Trainer Amira Chichakly

08/16/2026

Now that I am reaching the end I am thinking about how and when I have failed.
Is today the day I have officially failed? Was it two years ago? Was it the day I accepted this “opportunity” in an industry that is itself failing. Was I failing even as I stood in the Saratoga winner’s circle with Colloquy? Was I failing when Limonite ran second by a nose in the Stymie? Was I failing every time I re-homed a past runner of mine, even when they had since been claimed from me? Was I failing every time I stood up for myself?
I guess I didn’t notice soon enough. I gave chances to people and connections that never panned out while no chances were afforded to me even by people who claimed they knew my capabilities.
I know who I have failed and how it feels to look in her eyes. I know how it will feel the day we aren’t going to the barn in the morning.
But maybe I failed her before this with all of the verbal, physical and sexual harassment I have taken and witnessed and still pressed on. Maybe I failed her by struggling and still fighting. Maybe I have failed her by working every single day except Christmas. Maybe I have failed her by breaking my ulna and continuing to ride. By getting kicked and having her watch me in the ambulance. By dealing with internal bleeding and a broken rib and still driving four hours to saddle a horse.
What has this all been for?

08/03/2026

The number of times I had to step in on an old horse that was in a “forever home” 🙄.
Granted some were circumstances that truly were unfortunate. But others were people who had other horses and continued to have horses, their ottb just wasn’t important enough or what they expected.

07/04/2026

And this is why you don’t say “everyone is ok”

As Maggie, a horsewoman, seemed the only one conscientious of this yesterday- “everyone got up of their own volition and will be evaluated”

I Love Giraffes, one of four horses involved in a frightening spill in the Wild Applause (L) on opening day Friday at Saratoga, has been diagnosed with a fractured left hip and will be sidelined four to five months, trainer Chad Summers told Daily Racing Form.

More at the link in the comments.

06/26/2026

Well first time starters don’t always love the kickback, even if they were introduced to it in the morning. Still happy Bobby stuck with it and came up for 5th and a 54 beyer.
Extra excited about the participation trophy we will be receiving from Michael Rukin!

06/21/2026

So thrilled with the first time out effort by Sunshine Dakotah yesterday. After being squeezed pretty substantially at the start she stayed steady and then came flying from the back of the pack. Tip of the hat to Cesar Gonzalez for sticking with her despite the early placement. Thank you so much to Sunshine Hill Farm. 52 beyer, 68 equibase speed figure for this first attempt.

06/07/2026

Thank you everyone who has checked in on Glint. It has been a longer road back to training than expected but we are finally starting back up.
While we escaped major injury, and he was “ok” in that sense, I had a very hard time calling a horse “fine” who was aching everywhere. But his muscles seem to have finally relaxed and recovered from the extreme strain of his incident.

05/29/2026

Great representation in TDN today!