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Personal Peek: Maggi Moss Is an Obsessed Woman
By Lucy M. Pritchett
Outside her kitchen window, Maggi Moss watches as 20 or so deer feed
on the goodies she has left for them after a recent snowstorm. Maggi
lives in a three-story house on an acre of land in Des Moines, Iowa with
two Jack Russells – Blaze and Jake. Although this may sound idyllic,
Maggi Moss is, by her own definition, a woman obsessed. For 20 years
as an attorney, she was obsessed with the law. For the past decade,
she has been obsessed with horses and horseracing. To her credit,
she is the first woman in 61 years to become the nation’s most winning
horseowner with 211 wins in 2006. Her obsession has paid off.
She didn’t claim her first horse, Apak, until 1997. Now she has 60
racehorses, some retired. As a graduate of University of Kentucky and
a horse owner, Maggi, 51, has some strong connections with the state
and Churchill Downs.
Who she is: I am a very driven dichotomy of lots of personalities. I am
known as a tough lawyer, but I am soft and compassionate on the
inside.
Breaks her heart: Cruelty to animals. I can’t watch or read anything
about it.
History with horses: I began riding at age 10. I joined the Pony Club and
rode in the competitive jumper/hunter class. My dad insisted that I learn
about the horses, so I did everything from cleaning stalls to saddling my
own horse.
Her dad was: Philip Moss. He was a World War II pilot who loved horses.
He built a farm with white rail fences in Des Moines, modeled after farms
he had seen in Lexington. His dream for me was to win the equestrian
show at Madison Square Garden, which I did in 1984, 1985, and 1986.
He and my brother died in a plane crash in 1980.
She got her first racehorse: I went to a local track, Prairie Meadows,
and saw fat, shiny horses in good condition. I thought it might be fun to
own one. I introduced my-self to (trainer) Dick Clark after the races and
told him to be on the lookout and that I wanted ‘a really good one.’ Two
months later, he claimed Apak for me.
How much: I paid $25,000 for Apak. He was a winner. He set a track
record at Prairie Meadows. He absolutely paid for himself. I still have
him. He is king of the paddock.
Stable colors: Royal blue, lime green sash, lime cuffs on sle- eves,
blue cap.
Number of trainers: Eight, including Dick Clark. They are all over the
country. I use trainer Tom Amoss and his family in Louisville.
Visits to Louisville: I attended the Derby as a student at UK. I have been
there for the Breeders Cup, and last year, I won nine races at Churchill
Downs in the fall.
Fascinates her about the world: How cynical politics and greed drive
our existence.
Pet Peeve: Super-ficial, fake people who lack genuineness, sincerity, or
truthfulness.
Doing in 1991: I had started my career in private practice. I defen-ded a
man accused of a gangland slaying of five people. He was acquitted. It
was an extremely sensational crime and high-profile case in Des
Moines.
She is proud of: Helping to pave the way for women trial lawyers. When
I started, there were not a lot of them. And, being the first woman
horseowner since 1945 to win the most races in a year.
She would be doing: I would have a farm and teach riding to kids —
disabled kids. Or I would have a farm for rescued animals. I have been
so devoted to law for 20 years, and now I am devoted to horseracing
full time. I would like to have some quality of life that would include
cooking, watching a movie on television, or reading a book.
She hates: Going to the grocery store and putting the things away.
She drives: I love my Jeep. It is a metallic blue Grand Cherokee (2006)
with lots of pretty chrome trim.
Organizational tool: Seven legal pads. I have lists for horses and
trainers; horse business to-do list; general to-do list; daily to-do list;
house list; list of people to call; and my daily itinerary.
On her television: I watch racing five hours a day on TVG.
Favorite time of day: Late night.
Gourmet treat: Eggs Benedict.
Touchstone: I have a two-dollar bill that I keep in my wallet. I have had it
for 15 years.
Makes her laugh: Boston Legal and Grey’s Anatomy.
Louisville Res-taurant: Vincenzo’s. It is incredible.
People don’t know: I am very sensitive. I am still really just a little girl
looking for all the things I grew up believing would happen to me.
Favorite place in the house: My bed. Life is so harried and there is so
much to do, that crawling into bed at the end of the day is so peaceful.
Must have: Morn-ing coffee. I use the premeasured pouches of Maxwell
House.
Her soapbox: Knee-jerk politicians who react to current events by
passing legislation rather than looking at the root of the problem.
Also, I am ob-sessed by people who have racehorses and don’t care
for them. They have so much money and show little concern for the
welfare of the animal.
Book that af-fected her: Conver-sations with God (by Neale Donald
Walsch). It was a catalyst for some personal changes in my life.
Recent project: The Midwest Retirement Foundation for Thor-
oughbreds (she is chairwoman) helped set up a retirement farm at the
prison in Newton (Iowa). People can donate horses and they can be
adopted out. The inmates learn to take care of the barns and the
animals.
If you love something, the money will follow. If you love money, nothing
will follow.
The world would be a better place….If we had more compassion and
resources for the downtrodden and for the abused — children and
animals.
