Jockeys Guild News and Articles

A conversation with Ramon Dominguez

Q: What would it mean to you to win the riding title here?

A: It would mean a lot, especially now that I am committed to be in New York year round. It's great to win any title, but it's more special to win at Saratoga.

Q: During your career, is there one horse you have ridden that has really meant a lot to you?

A: Well, Better Talk Now has been so good to me. It was kind of bittersweet to see him run the other day and run second (in the Sword Dancer). I was extremely happy and excited the way he ran but, on the other hand, it would have been great to win a Grade I with him. He's 10 years old.

Q: Do you get attached to a horse like that?

A: It's hard not to. I try not to do that. I mean, I love horses and I can honestly tell you I don't get attached to the horses. I try not to in this business because their careers are so short and they come and go. You just try to ride them the best you can and take care of them. But Better Talk Now, we have had a great history together. It goes way back. How often do you get to ride a horse so many years in a row … and in so many big races (he won the 2004 Breeders' Cup Turf)? I am very grateful and thankful to him. I guess you could say he is one of the horses who got to me.

Q: Have you always wanted to be a jockey?

A: Always have, yes, since the first time I went to the race track back home in Venezuela.

Q: Did you have any jockeys you idolized?

A: Yes, a lot of them from back home.

Q: How about any riders from America?

A: Oh, yes, many ... ever since I came to America (1995). All the guys who were riding at the bigger tracks, I always looked up to them. There wasn't one I can single out, but they were all very good. It's hard to idolize just one. There were so many good ones.

Q: If you weren't a jockey, and you could be in any other sport, what would it be?

A: I don't really know. If I could, I always liked running. Maybe track. Be a runner.

Q: So, you run a lot.

A: Yes, I do.

Q: Favorite TV show?

A: I really don't watch much TV at all.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: I'm embarrassed. I don't watch much TV or movies. Very seldom I go to the movies.

Q: When Ramon has some time to himself, what does he do?

A: I spend it with the kids (sons Alexander and Matthew). I just like to spend time with the family. If I had a day off, I would think it was a waste of time watching TV.

Q: You don't want to waste time. Do you have TV?

A: (Laughs) Yes, we have a TV. The kids watch TV a lot. I don't watch it much.

Q: If you could have dinner with any three people, living or dead, who would they be?

A: It would be my wife (Sharon) and my mom and my dad.

Q: You really are a family guy?

A: Yes, yes, very much so. That is my priority. My family is what I enjoy doing.

Q: Favorite race track you have ever been at?

A: Saratoga. There is something about Saratoga. The whole atmosphere, from the structure and the track and the fans is great. You don't see it anywhere else.

Q: It must be nice to have fans out there watching you.

A: Yes, it is. I can't think of any other track where you have so many fans. Maybe Keeneland. The fans at Saratoga are very nice to the riders and they really like the sport.

Q: If you weren't a jockey, what would you be doing?

A: When I was younger, I thought I might be a veterinarian. I have always liked animals. I really like the animals.

Tim Wilkin can be reached at 454-5415 or by e-mail at twilkin@timesunion.com.

Corey Lanerie: Riding the momentum

It was back on April 4 when Lanerie, now in his fourth year of riding full time on the Kentucky circuit, was sitting in the jockeys' room at Keeneland when word got out that Rene Douglas was ill and couldn't ride that day.

That opened a mount in the Grade I Ashland Stakes, albeit on a 24-to-1 long-shot which hadn't won since an allowance race five months earlier but had finished in the money in all 10 of her lifetime starts, including a close second in the Santa Anita Oaks.

Given the chance, Lanerie guided the appropriately named Hooh Why to the front early in the 81/2-furlong race and held off fast-closing Gozzip Girl by a neck to claim the $240,000 winner's share of the $400,000 purse — a cool $24,000 payday for the rider.

Lanerie has been riding the momentum ever since, taking a career-best 36 victories (including winning the Grade 3 Early Times Mint Julip Handicap on Acoma) to rank sixth among all riders at Churchill's spring meet and now stands second in the standings at Ellis Park with 28 victories, two behind leader Jon Court.

"It all actually started at Keeneland, where I happened to be in the right place at the right time," Lanerie said while taking a break in the paddock at Ellis on a recent afternoon. "Poor Rene was sick that day, but I've kind of got on a roll ever since.

"I've been lucky, got some good mounts, but I've worked hard in the mornings and have started developing some good relationships with a lot of trainers. Any time you move in this business, it's a little like starting over, but now Kentucky's my second home."

Lanerie's first home, hard-by the bayous of Louisiana, is the home for many race riders.

Along with the likes of Calvin Borel and Kent Desormeaux, he got his start as a youngster at Evangeline Downs in Lafayette.

There, as the son of a small-time trainer and onetime jockey (Gerald Lanerie) and the grandson of a horse owner and former trainer (Bonnie Estillette), he first climbed on a thoroughbred as an 8-year-old. Soon enough, he was galloping horses in preparation for a riding career.

"I don't really know why there are so many riders from down there, but we all start young — and there have been some good ones."

Lanerie began riding on the Louisiana circuit, then moved west to Texas. There, he dominated Lone Star Park with four titles in five years — 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2003 — and also won crowns at Sam Houston Park and Retama Park.

He occasionally was riding at Keeneland and at the Chicago tracks for trainer Michael Stidham, and in 2005 came to Kentucky to stay.

Since then, his business has steadily gotten better. His best year at Churchill was 28 wins in 2008 before he broke through with 36 this meet, and now he's battling for the riding title at Ellis, where last year he finished sixth in the standings with 21 wins in 138 starts, including a victory in the $100,000 Ellis Park Turf.

The track ran 46 days last summer, though, compared to only 28 this year. But Lanerie isn't complaining; the extra time off leaves room for his second love. "Three days of racing means four days of golfing," he said. "I work to play golf."

He also works, of course, to take care of his family, including wife Shantel, another Louisiana native, and 19-month-old daughter Brittlyn. They have a home in Louisville, Ky., so Lanerie works the circuit of Churchill, Keeneland, Ellis and a bit of Turfway Park before spending the winter at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

He's the first to tell you that it's a good life, especially when things are going as well as they've been this year.

SHADWELL TRAVERS JOCKEYS WILL DONATE PERCENTAGE OF PURSE EARNINGS TO HELP INJURED RIDER MICHAEL STRAI

 The fund will be set up through the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization based in Encino, Calif., whose mission is to assist injured and disabled riders.

“This was an easy decision,” said John Velazquez, chairman of the Jockeys’ Guild and rider of Quality Road, the morning line favorite in the Shadwell Travers.  “What happened to Michael is a tragedy and we want to do whatever we can to help support him and his family during this difficult time.”

In addition to Velazquez, all six other riders in the Shadwell Travers – Julien Leparoux, Ramon Dominguez, Calvin Borel, Alan Garcia, Kent Desormeaux and Edgar Prado – will donate 10 percent of their purse earnings.

“Our family is overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the industry,” said Matthew Straight, Michael’s twin brother, also a jockey.  “We are so grateful and appreciative.  We need to all stay positive and keep praying.” 

Michael Straight was injured and taken to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Ill. following an incident in the eighth race Wednesday at Arlington Park.   Straight fell from his mount and suffered injuries to the spine, including four broken vertebrae.  Doctors at Lutheran General Hospital performed spinal surgery on Thursday and inserted a flexible rod to stabilize the spine.

