Page 111 - June 2017

Q: What drink would your friends describe you as, and why?
A: (Don’t tell anyone, but I love
tequila, Anejo.) Otherwise, maybe I’d be described as wine. As the years go by, I try to improve myself and my work along the way.
Q: Who’s your favorite athlete of all time and why?
A: Maybe not because of horse racing, but as a person, and one of the most respected men I’ve met is Bill Shoemaker. He was a fair and great person. There are people who talk a lot, but don’t really say much. People listened when Shoe spoke because he had something to say. He was generous from his heart and treated everyone respectfully. Yes, he had a great sense of humor. All the jocks have a story, but he had his own.
Q: If you were making a movie about yourself, who would you cast to play you and why?
A: I’d rather write a book!
Q: What’s one thing you don’t like about Quarter Horse racing?
A: It’s over too fast! No, seriously, I’d really like it if the general public knew more about it than they do. Actually, that could almost be said for horse racing as a whole. A major event finally imple- mented in Quarter Horse racing has been the Sam Thompson Memorial Jockey Award—given to the top Quarter Horse rider for his/her profes- sionalism on and off the track, and as a role model. There has been an award for Thoroughbred riders for years, but now our Quarter Horse jockeys are recognized equally in this way, and it’s helped to expose this area of racing on a new and different level. My opinion, but I’m excited to think that the
racing industry is again more apt to continue being recognized as the great sport it is. I help sponsor the Sam Thompson Award and I’m very honored to participate in the award ceremony over Labor Day weekend, which includes handing over a framed print of my art of Sam to the recipient.
Q: What’s one thing you like about Quarter Horse racing?
A: I grew up around Thoroughbred racing, but living in the state of New Mexico has been an eye opener in horse racing. Ruidoso Downs is a beautiful and well-deserved facility for the races it holds. It hosts the All American Futurity, which is one of the most exciting events in Quarter Horse racing I’ve experienced—probably for most. There have been more wonderful people I’ve met and, as a whole, horse racing has been like an extended family to me.
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THE LIGHTER SIDE