“How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?” – Satchel Paige
Jockey Mike Smith turns 58 today. You wouldn't know it by looking at him. Certainly not by the way he still rides horses.
The grizzled veteran of the Del Mar jockey colony is anything but 'grizzled.' In fact, he's in as a good shape, if not better, than everyone else in the jocks room. He reportedly invited some of the young jockeys to accompany him during his morning exercises and, as the story goes, most of them quit half way through the workout.
Smith has been riding for 43 years. He moved his tack to Southern California in 2001. He has ridden several Hall of Fame horses and was himself inducted into the Hall in 2003. He has won a record number of Breeders' Cups, a couple of Eclipse Awards and a Triple Crown.
So it begs the question: In what sport does a 58-year old man compete with 20- and 30-year-olds and beat the youngsters on a regular basis?
“The only thing that feels old on me is my memories of the past,” Smith says with a smile following yet another victory on Sunday.
Coming into the fourth week of racing at the summer meet at Del Mar, Smith is in the top 10 in the jockey standings with four wins. Last year, he finished fourth with 19 victories and that was with considerably fewer mounts than everyone else in the top 10.
“As far as the way I feel,” Smith notes, “I feel like a machine. I feel good, I'm really taking good care of myself and I've been working out hard. I'm still able to do everything I was doing in my thirties.”
For part of his thirties, Smith was riding back east on the New York circuit, venturing out now and then to win big races in other regions like Kentucky and Florida. They don't call him 'Big Money Mike' for nothing.
Smith has won four Pacific Classics and if Geaux Rocket Ride makes it to the race this year, Smith will have his eleventh shot at Del Mar's marquee race. He has won 77 stakes races at Del Mar, eleventh best all-time.
“I still feel great,” Smith says. “I'm going to keep going until I don't.”
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