Straight, a native of East Greenbush, N.Y., graduated from Chris McCarron’s North American Racing Academy in 2008. He won the first race of his career at Tampa Bay Downs in March 2009 and has ridden a total of 39 winners in 372 races. 

The Jockeys’ Guild is making plans to put together a national effort to support Michael and his family at next Saturday’s races across the country.  Details will be released as soon as plans are finalized.  

Donations to the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockeys Fund, earmarked for Michael Straight should be sent to P.O. Box 18470/Encino, CA  91416.  For more information on the MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund, please visit: http://www.macbethfund.org/

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FRIDAY MORNING STATEMENT FROM MATTHEW STRAIGHT

 “Mike’s surgery last night was successful and everything went as planned.  The doctors said it could not have gone any better.  We know there is still a long way to go and now it’s just a waiting game to see how good and how quick he heels up.

 “He’s off the majority of sedation and we’re waiting for him to come out of it on his own.  We know it’s going to be a long road back and we’re not going anywhere.

 “Everybody has been so supportive with phone calls, e-mails and even Facebook messages. It hasn’t gone unnoticed. Our family appreciates the support and the love.  It’s times like this that bring everyone together.  Please keep Mike in your prayers.

 “We appreciate everyone’s support but also ask that you respect our family’s privacy and when we feel it is the appropriate time to talk more publicly, we will do so.”

 Note:  Matthew will continue to issue updates as appropriate.Note: Please correct Michael and Matthew’s age to 23 (not 24 as preciously reported)

 Background: Apprentice jockey Michael Straight was taken to Lutheran General Hospital following an incident in the eighth race Wednesday at Arlington Park.   Straight, 23, was riding Im No Genetleman in the mile and a sixteenth race when his mount appeared to have clipped heels with another horse in the vicinity of the quarter pole and the rider fell to the track.

 Arlington Park Communications Department

Michael Straight to Have Surgery

Riding his dreams

“Jaackey, jaackey, jaackey,” Talamo confidently said through his heavy Southern accent.

The assignment was simple: Write down your three desired professions and say them aloud in front of the class.

Talamo knew he was going to face harsh consequences for deliberately breaking the rules of the assignment. His teacher made it clear each student had to pick three different careers, none of which could be a pro athlete.

Sure enough, Talamo failed the assignment. But he did just as he said, becoming a professional jockey at 16.

That fifth-grade teacher recently got in touch with Talamo, congratulating him for his success and apologizing for what happened that day.

“She sent my parents an e-mail,” the 19-year-old says. “She just said that she was so proud of me and that she couldn't believe I knew what I wanted to do that early, and accomplished it.”

The love of horse racing came naturally to Talamo, who grew up in Marrero, La., with a father, Joseph Jr., who worked as an assistant trainer at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans.

Now, in his fourth year as a professional, Talamo has 565 wins, more than $23 million in prize money won, is a star of Animal Planet's show “Jockeys” and was set to ride Kentucky Derby favorite I Want Revenge this year before the horse was a late scratch.

Now, he lives the life he always dreamed of. But the days are long, tiring and filled with ups and downs, as one recent day at the track, from start to finish, revealed:

•     Morning workouts, 5 a.m. to 9 a.m.:

When Talamo's alarm goes off at 4:30 a.m., he doesn't sigh, moan or smash the snooze button.

Thanks to a childhood filled with early-morning wake-ups to help his father, Talamo's internal clock has forever been altered. Rising early has become second nature; it's actually difficult for him to sleep in.

When Talamo springs out of bed in his spacious, two-bedroom condo less than a mile from Del Mar, he's got one thing on his mind: coffee, and lots of it.

Five to eight cups a day keep the young jockey constantly chipper, always smiling and willing to chat.

Talamo arrives at the Del Mar stable area at 5:30. Over a busy, four-hour stretch, he'll work six horses.

While the morning workouts have an informal feel, their importance can't be overlooked, as this is usually when a jockey gets a feel for a horse.

“These horses are athletes, and just like professional athletes, you need lots of practice,” Talamo says. “Morning rides are the way you know your ins and outs with the horse. It's the two of you combined as one. You can get a feel for where the horse is and when it will be ready to race.”

Dozens of horses and jockeys team up on the track for morning works, which usually consist of warming up the horse, taking a light lap around the track and then pushing the horse as hard as the trainer desires.

•     “A little PR,” 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.:

“Look at that li'l cup of coffee. A li'l girl drinks that amount of coffee,” says trainer Mike Puype.

“Jeeeshh,” Talamo squeaks. “This is already my fourth cup.”

Such is the tone of conversations throughout the morning on the backstretch, where most of the work hands, grooms, trainers, jockeys and horses are at home for the seven-week Del Mar season.

In the early morning, the backstretch is buzzing, giving it the feel of a small, secluded village, or an “island,” as Talamo calls it.

“Nobody really comes in, and nobody really goes out,” he says. “It's the same horses and the same people traveling the country. There are guys out here who were born out here and just stay here their whole life. That's all they know.”

With any spare time between morning mounts, Talamo travels from stable to stable, stopping to chat with trainers who have a minute.

Because most jockeys are free agents, they have ulterior motives in making their rounds. They want to stay in the trainers' good graces to maximize their number of potential rides.

But the vibe is informal and friendly.

For Talamo, the family vibe is felt strongest when chatting with trainer Ron Ellis. Talamo has been dating Ellis' daughter, Elizabeth, for more than two years.

Talamo often rides against Ellis' horses, and nothing makes them happier than to beat each other head-to-head — in a friendly rivalry, of course.

“I beat him at the Hollywood Gold Cup,” Ellis says. “Man, that was gratifying. That was even better than the big purse we got.”

No hard feelings.

The small-town atmosphere continues as Talamo walks from stable to stable, where shouts of “Hey, Jo-Jo,” “Hey, Kid,” or any goofy adaptation of his last name with the accent put on the wrong vowel ring out.

Everyone knows Joe Talamo.

“I'm going to give him three years and he will be in the Hall of Fame,” says Octavio Vergara, who has been a professional jockey for more than 35 years. “He's the new generation of jockey. He was born to be a movie star.”

“We want to make sure we get in on the ground floor before he really gets too big,” Puype says. “You will forget about all of your friends, Joe.”

“I'll never forgetcha, Puype,” Talamo shouts as he walks away.

•     Lunch break, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

There's always a lull in the middle of the day.

Things calm down on the backstretch and everyone takes time to rejuvenate and prepare for the upcoming races.

But before Talamo goes back to his condo for lunch and a nap, he has a talk with agent Scotty McClellan, who has represented him for almost two years.

Whispers are exchanged about what they liked and didn't like about the morning workouts and what horses they hope to get on in the upcoming days.

Talamo doesn't decide what horses he rides. He leaves that up to McClellan, keeping his hands clean of any drama between trainers who want him for their horse.

“It's dog-eat-dog out here,” he says. “Even though you might ride a bad horse for a trainer today, it might turn into 10 good ones in the long run. You can't really think about today too much; it's further on down the line.”

For lunch, he eats light. Today it's a sandwich with a banana, but nothing that will cause stretching in his 27-inch-waist jeans.

Talamo says he's “one of the lucky ones,” who doesn't have to worry about gaining weight or dieting. He just eats smaller portions, and counts on his 19-year-old metabolism to burn off extra calories, unlike some other jockeys who purge, or “flip,” after eating to prevent weight gain.

While eating lunch, Talamo does his handicapping for the day's races, looking at past results and drawing up a game plan for each race.