By Lucy M. Pritchett
Outside her kitchen window, Maggi Moss watches as 20 or so deer feed
on the goodies she has left for them after a recent snowstorm. Maggi
lives in a three-story house on an acre of land in Des Moines, Iowa with
two Jack Russells – Blaze and Jake. Although this may sound idyllic,
Maggi Moss is, by her own definition, a woman obsessed. For 20 years
as an attorney, she was obsessed with the law. For the past decade,
she has been obsessed with horses and horseracing. To her credit,
she is the first woman in 61 years to become the nation’s most winning
horseowner with 211 wins in 2006. Her obsession has paid off.
She didn’t claim her first horse, Apak, until 1997. Now she has 60
racehorses, some retired. As a graduate of University of Kentucky and
a horse owner, Maggi, 51, has some strong connections with the state
and Churchill Downs.
Who she is: I am a very driven dichotomy of lots of personalities. I am
known as a tough lawyer, but I am soft and compassionate on the
inside.
Breaks her heart: Cruelty to animals. I can’t watch or read anything
about it.
History with horses: I began riding at age 10. I joined the Pony Club and
rode in the competitive jumper/hunter class. My dad insisted that I learn
about the horses, so I did everything from cleaning stalls to saddling my
own horse.
Her dad was: Philip Moss. He was a World War II pilot who loved horses.
He built a farm with white rail fences in Des Moines, modeled after farms
he had seen in Lexington. His dream for me was to win the equestrian
show at Madison Square Garden, which I did in 1984, 1985, and 1986.
He and my brother died in a plane crash in 1980.
She got her first racehorse: I went to a local track, Prairie Meadows,
and saw fat, shiny horses in good condition. I thought it might be fun to
own one. I introduced my-self to (trainer) Dick Clark after the races and
told him to be on the lookout and that I wanted ‘a really good one.’ Two
months later, he claimed Apak for me.
How much: I paid $25,000 for Apak. He was a winner. He set a track
record at Prairie Meadows. He absolutely paid for himself. I still have
him. He is king of the paddock.
Stable colors: Royal blue, lime green sash, lime cuffs on sle- eves,
blue cap.
Number of trainers: Eight, including Dick Clark. They are all over the
country. I use trainer Tom Amoss and his family in Louisville.
Visits to Louisville: I attended the Derby as a student at UK. I have been
there for the Breeders Cup, and last year, I won nine races at Churchill
Downs in the fall.
Fascinates her about the world: How cynical politics and greed drive
our existence.
Pet Peeve: Super-ficial, fake people who lack genuineness, sincerity, or
truthfulness.
Doing in 1991: I had started my career in private practice. I defen-ded a
man accused of a gangland slaying of five people. He was acquitted. It
was an extremely sensational crime and high-profile case in Des
Moines.
She is proud of: Helping to pave the way for women trial lawyers. When
I started, there were not a lot of them. And, being the first woman
horseowner since 1945 to win the most races in a year.
She would be doing: I would have a farm and teach riding to kids —
disabled kids. Or I would have a farm for rescued animals. I have been
so devoted to law for 20 years, and now I am devoted to horseracing
full time. I would like to have some quality of life that would include
cooking, watching a movie on television, or reading a book.
She hates: Going to the grocery store and putting the things away.
She drives: I love my Jeep. It is a metallic blue Grand Cherokee (2006)
with lots of pretty chrome trim.
Organizational tool: Seven legal pads. I have lists for horses and
trainers; horse business to-do list; general to-do list; daily to-do list;
house list; list of people to call; and my daily itinerary.
On her television: I watch racing five hours a day on TVG.
Favorite time of day: Late night.
Gourmet treat: Eggs Benedict.
Touchstone: I have a two-dollar bill that I keep in my wallet. I have had it
for 15 years.
Makes her laugh: Boston Legal and Grey’s Anatomy.
Louisville Res-taurant: Vincenzo’s. It is incredible.
People don’t know: I am very sensitive. I am still really just a little girl
looking for all the things I grew up believing would happen to me.
Favorite place in the house: My bed. Life is so harried and there is so
much to do, that crawling into bed at the end of the day is so peaceful.
Must have: Morn-ing coffee. I use the premeasured pouches of Maxwell
House.
Her soapbox: Knee-jerk politicians who react to current events by
passing legislation rather than looking at the root of the problem.
Also, I am ob-sessed by people who have racehorses and don’t care
for them. They have so much money and show little concern for the
welfare of the animal.
Book that af-fected her: Conver-sations with God (by Neale Donald
Walsch). It was a catalyst for some personal changes in my life.
Recent project: The Midwest Retirement Foundation for Thor-
oughbreds (she is chairwoman) helped set up a retirement farm at the
prison in Newton (Iowa). People can donate horses and they can be
adopted out. The inmates learn to take care of the barns and the
animals.
If you love something, the money will follow. If you love money, nothing
will follow.
The world would be a better place….If we had more compassion and
resources for the downtrodden and for the abused — children and
animals.