Page 111 - October 2015

I didn’t really know anything about being around the racetrack—I didn’t get to the track until I was 14—I had a horse background.
A lot of young riders don’t really know where a horse is going or what it’s going to do, and I always felt like I did. As I got older, I realized that by being a gymnast as a kid, I learned how to hit the ground and roll. You can’t really keep a horse from rolling over on you, but, fortunately, I’ve been able to.
I threw my heart and soul into being a Quarter Horse jockey because I didn’t want to make the commitment to being seven or eight pounds lighter. I knew the scale of weights
was just a little bit higher with Quarter Horses (compared to Thoroughbreds). By being able to tack 122, 124, especially during the latter half of my career, has kept me healthier than a lot of the guys who starve themselves and do things to their bodies that they shouldn’t.
Are there Any milestones left thAt you would like to Achieve?
It would mean a lot to go out on top and win the year-end title. That would be special. The only big race that I’ve never won and would like to is the Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos. I’ve run second four times but never won it. When I first started riding races, that and the All American were the races every- one talked about. I have my All American, but I don’t have a Champion of Champions victory.
hAving mAde A living in such A competitive endeAvor, hAve you thought About whAt you will do in retirement to sAtisfy thAt fire thAt comes from rAce riding?
I plan to keep up with the daily stuff. It’s
all I really know. I’ve been riding competitively since I was 14 years old. It’s what has fueled me all these years. I’m looking forward to retiring at the end of this year. This is my final year, for sure. My plan is to retire. I could see riding a couple of races, maybe if I got a mount in the All American or races like that, but it’s not my plan. If the circumstances are right, I could
see riding a few races next year if I don’t let my weight get out of control.
whAt is your best Advice for A young rider?
Some of the best advice I ever received was “to watch and learn from the experienced guys who have been there and done that.”
A young rider should also get around good people. It’s a lot easier to win for the good train- ers than it is for someone who is trying to get there. If you can get with people who win a lot of races, it makes it so much easier. I found out years ago that one of the surest paths to success
is getting on the best horse in the race. If you get on the best horse in the race, it’s still not guaran- teed that you’re going to win the race, but it is a lot easier if you are on the best horse.
do you hAve A fAvorite pursuit AwAy from the rAcetrAck?
I still rodeo just a little bit. I go to team roping events. I plan on doing quite a bit of that to get my competitive spirit satisfied. That’s my plan.
when you reflect bAck on your riding cAreer, whAt is going to stAnd out most to you?
I look back and see dedication. To be able to do what I’ve done for as long as I did, you have to be dedicated to it, and you have to love it. I loved it. How many jobs are there where you can get the thrill of competition and the thrill of winning all at once on a day-to-day basis? You can’t beat it. That’s pretty special.
G.R. won his first race in the fall of 1985 at Blue Ribbon Downs aboard Dance To Rocket, shown here winning aboard the gelding in the 1985 Thanksgiving Juvenile for owner Don Hughes
G.R. does his signature back flip off one of the many great horses he rode over the years, Dashing Perfection, who was the 1997 Champion 3 Year Old/Champion 3-Year-Old Gelding winning 5 Graded stakes including the All American Derby-G1
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THE BACKSIDE