It has been several hours since Talamo had a cup of coffee, so he's ready for a quick nap.

•     The Jockeys' Room, 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.:

Talamo cruises back to Del Mar in his new silver Mercedes C300, a car with a hefty amount of horsepower.

When Talamo walks through the clubhouse in his street clothes about 30 minutes before the first race, fans who arrive early give him strange looks (after all, he is 5-feet-1, 110 pounds) until someone shouts out “Talamoooohh. ”

He's been recognized. And after signing a few autographs, he ducks into the jockeys' room, an exclusive locker room where only the jockeys and their valets are granted access. On this day, Talamo has allowed a reporter and photographer to join him.

The room looks old-fashioned. It appears as if a jockey from Del Mar's inaugural season of 1937 could walk in and feel right at home. Green, wooden lockers line the perimeter, with valet tables crowded in the center.

It doesn't take long for Talamo to find a cup of coffee and settle into a game of Chinese checkers with Vergara.

The jockeys are a fun, loose group — playing plenty of pranks on each other. First it's a full cup of water poured over Talamo's head, then somebody sparks up a full string of firecrackers.

But when the jockeys leave the room, it's all business.

“I race against these guys every day and we still sit right next to each other,” Talamo says. “Fights break out sometimes for different reasons, just because of that close atmosphere. But then again, we are like a family because we are here more than we are with our own families.”

•     Mount, ride, repeat, 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.:

“Heyya Joe, you bettah win me some money on this one,” screams a faceless voice in the crowd when Talamo is parading a horse before the fifth race of the afternoon.

Talamo looks to his left, spots the shouter and gives him a slight head nod.

More screams are heard when Talamo enters the winner's circle after the race, and he shoots a smile and a wave to the shouter before escaping to the jockeys' room.

But the thrill of victory is short-lived. He has just enough time to change his silks and review his handicap sheet before hopping on the next horse.

And it's a good thing he doesn't have an elaborate prerace routine. There isn't time.

Talamo scurries outside, poses for several pictures and gets help mounting his horse in the paddock.

Talamo has five consecutive races, forcing him to hustle. He finishes the day with two wins, but also finishes last once.

“Today was a great day,” he says. “To win one race is a great day, but two wins makes it even better.”

•     Extra hours for a good cause, 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.:

The day isn't over just yet.

Usually after the races, Talamo takes a shower, heads home and calls it a night, in bed by about 9.

Tonight, however, he makes an appearance at two charity events to raise money for injured jockeys and horses.

Being a young, fresh face to horse racing, Talamo is often asked to attend special events and he tries to make it to as many as possible — anything to help promote the sport.

Talamo sticks around late, not worrying about tomorrow's early alarm.

After all, he's living his fifth-grade dream and trying to soak everything in. And there's always plenty of coffee in the morning.

Competitive nature a healing force

That was opening day.

Now, just 37 days later, Bejarano and his relentlessly sunny personality are back. The man who won six consecutive Southern California titles - before surrendering the most recent Hollywood meet to Joel Rosario - should not have much trouble retaining his hard-earned spot in the front row of the jockeys' room grid. Then again, the reality is harsh, and all those theoretical Bejarano winners ended up with Rosario, Tyler Baze, Victor Espinoza, Joe Talamo, or whoever else stepped into the breach.

"The timing is a little awkward, with less than two weeks left in the meet and then a three-week break for the fair before Oak Tree starts," said Joe Ferrer, Bejarano's agent. "But I believe everything happens for a reason, and the important thing is he's okay and he's back."

Bejarano's injury required six hours of surgery and 10 titanium plates to repair. The incident made tough headlines, as well, virtually stealing the thunder from the traditional Mardi Gras coverage of Del Mar's opening day. The horse he rode, veteran claimer Mi Bey, had to be euthanized, turning an unwelcomed spotlight on his trainer, three-time Del Mar leader Doug O'Neill.

In the spirit of getting back on the horse, Bejarano will be riding one for O'Neill on Friday, the 3-year-old filly Hudler in the $60,000 sixth race at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. For Bejarano and Ferrer, this is neither ironic nor strange, but just good business. For O'Neill, though, there is a chance to dilute the bitter residue of the opening-day disaster.

"I told Joe that I would totally understand if Rafael was not eager to ever get on a Doug O'Neill horse again," O'Neill said Wednesday morning. "The fact that he does is very comforting, and gives me a lot of confidence."

Bejarano comeback is scheduled to begin with the 2-year-old maiden Wings of Sound in the fourth at a mile on the grass, and then comes Hudler. Michael Baze has been aboard for Hudler's last three starts, winning one and losing the other two by a nose.

"Michael did nothing wrong with the horse, that's for sure," O'Neill said. "I did want to put Rafael on something I thought would run well, and I think she will. I'm just so grateful to have him back in the saddle, and back to doing what he does best - and not having my fingerprints on that terrible thing that happened. The farther we get away from that the better I feel."

In terms of competitive comebacks, there are few things more challenging than the road back for an injured Thoroughbred jockey. Without the support of a team, and with only the health care resources provided by individual policies or workers' compensation, their rehabilitation is a lonely affair. Since their business is based on showing up, others are quick to fill the void, and loyalties often fade with the passage of time. This means even a rider of Bejarano's status is faced with a certain amount of starting over.

Martin Pedroza, for instance, spent six months on the sidelines after fracturing his pelvis in a freakish post parade accident last spring at Santa Anita. He made it back for the final few weeks of the Hollywood meet and has been in the mix every day at Del Mar, but his six wins in 78 mounts entering this week's action were not exactly what the respected veteran had in mind.

"When I came back, honestly, I was just riding to get fit," Pedroza said. "Winning four races off the bat was great, so when I came down here I was hoping to maybe keep that going."

At 44, Pedroza is also up against a colony top-heavy with youth. Of the current top 10, Rosario, Talamo, Reyes, Tyler Baze, and Alonso Quinonez are all under 30. Pedroza, though, is ready to concede nothing, and he appears to be the same Pedroza who is always a presence at not only Fairplex Park, where he is the all-time leader, but on the main circuit, where he won the Hollywood park fall championship in 2005. Pedroza followed that with a career-best year in terms of purses in 2006.

"I think some people might doubt me because when I was hurt there was a doctor who told me I was going to be out for a year, and people might think I came back too soon," Pedroza said.

"But we're different," he went on. "We're athletes. We heal faster than normal people because we take better care of ourselves. When I told Danny Sorenson what the doctor said, he says, 'No way, man. You'll be back in four months.' You know how Danny is."

For the record, Sorenson, at 51, has broken bones most people don't even know they have, and is still riding the hair off horses. Pedroza brings the same experience and physical commitment to the table.

"One thing about me - people know I'm not scared," Pedroza added. "I've fallen so many times, I know I'm fine. I always tell my agent, the only way I don't ride is if I can't ride." Jay Hovdey/Daily Racing Form

Gomez Named Jockey of the Week

18-year-old apprentice wins Laurel title

Shepherd, 18, whose older brother Justin is also a jockey, rode 10 winners, six for Robb, to edge Anna Napravnik and Rosemary Homeister Jr. by one win to finish atop the jockey standings. Both of Shepherd's parents are also involved in the sport, Sherri as a trainer and Dave as a jockey.

Shepherd credited his agent, Mark Rosenthal, for getting him aboard live mounts.

"My agent had Robb's barn lined up and his horses have run huge the last two weeks," Shepherd said. "I am hoping to build on this success for the fall."

