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Some of Cody’s favorite mounts include:
World Champion
LIVE MOONSHINE
bad day. Some just don’t fire and don’t really try. But Painted Turnpike and Hes Relentless, they always tried, they got beat a couple of times, but they never didn’t go over there and try to win the race. I believe everyone deserves to have that feeling and to have a horse like that. But it doesn’t always work that way,” he said.
Other favorite Paints Smith has ridden include Bully Pulpit, Awesome Fling and CRM Livewire.
“They had things in common. They tried everything in me when breaking and getting them started. Bully Pulpit would run off, Livewire would buck and Awesome Fling, even right up to when he was done running, you couldn’t get on him standing still or he would run backward. They would have to keep him moving so I could swing up on him,” Smith said. “All three weren’t easy but once we got them there, it was rewarding. They were all winners. It’s hard
to pick from all the nice Paints I’ve ridden, even Southern Electric and Live Moonshine, you can’t name off all of them but not leave any out. I’ve been extremely blessed to have some good ones.”
Winning the Speedhorse Paint & Appaloosa Triple Crown is the ultimate dream in the sport of horse racing. Smith’s favorite memory is winning Paint racing’s Triple Crown in 2015 aboard Painted Turnpike.
“The way he won the Speedhorse Lone Star Paint & Appaloosa Futurity (the final leg), it was raining so hard that night you couldn’t see the wire from the gates. The track was just standing in water. That night they cut the post parade down to basically going around the end of the gates and started loading them. I was thinking,
‘Man I don’t get to do what I normally do warming him up.’ But it didn’t matter, he never looked back and beat them easy,” he said.
Smith’s future goal is to surpass G.R. Carter on all-time leading Paint jockey by wins. Carter still holds the Paint record for lifetime races won with 1,799 starts and 347 wins, and Smith is currently in second place with 1,854 starts and 284 wins.
“Those records are made so the target can be broken. Cody is worthy of breaking it. He’s a good partner with Matt and they’ve had a lot of success. It didn’t happen on its own, Cody made it happen. He has devoted his life to it, he earned it. He’s a hard worker and I couldn’t be more proud of him,” Carter said.
Smith has so many accomplishments to be proud of in Paint racing, but when asked what he’s most proud of other than being a jockey, “My kids, wholeheartedly,” he said. His daughter Maci, 15, and son Colten, 10, are his best friends. “I don’t really care if I’m known for anything for riding, as long as I’m known as a good daddy.”
He loves to spend his spare time hunting with his kids.
“That’s all I would do, but I haven’t figured out how to pay the bills and do it,” he laughed. “Both of my kids love hunting. Colten also loves fishing and riding dirt bikes. Neither ride horses a whole lot. But it doesn’t hurt my feelings that they don’t show signs of wanting to ride.”
Smith’s sister Chintelle Delrae Smith has also played an important role in his career. She has been his managing agent from 2012-2014, and 2016 to present.
“He’s a great brother, a great friend and it’s been great working with him every day,” she said.
Smith gives advice for aspiring jockeys.
“Don’t expect anybody to give you anything, you’re going to have to work for what you want,” he said. “If you sit around and wait for somebody, you’re going to end up with nothing. Keep your head screwed on straight, work hard and everything will fall into place if you do it.”
Smith is very grateful and had these final words to say on becoming the all-time APHA leading earning jockey.
“I couldn’t have done it without all the owners, trainers and people who helped along the way,” he said. “I appreciate each and every one of them.”
3-Time World Champion
PAINTED TURNPIKE
Cody, with sister Chintelle and Shari Burger, receives the APHA Champion Jockey award at the 2020 OQHRA Banquet.
Regina Hadlock, Track Magazine