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Chad Schvaneveldt

Chad Schvaneveldt Born: March 4, 1964 Preston, Indiana

CHAD SCHVANEVELDT

Born: March 4, 1964, Preston, Indiana

Has repeatedly returned from vicious bouts of pancreatitis – he nearly died in 2005 – to reclaim a top spot in the jockey standings.

Finished third in the jockey standings at the following Golden Gate Fields meetings: 2007 spring, 2006-2007 winter, and 2006 summer/fall, and 2003-2004 season.

Ranked as the second-leading jockey at the 2004 Bay Meadows spring meeting and third at the 2006 BM fall season.

Was the fourth-leading rider at the 2008-2009 Golden Gate Fields meeting.

Had 2,550 career victories through July 15, 2009.

Captured the 2009 Yerba Buena Stakes aboard Restless Soul and the 2009 Alcatraz Stakes with Run It.

Won the Grade 3 Golden Gate Fields Breeders’ Cup Handicap (GIII) with Fantastic Spain in 2007. 

Ranked as the third-leading stakes rider in the Bay Area in 2007 when he won seven stakes, including four at Golden Gate Fields – the GGF Breeders’ Cup Handicap with Fantastic Spain, the California Oaks with Eastlake Avenue, the Lost in the Fog Stakes with Imaginary Sailor, and the Sausalito Stakes with Tribesman.

Won four of the five stakes presented at the 2005 Alameda County Fair meeting in Pleasanton, taking the Juan Gonzalez Memorial with Hystericalady, the Everett Nevin Alameda County Futurity with Don Jaun Con, the Alameda County Fillies and Mares Handicap with Secret Corsage, and the Alamedan Handicap with Yougottawanna.

Followed up his 2005 stakes feast at Plesanton by winning the first stakes at the Solano County Fair meeting, the Vacaville Handicap, aboard 29-to-1 longshot Beezer.

Won 10 stakes in Northern California in 2005 to rank as the second-leading
stakes jockey.

Won seven stakes in the Bay Area in 2003, including the Grade III Brown Bess Handicap (with Lindsay Jean) and the Grade III Bay Meadows Breeders’ Cup Sprint (El Dorado Shooter).

Captured eight stakes in Northern California in 2002, two with the speedy filly Channing May.

Hails from a racing family as his father, Phil Schvaneveldt, and his uncle, Blaine Schvaneveldt, are both trainers.  Blaine trains Quarter Horses and ranks as that breed’s all-time leading conditioner.  Chad married into a racing family as his father-in-law is
R. L. Martin, one of the leading trainers of all time in Northern California. 

Began riding career at Centennial Park in Denver, Colorado, in 1981 and won with three of his first five mounts.  Scored first win June 5, 1981, aboard a horse trained by his father and owned by his grandfather. 

Was the leading apprentice rider at Golden Gate Fields in 1982.

Chad’s wife, Jane, is a former professional rodeo competitor (barrel racing) and currently works as an outrider at Golden Gate Fields.  Chad and Jane have two children, Shane and Chanel.