Robb was 7 for 9 with two second place finishes during the mini-meet to capture his first training title at the major Maryland tracks since the 2004 winter meet. The average win payoff on Robb's winners was $15.60.

The Maryland Jockey Club does not release final handle figures for the mini-meet.

Live racing in Maryland shifts to Timonium for the Maryland State Fair meet on Friday before returning to Laurel for the balance of the year on Sept. 12. The fall season will be highlighted by the 24th annual Jim McKay Maryland Million on Sept. 26 and the Grade 1 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash on Oct. 24. The Daily Racing Form

CARLOS SILVA PICKS UP NORTH AMERICAN CAREER VICTORY 3,500

 Silva was joined in the winner’s circle by family, friends, and trainer Hazelton who gave Silva a leg up on many of his 3,500 wins as well as valets and his fellow riders.

'Jockeys' Second Season Promises More Depth

Court glad to be back riding closer to home

"In a delightful kind of way," said Court. "It's a different atmosphere, that's for sure."

After he rode with a healthy measure of success for five years (2004-08) on the rugged Southern California circuit, Court and his wife, Krystal Lynn, decided to move closer to their roots. Court rode at the Oaklawn Park meet that began last January, and then the couple returned with their young daughter, Aubrey, to their longtime home in Shelbyville, Ky., in April.

Some racing fans might see Court as having taken a step backward in his 28-year riding career, but there were mitigating circumstances that led to him leaving California - most notably, a limited number of riding opportunities due in part to shrinking field sizes - and the bottom line is he is happy where he is.

"We're so much closer to home," said Court, 48. "Life is good here."

Going into this weekend at Ellis in Henderson, Ky., Court had ridden 21 winners and was tied for leading jockey with Corey Lanerie. Having been the Ellis kingpin for years - he set a track mark by topping the standings for five meets in a row, 1998-2002 - he is not necessarily intent on adding another title, but is reveling in the competition nonetheless.

"Ellis Park is in a league all its own," said Court. "It's a summer meet, family-oriented, with a sense of festivity that reminds me of the California fair circuit, like Pomona [Fairplex Park]." He added with a laugh, "Although they actually have a fair out there."

Court said he had mixed feelings about leaving the popular reality-television series "Jockeys," which was set to return Friday night with the premiere of its second season on the Animal Planet cable network. By leaving Southern California, Court also left the show, which is documented several episodes into the second season.

"I did gain some popularity with fans, although it hadn't become overwhelming in a daunting kind of way," said Court. "I've run into people in airports who recognized me but had never even been to a racetrack, so it's always encouraging to know we're building our fan base in a new way.

"My only regret is that I got really friendly with some of the riders on a different level of employment. I enjoyed that immensely, although it did get a little bit unnerving with the cameras and crew always following you. It's a little unbecoming of your general nature."

For Court, the "Jockeys" notoriety was just another mile marker in his career. A native of Gainesville, Fla., he began riding in 1980 at the now defunct Centennial Park in Colorado before steadily inching his way up the jockey hierarchy. Besides at Ellis, he has won riding titles at Oaklawn, Birmingham, Kentucky Downs, and Hoosier Park. Just before leaving Kentucky for California, he won the Japan Dirt Cup in November 2003, and in 2007 he was voted the prestigious George Woolf Award by his fellow jockeys.

Into Friday, Court had ridden 3,429 winners for nearly $77 million in mount earnings. His best years, money-wise, came during his five-year stint in California, as his mounts earned more than $7.2 million in both 2005 and 2006. Humble yet confident, soft-spoken yet articulate, he counts himself among the luckiest people walking the earth.

Rajiv Maragh comes from afar to near top of Spa leaderboard

Robby Albarado Jockey of the Week

A Lafayette, Louisiana, native who splits his time living in New Orleans and Louisville, Albarado has collected more than 4,000 winners since he began riding professionally in 1990. His 24,526 mounts have amassed $155,789,168 in purse earnings through

August 18.

Albarado is perhaps best known as the regular rider of 2007 and ’08 Horse of the Year Curlin. Albarado guided Curlin to wins in the 2007 Preakness Stakes (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1) and the ’08 Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAEG1). He also was the regular rider of 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft. Albarado, 35, has won riding titles at Churchill Downs, Arlington Park, Fair Grounds, Keeneland Race Course, and Oaklawn Park. He won the 2004 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, presented annually by Santa Anita Park to honor riders whose careers and personal character reflect positively on the individual and the sport of Thoroughbred racing. The Woolf Award winner is determined by a vote of jockeys nationwide.

Second season of reality series

The show has been doubled to an hour for the seven episodes in season two, and Garrett Gomez, Corey Nakatani, and Iggy Puglisi join Aaron Gryder, Mike Smith, Alex Solis, Kayla Stra, Chantal Sutherland, and Joe Talamo, as the featured riders. Jon Court’s decision to move from California back to Kentucky is a focal point in episode four.

“In season one, we were leading up to the Breeders’ Cup; in season two, it’s all about the Kentucky Derby and trying to get there,” producer Jason Carey said. “Both of those races are so important in the horse racing world, but I think the general public knows the Kentucky Derby so I think they’re going to find it very exciting that they’re going to get to watch kind of the behind-the-scenes lead-up to the race.”

Producers had plenty to work with, between Gomez’s personal triumphs and his prep season with Pioneerof the Nile and Dunkirk, roller coasters with Solis (The Pamplemousse) and Talamo (I Want Revenge), Gryder’s career highlight with Well Armed in the $6-million Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), and Smith’s and Sutherland’s long-distance relationship.

“When we started getting into the project, we knew that this was a really rich world, and that there were a lot of stories to tell,” Carey said. “We just didn’t know how much depth there would be to those stories.

“Working on season one in the half-hour format, we realized we had a lot of footage on the cutting room floor because we couldn’t fit it into the time format. We … decided that we felt we would be able to tell much richer stories in the hour-long format.”

The season will peak with a season finale focused on the last-minute scratch of I Want Revenge and Sutherland’s reaction as she watched Mine That Bird, her former mount, score his upset Derby win.

Sutherland said she and jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson were filmed together in the scene.

“I think I might have frozen for a little bit,” she said. “After, I was just really happy for the horse. It was a feeling like electricity just goes through your whole body.”

The premiere episode will air at 10 p.m. EDT/PDT on Friday, and subsequent episodes will debut at 9 p.m. on Fridays.

Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer

Parker Scores 3,000th Victory at Mountaineer

Parker is just the 150th jockey to win 3,000 races. The feat was celebrated in Mountaineer's winner circle with the track's jockey colony and valets surrounding Parker for a photo.

"I'm on top of the world," said Parker. "It's a load off my chest. I thought I would get my 3,000th Sunday night, but as hard as I tried, I just couldn't get to the winner's circle." 

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio Parker, 38, is the son of veteran racing official Daryl Parker, currently a steward at Pinnacle Race Course in New Boston, Mich.

In 1998 the elder Parker, the first African-American steward in racing history when appointed to the stand at Thistledown in 1986, put down his binoculars and left his post at the suburban Cleveland track. The occasion was a race in which his son would register his first victory.

Parker, 38, currently ranks fifth in North America this year with 185 victories. He was second among all riders in 2008, winning 333 races.

"I've been around horse racing for 30 years and I've never seen a person with as much class as DeShawn," said Billy Johnson, Parker's agent for the last eight years. "He's very disciplined in his preparation.  His family and racing means everything to him."

Parker, one of the tallest jockeys at 5’ 10”, weighs just 113 pounds.

