Inside the Jockeys' Room with Smith and Talamo
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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 learn Smith's and Talamo's childhood dreams, favorite app and who prefers Theory clothing.
What are your favorite jockey silks colors to wear and why?
SMITH: I’ve worn a lot of really good ones. The ones I’ve been most successful in would have to be the Phippses’ and the Mosses’.
TALAMO: I’m always proud to wear the iconic silks of families who have been in the business for many years.
SMITH IN THE MOSS SILKS WITH ZENYATTA
Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
SMITH: A jockey
TALAMO: I never wanted to be anything besides a jockey.
If you could breed any two horses and be guaranteed to ride the progeny, which two horses would you play matchmaker for and why?
SMITH: Zenyatta and Holy Bull, since I rode both.
TALAMO: It’s hard to say. I’ve seen a lot of well-bred horse that haven’t turned out.
Do you do any volunteer work? If so, for whom?
SMITH: No
TALAMO: Not really
Pick two celebrities to be your parents. Who are they?
SMITH: I don’t want other parents.
TALAMO: I wouldn’t want to trade my parents, especially for celebrities.
TALAMO WITH HIS MOM
Photo courtesy of Joe Talamo
How would you like to die?
SMITH: Fast
TALAMO: I’m not sure, but I don’t want it to be something tragic.
How do you want to be remembered?
SMITH: As a great guy all around
TALAMO: As a good husband and dad
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
SMITH: Getting beat by a nose in a Grade 1
TALAMO: I hope I never know the answer to this question.
If I came to your home and looked inside the refrigerator, what would I find?
SMITH: Not a lot. Wine, water.
TALAMO: Water, protein shakes, pickles, and ketchup
What is your favorite app?
SMITH: UBER
TALAMO: Twitter
How would you direct someone else on how to cook an omelet?
SMITH: Heck if I know! I don’t cook, so I wouldn’t direct!
TALAMO: Let the egg disperse evenly throughout the pan on high for 15 seconds then try to flip. If you fail, try again.
Who is your favorite clothing designer?
SMITH: Quite a few. Theory, right now.
TALAMO: I don’t like spending a lot of money on clothes, but one of my good friends gave me Peter Millar shirt for my birthday.
Favorite actor among: Will Ferrell, Leo DiCaprio, Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey, Al Pacino or Jack Nicholson?
SMITH: They are all brilliant. Pacino was my favorite growing up.
TALAMO: That’s tough, probably Al Pacino.