Inside the Jockeys’ Room with Smith and Talamo

Joe Talamo and Mike Smith. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
Jockeys Mike Smith and Joe Talamo take America's Best Racing's readers inside the jockeys' room in 2015. Hall of Famer Smith has more than 5,200 wins, including the 2005 Kentucky Derby, 1993 Preakness Stakes and 2010 and 2013 Belmont Stakes. He is also known for being the regular rider of multiple champion mare Zenyatta. Talamo was the 2007 Eclipse champion apprentice jockey and counts wins in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, Clement L. Hirsch Stakes and the Santa Anita Derby among his more than 1,500 victories.
Throughout the series Smith and Talamo share insight into all kinds of questions including how they became jockeys, what goes on between races, whom they admire and what type of movies and fashion style they prefer.
Read on to find out their first pet, most valued racing memento and whose best advice came from Dell Hancock.

What was the best jockeys’ room prank you can remember?
SMITH: The best prank was at Monmouth Park. They had a pool outside the jocks room and they would always lure out new jocks and push them in the pool fully clothed. Jerry Bailey knew they were going to do this to him, so he went in and put on his friend’s clothes. The other jocks lured him out and pushed him in the pool. When he got out of the pool his friend said, “Hey, those look like my clothes.” Bailey responded with, “They are your clothes.” Jerry was pretty sharp that way. It was pretty funny.
TALAMO: Unfortunately, the prank was on me. It was after I won my first race ever, but I can’t disclose the details.
Horse racing is cool because …
SMITH: … there is a horse in it.
TALAMO: Horse racing can appeal to so many people for so many different reasons. It has something for everyone, from the odds to the fashion. I think it’s unique from other sports because you can get up close and personal to the athletes. You can’t go to a Lakers game and talk to Kobe Bryant, but you can come to the races and take a picture with Mike Smith or Gary Stevens.
What makes you angry?
SMITH: Someone treating a horse badly
TALAMO: Losing. I am very competitive.
Which living person do you admire most and why?
SMITH: That is hard to answer. There are so many people.
TALAMO: My parents always gave me everything, even though they couldn’t always afford it. I also admire my girlfriend. She was a news anchor and woke up at 2 a.m. in the morning to go to work.
TALAMO WITH MOM, SISTER CHRISTIE AND DAD

Photo courtesy of Joe Talamo
What is your most valued racing memento?
TALAMO: I used to look at this poster of Risen Star and Eddie Delahoussaye. It always inspired me to be a jockey. For Christmas one year, Elizabeth went to Mr. Eddie’s house and had him sign it for me and then she framed it.
If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?
SMITH: A really good serious racehorse … because when I retire I can breed all the time!
TALAMO: Frank Sinatra
Who are your heroes in real life?
SMITH: People who protect our country. Also, all the great mentors I’ve had.
TALAMO: I’ve always idolized my father.
The best advice I ever got was from …
SMITH: A long time ago, Dell Hancock told me something that I think her father had said. It was, “Do the usual unusually well.” That has stuck in my head all this time.
TALAMO: … my dad always told me, “What you put in is what you get out.”
Would you rather win the Kentucky Derby or the Breeders’ Cup Classic and why?
SMITH: Well, that’s kind of a double-edged sword asking that question. I’d like to win both in the same year.
TALAMO: The Kentucky Derby is so prestigious to me, and it was always something I watched growing up with my family.
SMITH AFTER BREEDERS' CUP CLASSIC VICTORY WITH DROSSELMEYER

Photo courtesy of Eclipse Sportswire
Even at my age, I am still able to …
SMITH: … ride well.
TALAMO: … fit into boys’ clothing.
My favorite Ben & Jerry’s flavor is …
SMITH: I love vanilla and chocolate.
TALAMO: … Red Velvet Cake.
What was your first pet and what was its name?
SMITH: Smokey, a dog
TALAMO: My first pet was a golden retriever named Goldie.
What are your five all-time favorite movies?
SMITH: “Grease,” when I was a kid.
TALAMO: “The Godfather,” “The Godfather II,” “Goodfellas,” “Casino,” and “Cinderella Man.”