Page 42 - New Mexico Horse Breeder Summer 2018

Triple Crown Winning Jockey Mike Smith
(left): Mike Smith, 2018 Triple Crown winning rider of Justify, and owner/ trainer Ken Grisham with Mister Manners after a win in 1982 at Sunland Park.
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(right): The photo finish of the race Smith won aboard Mister Manners was so tight, it appeared that there was only one horse in the picture.
Hall-of-Fame jockey and now Triple Crown winning rider Mike Smith was 16 years old when longtime
Grisham says he was instantly impressed with the teen-ager with the full head of hair.
"I think he won his first race up here," says Grisham. "I picked up on him and could tell he was going to be a real good rider. He was a clean-cut kid. He was nice and polite. He wasn’t shy, but he wasn’t boastful either. I thought he was real level-headed for a kid that young."
Later that year, Smith rode a couple of horses for Grisham at Sunland Park. Smith booted home winners for Grisham with Mister Manners in a 5 1/2 furlong race and a week later, won aboard Grisham’s Justa Bold Lady.
In Mister Manners’ win, Smith’s horse is next to the rail on the inside of the No. 2 horse and the photo finish is so tight, it appears there’s only one horse in the photo, but Mister Manners got the win.
"In the photo you can’t even tell who won," says Grisham. "Mike just out-rode the other jock."
Mike Smith wins the 2018 Kentucky Derby aboard Justify, who went on to win the Triple Crown.
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New Mexico horse owner Ken Grisham met Smith at The Downs at Santa Fe in the summer of 1982.
(top): Mike Smith in the winner’s circle aboard Justa Bold Lady, who was also owned and trained by Ken Grisham, in 1982 at Sunland Park.
(bottom): Justa Bold Lady and jockey Mike Smith win with ease for owner Ken Grisham
40 New Mexico Horse Breeder