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 their favorite horse racing term and go-to website, and find out whose favorite cocktail is a vodka tonic with lime.
What’s your favorite thing about being a jockey?
SMITH: Getting to ride a horse
TALAMO: It’s an exciting profession because every day is different. I’ve been able to travel all around the world and meet so many interesting people that I would have never had the privilege to know.
SMITH AFTER A VICTORY
Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
Your favorite horse racing term is …
SMITH: … “and away they go.”
TALAMO: I think the term Triple Crown excites people and draws them into the sport, even those who don’t know anything about racing.
What website do you visit first in the morning upon turning on your computer, phone, other device?
SMITH: Horse Races Now
TALAMO: Daily Racing Form and Realtor.com
What song best describes your work ethic?
TALAMO: “Stronger” comes to mind, probably because it was the theme song of “Jockeys” on Animal Planet.
“That that don’t kill me/can only make me stronger.”
The country would be better off if …
SMITH: … we could all just care more about each other. We should care more about doing the right thing.
TALAMO: … people could meet in the middle. We’re so politically divided.
What app do you use the most?
SMITH: UBER
TALAMO: I use Equibase a lot to look at entries. I’m also on social media like Twitter, then some sports apps to check the score of the New Orleans Saints game.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
SMITH: OCD (obsessive–compulsive disorder). It bothers me that I have to do things over again when I know it’s fine the first time.
TALAMO: I’m pretty bad on the golf course; I need to have a better attitude when I slice the ball.
What was the best thing before sliced bread?
TALAMO: The slicer for the bread!
First celebrity crush?
SMITH: Farrah Fawcett
TALAMO: Britney Spears
I hope scientists find a way to …
SMITH: … cure cancer.
TALAMO: … cure cancer, blindness, and cystic fibrosis.
What word makes you laugh?
TALAMO: Laugh
TALAMO AND FRIENDS
Photo courtesy of Joe Talamo
If I had one word to share with the Millennial generation, it would be ...
SMITH: … just don’t stop learning. Don’t think you know it all.
TALAMO: … save! Don’t feel entitled; nothing comes to those who don’t work hard.
My favorite cocktail is …
SMITH: … red wine.
TALAMO: … Vodka tonic with lime.