It's believed that Parker has been the leading African-American rider since he notched his 2,000th victory in the summer of 2005. Until then, the top black rider was Marlon St. Julien who is currently closing in on his 2,000th triumph.  

Jockey's accident scars another

Even in a profession that carries the obvious risks of a jockey, it's not easy for Theriot to forget an accident that left another man paralyzed.

What troubles Theriot the most, however, is that some people blame him for it.

"It bothers me sometimes because I feel like I got the finger pointed at me," Theriot said. "I know I didn't do anything intentionally and they're thinking that I did. That's the thing that bothers me."

It's a feeling that has followed Theriot to Saratoga Race Course, where the Louisiana jockey is competing in his first Spa meet after serving a 30-day suspension for careless riding in the Arlington Matron in Illinois on May 23.

Theriot, aboard Sky Mom, swung out and bumped Douglas' horse, Born To Be, as they turned into the stretch.

Born To Be clipped heels with the horse in front of her and fell. Born To Be rolled over and landed on Douglas, who remained pinned until track workers lifted the 1,200-pound filly off him.

Douglas, who won six Arlington riding titles, was left with no feeling in his legs. He suffered two fractures in the vertebrae in his neck, as well as two compressed thoracic discs that pressed into his spinal cord.

Seven hours of surgery stabilized his condition and Douglas is recovering at a Chicago rehabilitation center. His agent, Dennis Cooper, said Douglas hasn't given up hope of walking again.

"His spirits are very, very high," Cooper said. "He's got no give when it comes to anything. If there's any way he can get this done, he's going to do it."

The backlash against Theriot was swift. The Illinois Racing Board hit him with the monthlong suspension for "permitting his mount, Sky Mom, to jostle another horse … causing the jostled horse to clip heels and fall, injuring both jockey and horse."

And that wasn't enough punishment for some. Under a video of the race posted on YouTube, one commenter suggested that Theriot should be suspended for life, while another said he should be charged with attempted manslaughter.

Theriot has watched the replay more than once and is convinced that the accident was nothing more than a case of terrible luck, a freak occurrence that could happen to any rider when horses are moving in close quarters at high speeds.

"I feel for Rene and his family, the condition they're in and the lifestyle they're going to have now," Theriot said.

Theriot said he believes "95 percent" of jockeys would have made the same move that he did in the Arlington Matron.

"There was a hole and we both went for it," Theriot said. "My horse came out a little bit and I think what happened is, my horse brushed (Douglas') in mid-air and it just slingshot him. Honestly, I see this day in and day out five, six, seven times a day (in races) and I got penalized for something you see every day."

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who has used Theriot on several of his horses this meet, said the suspension was too long.

"He felt bad," said Lukas, who teamed with Douglas to win the 1996 Belmont Stakes with Editor's Note. "Rene was a very popular rider in the Arlington area. I thought that decision of 30 days was pretty harsh in light of what I saw on the films, yet (Theriot) accepted that and took his lumps."

Theriot and Douglas haven't spoken since the accident. Theriot and his wife, Dawn, claim the Douglas family has no interest in talking to them, and rejected Theriot's offer to donate $10,000 in purses toward Douglas' medical expenses.

Douglas' wife, Natalia, didn't return several phone message from the Times Union.

Jamie Theriot said he'll hop on a plane any time Rene Douglas wants to see him.

NEW YORK JOCKEYS CHANGE TO NEW RIDING CROPS

The new riding crops conform to the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) Model Rules and The Jockey Club Safety Committee’s recommendations.

            “This initiative is great for racing in New York,” said jockey John Velazquez, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jockeys’ Guild.  “It’s really about what is best for the horse.  As a group, the jockeys decided to take this action that will benefit the horses competing on the track as well as the sport of racing.  The New York jockeys and the Jockeys’ Guild are pleased to take this step.

            “The quality and durability of the new crops has improved significantly, and there are enough suppliers now to meet demand.  The first generation of these riding crops, particularly the padded flap, was not sufficiently durable to last a reasonable amount of time.  We now feel confident that the quality and the supply are there to implement this change.”

            “The padded flap is much kinder to the horse,” said jockey Edgar Prado.  “Jockeys across the country have been using the new riding crops on a trial basis for quite a while, and in Kentucky the new riding crop is the standard.  In New York, now is the right time to make that change and Saratoga is the proper place.” 

            “The New York jockeys, like the Del Mar jockeys last week, deserve the credit for being proactive in adopting this measure,” said Terry Meyocks, national manager of the Jockeys’ Guild.  “This action is an example of the commitment of the jockeys to work with all groups in the industry to help overcome the challenges facing it.  In New York, the jockeys want to continue to work with NYRA to strengthen the racing industry in the state.”         

2009 Hall of Fame: Maple Grows Tall

Instead of winning grade I events for famous trainers, he spends hours each day feeding horses, making sure their barns are clean and neat, and trying to keep their owners happy.

“I didn’t stay in racing, but that doesn’t mean that anything turned me against the track,” Maple said. “When our sons moved from New York to Atlanta, and ended up not coming back home, we started looking for a place closer to there. Basically we took a trip and made sort of a big circle, going through Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia, and then we finally ended up in South Carolina. I don’t keep up with racing on a day-to-day basis, but I do enjoy watching the races when they come on TV, and I did see where Churchill Downs had night racing this summer.”

The news he had been elected to the Hall of Fame surprised Maple because he had appeared on the ballot six times before this year and had failed to get enough votes. When Mike Kane, who is the communications officer for the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, told Maple in a phone call that he would be inducted Aug. 14, “I was a little bit unconvinced,” said the 60-year-old former jockey. “My first thought was this guy could be making a mistake. But he made it quite clear that there was no mistake, and I was like ‘Wow;’ I was just so honored.”

Maple had won such prestigious honors as the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1995 and the Mike Venezia Memorial Award in 1998, “but I just figured maybe I hadn’t done enough to get in the Hall of Fame,” he said. “Somebody always kept finding something better than what I had done, so there wasn’t a reason to get too excited. It was in the back of my mind, but I didn’t ever go and check to see if the ballots were out. And then, when I wasn’t paying much attention to it, it happened.”

Maple ended his riding career in May of 1998 with 4,398 victories. Maple said at the time his most memorable race was his win aboard the great Secretariat in the 1973 Canadian International Championship Stakes (gr. IIT) at Woodbine, and that hasn’t changed in the years since.

It was the only time Maple rode the Triple Crown winner, and he got the mount on the big, flashy chestnut only because Secretariat’s regular rider, Hall of Fame member Ron Turcotte, was serving a suspension. Turcotte had finished first aboard Speak Action in a division of the Rare Treat Stakes four days before, but the filly had interfered with one of her rivals and the Aqueduct stewards responded by disqualifying her and punishing Turcotte, banning him for five days.

“Back then, people looked at you like you were a Martian if you appealed a suspension; you just didn’t do it even though it’s something that’s taken for granted today,” Maple said. “I remember Ron telling me that he didn’t want to look like a jerk in front of the stewards.”

The Canadian International, run on a wet and windy afternoon, was the final start for “Big Red” and “it was pressure-packed up until the race was over,” Maple said.

Heavily-favored Secretariat stalked the early pace before making his move on the backstretch and challenging Kennedy Road. The duel lasted until the far turn when Secretariat took over, pulling away quickly. He held an imposing 12-length lead at the stretch call, and he was 6 1/2 lengths in front of Big Spruce at the wire, covering 1 5/8 miles on grass in 2:41 4/5, only four-fifths of a second slower than The Axe II’s course mark.

