year-old filly Made to Impact.

How long will Timentwa retain her apprentice jockey status?

Timentwa opened her apprentice book in June 2025, and her official apprentice status is expected to continue until September 2026.

What major titles did Timentwa win before gate racing?

She won the inaugural Ladies National Championship at the Indian Relay Champion of Champions in 2019 at age 13, and captured the national title again four years later in Wyoming.