became the first girl ever to ride competitively at a major race track in California. She won her 1st race at Santa Anita Race Track on just her second outing, making her the third female to win a race. She became the first mother and wife to ride against the boys and showed some ability. Trainer Everett King raved about her, “I’ve had a few riders, and I’ve never had one as good as she is at the beginning. She has better hands and knows more about handling horses than Sammy Boulmetis did when he was starting out…she can do it all.“
Basically a shy person, Mrs. Testa found the constant public exposure, the crowds, the travel, and the resultant lack of privacy too much to take and graciously retired from the scene by the end of 1969.