“Up until that point, Secretariat was certainly the best horse I had ever ridden, and after that, I don’t think I rode one that was better,” Maple said. “He was big and powerful, and he carried his head the proper way. He did everything nice beside the pony, and when he went to the starting gate, he broke like a shot, and basically that was it; I just hung on. Probably the thing I do remember most about him was just how big his stride was; he covered so much ground. He was an easy horse for a jockey to get low on, especially when you asked him to run. It was like he had another gear—boom!”

Maple won the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) twice, with Temperence Hill in 1980 and Creme Fraiche in 1985. Temperence Hill was a 53-1 longshot in a field that included the Kentucky Derby (gr. I)-winning filly Genuine Risk, Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Codex, and the previous year’s champion 2-year-old male, Rockhill Native.

“That’s the race, next to Secretariat’s, that sticks the most in my mind because it was my first Belmont win,” Maple said. “Genuine Risk had finished second in the Preakness, and she and Codex were squaring off again, and they (Genuine Risk and Codex’s riders) were afraid that Rockhill Native was going to steal the race. Temperence Hill wasn’t given much of a chance, but we caught a muddy track, (trainer) Joe Cantey put mud caulks on him at the last minute, and everything just fell into place.”

Temperence Hill finished two lengths in front of Genuine Risk while Rockhill Native wound up third. Codex finished seventh, fading in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont’s final furlongs after challenging for the lead.

Cantey gave Maple credit for the victory, saying the jockey’s decision to make the stretch-running Temperence Hill move up and challenge the front-runners earlier than usual was an important factor.

“Eddie recognized that the pace was slow, and there are a lot of riders who can’t do that in a 1 1/2-mile race,” Cantey explained. “If he had ridden him the usual way, just sat there and hit him a few times, he would have been about fourth.”

Creme Fraiche was the fourth of Hall of Fame trainer Woody Stephens’ unprecedented five consecutive Belmont winners. The gritty gelding caught his stablemate, Stephan’s Odyssey, with only a furlong remaining and edged away to score by a half-length.

“It was a wonderful time,” said Maple, who rode many other top horses for Stephens, including Devil’s Bag, Conquistador Cielo, De La Rose, Forty Niner, Miss Oceana, Swale, and White Star Line.

“Woody was a fantastic trainer,” Maple said. “He lived, breathed, and died horses. We were very lucky together, and it came to the point, I think, that he relied on me as much as I relied on him. He had confidence that when we talked about a race, it would usually go like we had discussed. I loved working with 2-year-olds, and Woody came up with so many good ones.”

Maple was involved in upsets of three-time Horse of the Year Forego three times, winning with Arbees Boy in the 1974 Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I), Foolish Pleasure in the 1976 Suburban Handicap (gr. I), and Quiet Little Table in the 1977 Suburban. The jockey also rode back-to-back winners of the Travers Stakes (gr. I), taking the race aboard Temperence Hill in 1980 and Willow Hour in 1981.

One of Maple’s favorite wins in the twilight of his career came aboard Awad in the 1995 Arlington Million (gr. IT).

“He ran the race of his life, and he got up and broke the (Arlington Park) course record,” said Maple, recalling how Awad rallied gallantly from ninth in the 1 1/4-mile race, covering the distance in 1:58.69.

The Blood-Horse’s account of Awad’s win made it clear that Maple’s riding tactics played a key role. The jockey, according to the story, was in striking distance on the turn for home and “found a clear path, six wide, and (Awad) was in full stride while the rest of the field was bottlenecked to the inside.” Johann Quatz, trapped behind a wall of horses, clipped the heels of Northern Spur and stumbled badly while favored Sandpit couldn’t find daylight soon enough and finished second.

“I was 49 when I retired, and physically I was in good shape,” Maple said. “I wasn’t having any serious weight problems—just normal weight problems. I had also been lucky. When I got hurt, it was nothing serious; I just had to miss maybe two or three months at a time. But how long can you stay lucky? It was time to go.”

Deck the Hall

I would show up just to shake Maple's hand, but the boss wants me here at Del Mar, minding the DRF sunscreen concession (someone has to do it). Rachel, Zenyatta and The Bird aside, the election of Edward Retz Maple to the Hall of Fame is the best thing to happen to horse racing this year. And by "best" I mean the thing that rights past wrongs and puts the sport in the finest light. The most common description of Maple's election is "long overdue," making him sound more like a lost library book than someone who should have been up there alongside such contemporaries as Pincay, Delahoussaye, Cordero and Hawley a long time ago.

I haven't felt this good about a Hall of Fame induction since last month, when Jim Rice finally made it to Cooperstown. Rice was to the Red Sox as Sandy Koufax was to the Dodgers of my youth. He was a franchise icon, reliable as the dawn, and a virtuoso with both bat and glove. Rice retired from baseball in 1989 after 15 years with Boston. He was eligible for the Hall of Fame five years later. When he was elected this year, it was his final year of eligibility. What took so long?

Teammate Dwight Evans suggested it had something to do with the inflated stats of baseball's more recent steroid era. "Steroids played a lot in the escalation of the stats," Evans said. "The stats [now] are all padded. Finally, it's been exposed the last two or three years. They said, 'This guy [Rice] did it on his own, and he should be recognized for it.' I truly believe that's what has happened here. It's too late, but it's happening."

Racing's Hall of Fame eligibility rules have changed many times through the years. By today's standards, requiring a jockey to have at least 20 years of service, Maple was eligible beginning in 1985. By then he had ridden Secretariat, Foolish Pleasure, Riva Ridge, Alydar, Conquistador Cielo, Temperence Hill, De la Rose and Devil's Bag, and won more than 3,200 races. Here we are, 24 years later, and the man finally gets his plaque. Is it any wonder Eddie was leaning toward giving up hope?

You can't blame Maple's long haul to the Hall on steroids. Blame it on a broken down election system that keeps worthy candidates dangling for years, simply because those of us with a vote can vote for only one name per category. (This is a sore point around here, since as part of pre-nuptial full disclosure I had to admit that I voted for Jack Westrope on the 2000 Hall of Fame ballot instead of my betrothed, Julie Krone, who got in anyway. Heck, we weren't even dating at the time, but I still have to dust her plaque daily.)

Right now, there are any number of jockeys, trainers and horses who IMnotsoHO should be up there alongside Maple, including the two he outpolled this year, Alex Solis and Randy Romero. Here is just a partial list of the others I feel have been slighted by the system:

Robert Wheeler, Safely Kept, Don Pierce, Mel Stute, Open Mind, Housebuster, Roger Attfield, Chris Antley, Estrapade, Royal Heroine, Craig Perret, Sky Beauty, Frank Gomez, Best Pal, Ferdinand, Jerry Hollendorfer and W.L. Proctor. There are more, I know. Name them.

In the meantime, there is a clamor to expand the Hall of Fame to include owners, breeders and--are you sitting down?--writers. This is fine, as long as the writers they are talking about begin and end with a list that includes Hemingway, Steinbeck, Faulkner, D.H. Lawrence and Hunter S. Thompson, all of them intrigued enough at one time or another with horse racing to write about it. But I'm afraid that's not what they have in mind.

Tell you what, Hall of Fame. How about first fixing what is so broken that Eddie Maple has to wait a quarter of a century to get in? Then we can talk about new categories.

