Each race day, jockeys suit up with gear that echoes their predecessors. Those early riders wore a silk cap and jacket with the owner’s colors, but those caps offered no protection from injury and those jackets were no shield against flying hooves. With dirt, mud, and debris flying into their faces, these jocks faced any number of dangers on the racetrack: falling off their mounts and potentially being trampled; tearing muscle and breaking limbs hitting the rail; hurtling over a horse’s head or falling with their mounts only to be trapped underneath the thousand-pound animal.
Tag: Racing
Stronghold Too Much for Rivals in Sunland Park Derby
After finishing second in two consecutive graded stakes, Stronghold broke through by defeating his rivals in a commanding performance in the $400,000 Sunland Park Derby Feb. 18 at Sunland Park.
Sierra Leone Splashes to Risen Star Stakes Win at Fair Grounds
A $2.3 million buy at The Saratoga Sale at Fasig-Tipton in 2022, Sierra Leone is the most expensive horse sold at public auction of 346 early nominees to the Triple Crown. More importantly, he is also one of the fastest — a fact that was on display Feb.
Five Questions to be Answered in the 2024 Risen Star Stakes
The depth and quality of the 12 3-year-olds entered for Saturday’s $400,000 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds is by far the strongest to date on the Road to the 2024 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve.
