Who was your favorite jockey when you started playing?

[RunDustyRun]

Dave Gall at fairmont, except when he was on the favorite in the finale on a Friday or Saturday night...huge bet against and the track made their money

[Tall One]

Originally Posted by FrankieFigs

I started following horse racing in 2004 and 2005 in Kentucky. At the time Rafael Bejarano and Jon Court were on top of my list. It was fun watching "Banjo" grow up and dominate the Kentucky circuit. Court was always near or at the top of the standings, and he always had a smile on his face and was very gracious to everyone.

Then you remember when Jason Lumpkins came in and made a big splash at TP as well.


Short--no pun--list for me: Cordero, McCarron, Eddie D, and Randy Romero.

Still cant forgive Pat Day. I cried after the Preakness..

[TBred17Roan]

Walter Blum on the front end.

[affirmedny]

Originally Posted by Ocala Mike

Well, you can go ahead and name Ussery then. Forgoe (sic - assume you mean Forego) was ridden by Pete Anderson in Secretariat's derby. Whitely never used him again.

Whitely did not train Forego at that time, it was Sherril Ward.

[KirisClown]

Originally Posted by tzipi

For me it Jorge Chavez. I always loved him on a front running horse.

Loved Chavez when i first started.. he always got a little something extra out of the horses he rode with that vicious whip action.. first-time-chavez was profitable back then..

[turfeyejoe]

Late in his career, Hedley Woodhouse brought home some nice longshots in New York.
Jeannie Maxwell rode lots of winners for her dad, Pete Maxwell, riding the bullring at Pocono Downs.

[FrankieFigs]

Originally Posted by Tall One

Then you remember when Jason Lumpkins came in and made a big splash at TP as well.

I sure do. If I remember correctly he also rode at Ellis Park for a couple of summers during that time. Or maybe I'm confusing him with Shane Laviolette...

The first "big time" jockeys I liked and followed during that time were Jerry Bailey and Gary Stevens.

[Shemp Howard]

Joe Culmone

"Go home with Culmone"

[KirisClown]

Originally Posted by tzipi

I remember him riding Doctor Disaster. He'd blaze out front and try and hold on. Always didn't get there every time but it was definitely exciting.

A little Chavez and Doctor Disaster for you..

[YT="Doctor Disaster"]pM_7ovajlVQ[/YT]

[OCF]

Originally Posted by Augenj

Laffit Pincay back in the 70's and later in Southern California. With him you could count on a well timed and persistent ride all the way to the finish. He always seemed to win the photos.

Absolutely, nobody then or since could hold a horse together like Laffit. I've never seen anybody of any size who looked more solidly built.

Great name, I named a cat after him.

Time may have clouded my memory on this, but I think D Wayne Lukas told a story about being on a flight with him. When Pincay got his little bag of peanuts he took out one and stared at it for a long time. He then proceeded to break the peanut in half, eat one half, and then throw the rest of the bag away.

[minethatbird08]

Newer to the game but was really beginning to appreciate Ramon Dominguez. Got to meet him and Rosie one time in Saratoga Springs on Travers weekend; they were doing autographs for the PDJF. Regardless, sad his career was cut short but at least it wasn't more tragic.

[tzipi]

Originally Posted by KirisClown

A little Chavez and Doctor Disaster for you..

[YT="Doctor Disaster"]pM_7ovajlVQ[/YT]

That's awesome KirisClown. Thank you.

Awesome to read everyone's replies here!

[Tall One]

Originally Posted by FrankieFigs

I sure do. If I remember correctly he also rode at Ellis Park for a couple of summers during that time. Or maybe I'm confusing him with Shane Laviolette...

I think both rode at ELP for a couple of meets, FF. I do remember Lumpkins rode on the Ohio circuit, went out to BM/GG, and then came back on the local KY/OH circuits.

[Augenj]

Originally Posted by OCF

Absolutely, nobody then or since could hold a horse together like Laffit. I've never seen anybody of any size who looked more solidly built.

Great name, I named a cat after him.

Time may have clouded my memory on this, but I think D Wayne Lukas told a story about being on a flight with him. When Pincay got his little bag of peanuts he took out one and stared at it for a long time. He then proceeded to break the peanut in half, eat one half, and then throw the rest of the bag away.

Great story. I tried to find this quote but couldn't. Anyhow, Greer Garson's horse with Shoemaker up lost by a nose or head to another horse ridden by Pincay. Shoemaker explained to her about what a great rider Pincay was but her response to that was a bit tart. Wish I could find it.

[Broad Brush]

It is nice to see a positive post about jockeys. They really are tough and dedicated athletes.

My favorite, Angel Cordero.

In 1980, I was so happy to see him come to Thistledown to ride the heavy favorite in the Ohio Derby. I bet a horse named Stone Manor with a jockey
I did not know much about at the time listed as "Patrick Day". These two
were really bumping each other hard down the backside during the Derby.
Stone Manor pulled away thru the stretch to win it easy. I ran down to the winner's circle to watch the photo. As Stone Manor was posing for the picture
Angel weighed out and I was worried he was going to claim a foul. Instead
he walked right over Pat Day on the horse and shook his hand with a big smile. To him this was just good hard race riding. I miss watching Angel ride.