Posted by Jay Hovdey 08/13/2009 12:55:00 PM/Daily Racing Form

Lighter touch for racehorses

Many Saratoga jockeys have already voluntarily switched over to the lighter crops, now mandated at Delaware Park, Philadelphia Park, and Del Mar Race Course. More flexible than their older counterparts, the new crops make a louder noise upon impact but create less risk of injury to racehorses. It is only expected to be a matter of time before the change is required by the state racing board for the New York Racing Association circuit.

"I'm just trying to find a comfort level because I've been using the same kind of whips for 28 years," said longtime journeyman Richard Migliore, who rides about 50 percent of his mounts with the new model. "There's going to be a little bit of adjustment, so I didn't want to jump in all at once."

"I'm using the new crop 100 percent because if I go back to the old one I'd have to get used to it all over again," said Jockeys' Guild president John Velazquez. "I don't want to go back and forth. Eventually, this is going to be mandatory anyway."

The new model is part of efforts to improve the industry's public image and satisfy animal rights activists who believe use of a crop may painfully sting a horse's sides. Veterinarians in California typically file about two dozen complaints per year about welts left by the old style of whips, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

NYRA chief veterinarian Dr. Anthony Verderosa said he sees far less evidence of such accidental injury caused to racehorses on the NYRA circuit.

"We report to the stewards if we see an excessive amount of welts on horses, but it's not something we see a lot," he said. "I can't remember the last time I reported one, actually."

The riders were quick to explain that crops are used as a tool to assist them as they pilot 1,200-pound Thoroughbreds around the track.

"We use them to encourage the horse in the stretch run, to keep him straight if he's getting out or lugging in," said Velazquez. "We also signal to help him change leads. Beating the horse is definitely not the goal."

"A riding crop is used as an aid," Migliore said. "It's not about hurting the horses. And people need to remember that we love these horses. They've given us everything good in our lives."

Rick Violette, president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, said he understands the reason for switching to the new model, but also realizes some runners may not respond as they did to the stronger style.

"Some horses will laugh at it and some horses will be very sensitive to it," he remarked. "It's not going to be black and white. Horses that need stronger handling, we might not get the best out of. But if it's kinder and gentler and what people want to see at our racetracks, then we've got to do it." By CLAIRE NOVAK, Special to the Times Union

Claire Novak is a freelance writer.

Old whips banned at Del Mar Racetrack

Beginning tomorrow, Del Mar will be the first track in California to require jockeys to use softer riding crops in every race.

Instead of stiff leather, the new whips have a cushion made of softer material, such as woven fabric or supple leather that makes a “pop” noise when it hits the horse. It's not loud enough to distract other horses on the track, jockeys said.

“Instead of running from the sting, they're running from the sound,” said Darrell Haire, regional manager for the Jockeys' Guild.

Jockeys use whips to steer a horse or get its attention. They are allowed to use them on a horse's shoulders or hindquarters. Problems typically arise when a jockey accidentally hits a horse on its tender flank or belly, causing cuts.

Dr. Rick Arthur, equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board, said the veterinarians who check horses after each race file about two dozen complaints with the board each year about whip welts.

The new whips typically cost $55 to $85, about 30 percent more than the older ones. Craig Fravel, executive vice president of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, which operates the summer meet, said the club is providing $60 whips to jockeys who can't afford them.

“The jockeys came to us and said, ‘Our riders are ready to do this here,’ ” he said.

“We love the horses and we're always looking for new things to improve racing,” said jockey Alex Solis.

“I think the new whip is better; I like it,” said jockey Joel Rosario. “I've won a lot of races with it.”

Another jockey, Danny Sorenson, said most jockeys have at least 10 riding crops, so the cost of replacing them adds up. “If it can prevent any welting or injury of the horse, then by God, I'm for it,” he said.

Derek, an actress and model and lifelong horsewoman who was appointed a year ago to the California Horse Racing Board, pushed for the change.

Derek said yesterday that she noticed Del Mar jockeys were already using the new riding crops, so she met with them on Opening Day to discuss making it a rule.

“I said, ‘You might as well get on with it instead of waiting for the regulations,’ ” Derek said. “They were very responsive and willing to do it, and they deserve the credit.”

Derek, 52, who lives in the Santa Barbara area, owns Spanish and Portuguese riding horses, and she has had several racehorses named after her.

The next track in California to require the softer whips will be Hollywood Park at its meet this fall. Other notable tracks that recently began using the softer whips include Churchill Downs in Kentucky, Belmont Park and Saratoga in New York and Pimlico in Maryland.

The industry initiative to improve horse safety began after a death at last year's Kentucky Derby, said Mike Ziegler of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. On May 3, 2008, a young filly, Eight Belles, crossed the finish line at Churchill Downs, then collapsed when both of her front ankles snapped. She was euthanized and became the first horse to die in the famous 1¼-mile race.

Some say it's possible the whip played a role, although officials at the Kentucky Derby said it was a “freak accident.”

The incident attracted national media attention and prompted People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to call for a ban on whips.

In a statement on the Eight Belles incident, PETA called for the jockey to be disciplined, saying he “whipped her mercilessly as she came down the final stretch.” The group said other factors in the collapse were the youth of the horse and the hard track.

The incident prompted the racing association to convene a special committee to determine best practices and create a racetrack accreditation process.

Some of the industry standards, completed in March, address equipment, such as the crops and horseshoes. When research is complete, the standards will address track surfaces, such as the cushioning synthetic Polytrack in use at Del Mar. There also are standards requiring racetracks to report horse injuries to a national database and governing the use of equine drugs.

Kathy Guillermo, a PETA vice president, said she's pleased that the industry is making changes. “This has been an industry that's been ripe for reform for a very long time,” she said. “We'll keep pushing for more.”

Derek said she sought an appointment to the horse racing board in part to work on horse welfare issues.

“When I came on the board, I was astounded to see how much is being done, and how much is in the works for horse welfare,” she said. “Everyone is working so hard to solve these problems.”

Plain ol' Ray and 22 other special jockeys

Jockey Ray Sibille was riding at Arlington Park in 1978 when Turcotte came to Chicago for a mount in a $100,000 stakes race. At the time, Turcotte was still a national hero after piloting Secretariat to his record-setting Triple Crown triumph five years earlier, and of course he won the Arlington stakes that day too. It was natural for Sibille to watch Turcotte walk by in the jockeys' room that afternoon and feel a stab of envy and the desire to trade places with the out-of-towner. But Sibille was shocked when, five days later, Turcotte was critically injured in a race at Belmont Park, in an accident that left the jockey paralyzed from the waist down.

"I never wished I was anyone else again," Sibille said. "I'm happy just being plain ol' Ray."

Sibille was among 23 retired jockeys, 16 of them members of the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, who gathered at Arlington Park on the eve of this year's Arlington Million to participate in Dining With the Dynasty, a luncheon that benefited the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and the Race Track Chaplaincy of America.

To describe it merely as a benefit luncheon doesn't begin to conjure up the sense of unreality as one glanced here and there about the room to see at every table, in every corner, jockeys that have ridden their way into the annals of racing. The jocks themselves were in awe. At one moment Pat Day, who set a North American record by winning on eight of his nine mounts on a single card at Arlington in 1989, said "You've got the who's who of racing here." And Chris McCarron, who won the 1984 Arlington Million on legendary gelding John Henry, gushed, "I've been to lots of these events around the country, but I've got goosebumps being here."

