Jockey Hill welcomes his first son

The Arlington family welcomed a

new addition on Friday, May 2, when local jockey Channing Hill and his

wife, Shelbi, welcomed their first son, Wayllen.

Shelbi, the daughter of perennial

leading trainer Wayne Catalano and a former employee of the Arlington racing

office, delivered the strapping lad at 10:55 a.m. (CDT) in greater Chicago,

hours before her husband and father raced Aurelia's Belle in the Kentucky Oaks.

"Shelbi nailed it right on the head," Hill explained.

"Two months ago, when I was on (Oaks entrant) Sugar Shock in the Honeybee

(Stakes) at Oaklawn Park, she told me 'you know the baby's going to come on Oaks

Day, now,' -- and of course she was right.

"I was out there the night before and everything was fine --

then I left for Kentucky. We just knew (the baby would wind up coming). She gave

me a call about 7 a.m. and I was at Danny Peitz' Churchill barn. She, as

relaxed as you could ever ask, told me she was 'having a baby.' She went to the hospital about 6 in the morning and the baby was born just

before 11. Obviously I contemplated driving back (from Kentucky), but there

was no way I could have made it. The doctor said it would be delivered before

noon.

"By the time she actually had the baby I was sitting in the

jocks' room because it's a nightmare to get around (Churchill Downs) on Oaks

Day," Hill continued. "They had me on the phone (during labor). It was great.

Shelbi did such a great job. She's such an easy going person. I would have been

freaking out, running around like crazy. She's just so calm all the time and

absolute pro."

Asked if the stress of such a life-altering moment affected

his ride later on that afternoon, Hill said it was the exact opposite.

"It was

actually a little easier to ride (the Oaks) after (the baby's birth), because by

the time we ran the race it was around 6 and I knew they were both doing

really well," he explained. "With Shelbi, there's not a whole lot to worry

about. I think if she was having the baby at that stage (during the race), it

would have been much harder to focus."

Born Wayllen Richard Hill -- the same middle name as his

father and grandfather - the "House Baby" with so many Arlington connections was

also given Peitz, local trainer and consummate employer of Hill, as one of his

godparents.

"I'm stacking up all my barns," Hill laughed.

The name Wayllen is a stacking, of sorts, as well.

"It's a

merger of our fathers' names. Shelbi's is obviously Wayne and my father's name

is Allen. That way we can ensure the baby is properly crazy," Hill said with a

grin.

Back at Arlington with hopes of following up a solid 2013

meet and happy to be reacquainted with his home and work families, Hill

resonates contentment.

"I drove back Friday right after the race and made it

back at about 11. I got lucky enough to have Saturday off and got to spend it

with Shelbi and Wayllen," he said. "I'm really glad to be back."

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