Mike Smith (jockey)

Mike E. Smith (born August 10, 1965 in Roswell, New Mexico) is a American jockey who has been one of the leading riders in U.S. thoroughbred racing since the early 1990s.

Related Topics:
August 10 - 1965 - Roswell, New Mexico - American - Jockey - Thoroughbred - Racing - 1990s

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The son of a jockey, Smith began riding races in his native New Mexico at age 11, and took out a jockey's license at age 16 in 1982. He left New Mexico the following year, riding mostly in the Midwest until moving to New York in 1989.

Related Topics:
New Mexico - 1982 - New York - 1989

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In 1991, he became one of the few American jockeys to win a European classic by claiming victory in the Irish One Thousand Guineas aboard Fourstars Allstar (some other American jockeys, notably Steve Cauthen, had won European classics before Smith, but were based in Europe). The following year, he rode his first Breeders' Cup winner, Lure, in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

Related Topics:
1991 - Irish One Thousand Guineas - Steve Cauthen - Breeders' Cup - Lure - Breeders' Cup Mile

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The year after that, 1993, he truly arrived as a top jockey, setting a North American record for stakes wins in a year with 62. Among his highlights were a win in the Preakness aboard Prairie Bayou and a successful defense of the Breeders' Cup Mile aboard Lure. That year, he won his first Eclipse Award as the nation's leading jockey, and also won an ESPY Award as top jockey. In 1994, he broke his own record for stakes wins with 68, 20 of them Grade I races. Several of those wins came while riding that year's Horse of the Year, Holy Bull. He also rode two winners in that year's Breeders' Cup, and again won the Eclipse Award as leading jockey. Smith went on to ride two Breeders' Cup winners in both 1995 and 1997.

Related Topics:
1993 - Preakness - ESPY Award - 1994 - Horse of the Year - Holy Bull - 1995 - 1997

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The dangers of Smith's profession became evident in 1998, when he suffered major injuries in two separate spills. A broken shoulder in March took him out of action for two months. Then, in August, while leading the Saratoga meeting, he broke two vertebrae in his back, requiring him to wear a body cast for several months. He came back six months after the fall.

Related Topics:
1998 - Saratoga

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In 2000, he moved his home base from New York to Southern California. That year he was voted the prestigious George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award that honors a rider whose career and personal conduct exemplifies the very best example of participants in the sport of thoroughbred racing.

Related Topics:
2000 - Southern California - George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award

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In 2002, he had yet another banner year, serving as the regular rider for his second Horse of the Year, Azeri. He rode Azeri to a win in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, and also rode Vindication to a win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Smith has ridden winners in 10 Breeders' Cup races to date.

Related Topics:
2002 - Azeri - Breeders' Cup Distaff - Breeders' Cup Juvenile

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In 2005, he rode 50–1 longshot Giacomo to victory in the Kentucky Derby. The win, Smith's first in the Derby, was something of a vindication for him. He was aboard Giacomo's sire Holy Bull, the 2–1 favorite in the 1994 Derby, but could only finish 12th after Holy Bull was bumped coming out of the starting gate.

Related Topics:
2005 - Giacomo - Kentucky Derby

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Smith was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2003.

Related Topics:
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame - 2003

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