Bob Hess Jr. and Kent Desormeaux could have been winners in another sport.
Hess had aspirations as a Major Leaguer when pitching for Stanford University in 1983-84, playing for his college team with future Major Leaguers Jack McDowell, Mike Andrete, and Ed Sprague before graduating with a degree in economics.
Louisiana native Desormeaux, 51, had visions of becoming another Pete Maravich but came up short, however not as a rider. In 1989, he won 598 races, a record that still stands.
Each went on to become established in their eventual profession, horse racing. All these years later, they remain one of racing's most successful trainer-jockey combos, having enjoyed a magical run of some 500 victories at a nearly 35 percent average.
For bettors, it's a winning formula that has evolved into Hess + Desormeaux = profit. Case in point: a classic ride by Desormeaux gave Hess another victory when Aloha Kitten purred home first by a half-length despite stumbling badly at the start in Friday's opening race at an $11.80 payoff at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. It was the first start in more than five months for the daughter of Kitten's Joy.
The latest stakes win came with Cairo Memories in last Sunday's $200,000 Surfer Girl Stakes for two-year-old fillies at a mile on turf. Owned by long-time client Cathy Schroeder and David Bernsen, the $50,000 bargain daughter of Cairo Prince earned $120,000 and is unbeaten in two races, one more impressive than the other.
Next up, Del Mar's $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at one mile at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., on Nov. 5.
Bob, 56, is the son of a famous trainer, and Kent, a naturally gifted Hall of Fame jockey and three-time Kentucky Derby winner, reached the apex in a racing family that includes respected multiple graded stakes-winning trainer Keith, his older brother.
Ultimately, the Bob and Kent show coalesced into one of racing's winningest jockey-trainer combos, reminiscent of yesteryear when one jockey rode exclusively for one stable.
“Other than the obvious,” Hess said, “our relationship is based on mutual trust and respect. There are plenty of top riders out here. But with Kent and I, it all starts with being honest with one another, trusting each other and respecting each other.”
It's a rock-solid foundation that more than three decades later still doesn't seem to have a pebble in its path.
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