There were hearty handshakes and bear hugs as riders who hadn't met up in years renewed acquaintances, and cameras flashed over and over as the fans in attendance posed with their favorite jockeys. The commemorative programs were passed from table to table, hand to hand, as the jockeys each autographed their page. When not signing, the riders gathered in clusters, rehashing old races, their fists clenched as they pantomimed grasping reins, or their arms raised as they remembered how "I hit him left-handed just to wake him up, then switched ..." How fortunate we felt to listen to those who were there describe racing's historic moments. To hear Randy Romero tell how it felt as Go For Wand galloped her final strides before her tragic end, or Turcotte, talking about Secretariat, say, "I wish all the riders in here would have had one chance to sit on that horse." And when pressed for more about the big chestnut's 31-length Belmont Stakes win, Turcotte simply said, "I just enjoyed the view."

In addition to Turcotte, three other permanently disabled jockeys were in attendance --Stacy Burton, Jackie Fires and Dennis Keehan. "I thank Jackie, Dennis, Ron and Stacy for being here," McCarron began, before having to pause a moment to regain his composure. "The rest of us are very, very blessed. The rest of us can say we made it around the track, made it home healthy, and made a few bucks."

The more we follow horse racing, the more we wonder why anyone would take the risky career path of being a jockey. Today Jorge Velasquez told us jockeys ride because of a deep love for the sport, perhaps incomprehensible to the rest of us. And Jerry Bailey said it was an inborn and fierce desire to compete that took him to the saddle. And Julie Krone talked about feeling a horse's mane blowing back in her face and hearing the rhythmic thud of hooves and the snapping of silks in the wind.

Jockey Scott Stevens wins his 4,000th race

Winning owner makes day even more special for disabled jockeys

Gio Ponti won the Arlington Million and owner Shane Ryan donated 5 percent ($29,400) of the winning purse to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.

"They are very brave men," Ryan said of riders.

Twenty-three of those brave men were in the vicinity of Arlington Heights the past few days to raise money for the Jockeys Fund.

We're talking about riders such as Ron Turcotte, Pat Day, Chris McCarron, Laffit Pincay Jr., Earlie Fires, Gary Stevens and Jerry Bailey.

Among the 23 in attendance were Triple Crown winners, Arlington Million winners, Breeders Cup winners and an astounding 20 members of the sport's Hall of Fame.

Most of all they are little giants who survived this beautiful yet dangerous sport.

Day described a race this way: "You get 8, 10, 12, 14 horses running at 40 miles per hour and you couldn't get a cigarette paper between them."

All I could wonder as these world-class athletes sat at tables and signed autographs was, well, how many combined broken bones did they endure during their careers?

Hundreds? Thousands? Too many to count or comprehend?

Few think of horse racing's risks until a pileup occurs just out of the gate or on one of the turns or down the stretch.

"We accept the risk," Day said, "and we love what we're doing."

Rene Douglas accepted the risks. Today he's in a rehabilitation facility trying to regain movement in his limbs after a May 23 racing mishap at Arlington Park.

"In Rene's case we're just thankful it didn't kill him," Day said. "Now we're hopeful he'll regain his mobility."

Incidents like Douglas' are why these great jockeys were at Arlington for the Million: To raise money for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, which was formed in 2006.

At last count, 60 riders are classified as permanently disabled. Douglas isn't among them because hope remains that he'll recover.

The retired jockeys who participated the past few days are wrinkled now. What's left of their hair is punctuated by gray. Many carry more weight than when they were riding.

A few like Turcotte are in wheelchairs. A racing crash turned him into a paraplegic five years after he rode legendary Secretariat to the Triple Crown in 1973.

But the sparkle in their eyes made it seem that at least for a day they were younger now as fans formed long lines to get signatures and photographs.

"To be in the room with these other riders - it's incredible," Day said.

The memories these guys must have swapped could fill horse racing history books. Gio Ponti rider Ramon A. Dominguez will have a whopper to tell them all some day.

The retirees hope to reunite at more big races, tell more stories and raise more money for needy colleagues.

Day said that when a rider like Douglas goes down, "It breaks our hearts."

Glad to say, all the jockeys competing in the International Festival of Racing remained healthy enough to race another day.

mimrem@dailyherald.com

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Jockey hearing begins

The jockeys claim they did not violate weight requirement and the scale readings were misunderstood.

Also present during the hearing, held at the Charles Town Races & Slots meeting room, was former clerk of scales Mike Garrison, whose license was revoked following the investigation into the events surrounding March 25 and 26.

The seven jockeys were represented by law firm Bailey & Glasser LLP of Charleston, while Deputy Attorney General Kelli Talbott and her staff represented the West Virginia Racing Commission. Garrison provided his own defense.

The testimony of four witnesses took up the majority of the first day, leaving a wide expanse of people left to offer their perspective in the hearing, which could last through the remainder of the week.

Officials said surveillance tapes were installed in the jockey's room in order to monitor Garrison's performance because, according to testimony Wednesday, riders were commenting on the difficulty of "making weight" when Garrison wasn't working as clerk of scales. The comments continued to acclimate, driving Eric Zimny, Charles Town Races & Slots racing administrator, to open a secret investigation.

Video tapes do show riders stepping off the scales as overweight, but as jockeys' attorney Benjamin Bailey pointed out, some slowed-down portions of the video show two weights: an average weight while the jockeys stood on the scale, and a higher weight once they walked off, possibly because of the extra pressure applied to scales when they are stepping off.

The process of weighing out before a race is a chaotic one, witnesses said, as time pushes the jockeys to move quickly. In the video clip shown during the hearing, no jockey stood on the scale longer than three seconds. It was argued that such a small amount of time could not accurately identify a sure weight, and that the state commission chose to use the pictures with the higher numbers instead of lower weights.

Garrison is accused of not reporting the overweights, and records show that after Garrison's dismissal from the premises on March 27, a large amount of overweights began coming in during the final races. Zimny said Wednesday that Garrison was suspended with pay, to which Garrison immediately objected, stating that it was without.

As part of the hearing's events, both parties left the meeting room and took a walk to the jockey's room, trying a variety of postures on the scale to get an in-person idea of the weigh-in process. Those present could notice a difference depending on the amount of time taken on the scale, but not one as substantial as shown in the video clips.

During other portions of testimony, some witnesses focused on technical aspects. Witnesses were asked how and why the cameras were set up, as well as the process behind the video clips and DVD formulated from them. The latter part of the day's hearing focused on the operations of the scale itself and the exact weight of each article of jockey attire.

The significance of an overweight rider is that those who are overweight will add extra weight to a horse, thereby slowing it down and altering perceptions of people who are placing bets. Getting this information out allows the public to make a more informed decision on any certain horse, officials said.

If a jockey is 2 pounds overweight, then a trainer/owner has the right to remove the jockey, but must pay double the jock's amount. Riders between 3 to 6 pounds overweight can be removed with no pay, and those 7 and over are not allowed to mount a competitive racehorse in West Virginia.

Those present at the hearing - which was open to the public - got a look into a jockey's neverending struggle to "make weight." Jockeys can use numerous methods of meeting weight requirements, the most prevalent being the hotbox - a sauna-like apparatus that is used by some jockeys to shed a few quick pounds.

Once a weight is called in, the jockey must maintain that number until post time. Any pounds gained after the reported weight results in a $50 fine. While racing underweight is considered more dangerous, jockeys can simply add more equipment to put on pounds.

The hearing will reconvene today at 9 a.m., with multiple witnesses slated to testify.

- Staff writer Jamie West can be reached at (304) 263-3381 ext. 132, or jwest@journal-