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 find out the horse they wish they had a chance to ride, their hobbies outside of horse racing and who hopes bell bottoms never make a return to the fashion scene.
What’s the best horse you’ve ever ridden and what made him/her special?
SMITH: Wow, that’s tough. There are a lot. Zenyatta was the best filly. She speaks for herself. Words don’t do her justice; you had to experience it. For a colt, Holy Bull was the best. He was just like his name said, he was a bull and he was sent from heaven.
TALAMO: I Want Revenge is extremely special to me because I don’t think he ever got to show us all he had. The 2009 Wood Memorial Stakes will always be impressive to me. He’s so talented.
SMITH ABOARD ZENYATTA
Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
Which current fellow jockey do you admire the most and why?
SMITH: The guys still riding from my generation. It’s good to see us old guys still around and competing and winning at the highest level.
TALAMO: I admire Mike Smith a lot. He’s been in the business a long time and continues to have passion for the game.
What is the most money you ever won in a single horse race?
SMITH: Breeders’ Cup Classic
TALAMO: I won the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on California Flag. The purse was $1,000,000, so the winning owner received $600,000. I got 10% of that, so it was a pretty good payday.
TALAMO AFTER WINNING THE TURF SPRINT WITH CALIFORNIA FLAG
Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
SMITH: Being who I am and not straying too much from how I was before I was successful.
TALAMO: Riding in Southern California and buying my first investment property with my dad.
My favorite scent or aroma on the planet is …
SMITH: Mom’s cooking
TALAMO: I love the smell of Cajun cooking.
What is your dream vacation?
SMITH: Same one every year, Santa Fe. I also like going to Napa.
TALAMO: I’ve always wanted to go to Italy — or some island … so many places.
Ideal playlist on my iPod would have these five songs:
SMITH: So many
TALAMO: Five songs by Frank Sinatra
Have you ever stolen anything from a hotel? If yes, what?
SMITH: No
TALAMO: No
Do you read a newspaper? If so, which one?
SMITH: No, I watch news.
TALAMO: Pasadena Star News or Wall Street Journal
If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?
SMITH: Everything
TALAMO: To fly. I’d like to be able to see my family in New Orleans more often, so that would make it pretty convenient.
TALAMO WITH HIS DAD AT CHURCHILL DOWNS
Photo courtesy of Joe Talamo
What reality show are you best suited for and why?
SMITH: I was in one, “Jockeys.”
TALAMO: “Dancing With the Stars” because it’s not a show about your personal life … plus, I need the dance lessons.
What do you think about when you are alone in your car?
SMITH: I’m too busy driving to think. I think that’s the problem with drivers nowadays. Everyone is thinking instead of driving. Think when you get home. Stop texting, stop thinking, just drive. Driving is more dangerous than riding a horse these days!
TALAMO: How much I hate traffic