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Description
Horseracing, being an all-consuming sport (at least the most all-consuming sport I've ever encountered and that says a lot considering I also work with Olympic athletes) is frequently a family affair. It has to be. Trainers just about never leave the barn and their horses. Neither do grooms. Jockeys don't dare take too many dark days for fear of losing a mount to the rookies who would ride their horses for free just to get a foot in the door. A jockey will likely marry the daughter of a trainer, a trainer's son will likely end up a jockey or a trainer himself. Wives become bloodstock agents or assistants. Daughters flirt with jockeys while exercising the horses in those foggy mornings when the rest of the world is still ignoring their alarm clocks.

Coming back from a race you lost is disappointing no matter how you look at it, but it's doubly hard when it's your family or friend's horse. Disappointing the boss takes on a whole new meaning. Win percentages for jockeys are typically pretty low. A great jockey might see his in the low double digits, but more often than not, it's a tiny win percentage. Disappointment is a frequent sensation, but it never ever gets easier to bring your mount to a stop in front of your family, hand the reins back to dad and return to that sweltering jock's room that could barely pass inspection as a room, shrugging to your kids as you go by. At least, you say to yourself, no one got hurt in front of them.

I love my job, and I'm very fond of the athletes I work with. All images are ©copyright 1pen and my sports media company.You may NOT use, replicate, manipulate, or modify this image without my permission. All Rights Reserved.

Description
Horseracing, being an all-consuming sport (at least the most all-consuming sport I've ever encountered and that says a lot considering I also work with Olympic athletes) is frequently a family affair. It has to be. Trainers just about never leave the barn and their horses. Neither do grooms. Jockeys don't dare take too many dark days for fear of losing a mount to the rookies who would ride their horses for free just to get a foot in the door. A jockey will likely marry the daughter of a trainer, a trainer's son will likely end up a jockey or a trainer himself. Wives become bloodstock agents or assistants. Daughters flirt with jockeys while exercising the horses in those foggy mornings when the rest of the world is still ignoring their alarm clocks.

Coming back from a race you lost is disappointing no matter how you look at it, but it's doubly hard when it's your family or friend's horse. Disappointing the boss takes on a whole new meaning. Win percentages for jockeys are typically pretty low. A great jockey might see his in the low double digits, but more often than not, it's a tiny win percentage. Disappointment is a frequent sensation, but it never ever gets easier to bring your mount to a stop in front of your family, hand the reins back to dad and return to that sweltering jock's room that could barely pass inspection as a room, shrugging to your kids as you go by. At least, you say to yourself, no one got hurt in front of them.

I love my job, and I'm very fond of the athletes I work with. All images are ©copyright 1pen and my sports media company.You may NOT use, replicate, manipulate, or modify this image without my permission. All Rights Reserved.