Inside the Jockeys' Room with Smith and Talamo
Image:
Description:
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.
In this edition of Inside the Jockeys' Room, we find out their favorite charity, their celebrity crush and who counts Michael Jackson as the best concert he's ever been to.
What would you be doing if you weren’t a jockey?
SMITH: I was not big enough — a linebacker in the NFL.
TALAMO: Something that doesn’t require a high school degree.
What’s your favorite racetrack and why?
SMITH: I don’t have a favorite. In California, I really like Santa Anita and Del Mar. In New York, I really like Saratoga and Belmont. And in Kentucky, I love Keeneland.
TALAMO: I love Santa Anita because it’s home for me — but the Bing Crosby meet at Del Mar was great! There were a lot of young people in the crowd, but it was a little bit more relaxed than the summer meet.
TALAMO AFTER A WIN AT SANTA ANITA
Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
The best advice you ever received from a trainer was … ? And it resulted in?
SMITH: Be patient
TALAMO: When I needed a new agent, my girlfriend’s dad, Ron Ellis, recommended Scotty McClellan. He’s been my agent ever since then. We’ve had a really good partnership together.
If you could attend only one of the following events, which one and why: Oscars, MTV Music Awards, ESPYs or Canne Film Festival?
SMITH: ESPYs
TALAMO: ESPYs - hopefully, because I’m nominated.
How many friends do you keep in touch with from childhood? High school?
SMITH: A handful
TALAMO: I really didn’t spend time with my friends outside of school because I was always working at the racetrack … trying to pursue my career. I dropped out of high school when I was 16 years old, so, to be honest, I didn’t have that many. Facebook and Twitter have helped me reconnect with old classmates, but I’ve made a lot of great lifelong friends since I’ve moved to California!
My favorite charity is …
SMITH: … PDJF (Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund), the retired racehorse charities and any charity with a good cause.
TALAMO: … Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
What is your biggest fear?
SMITH: Dying before I think it’s my time. I want to pick my time to go.
TALAMO: Not being able to ride.
Who is your celebrity crush?
SMITH: Kate Beckinsale
TALAMO: Ivanka Trump
My friends think it’s weird that I …
SMITH: … pray a lot.
TALAMO: … am a professional athlete, yet can act like a silly kid away from the track.
SMITH LOOKS SKYWARD AFTER A BREEDERS' CUP CLASSIC WIN
Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
Where do you prefer to shop for clothes?
SMITH: I like shopping; it’s a hobby of mine.
TALAMO: I only shop online now, usually at H&M.
If you could switch roles for one day with any other professional athlete, who would you switch with and what would you do?
SMITH: Michael Jordan, one time
TALAMO: I look up to Drew Brees. He’s a great athlete and an even better person. I remember when he introduced himself to me at Del Mar my first year there. I couldn’t believe it! He’s extremely down to earth.
Best concert you have ever been to?
SMITH: Michael Jackson
TALAMO: Elton John in Dubai!