Pat Day Jockey
Tuesday August 9, 2005
Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day -- winner of one Kentucky Derby, five runnings of the Preakness Stakes, and three victories in the Belmont Stakes -- was gracious enough to visit with us the week after announcing his retirement as racing's all-time money winning rider ($297,912,019 in purses) with 8,803 career victories (ranked fourth all-time) to devote himself to a life of service with the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America, a national organization that serves the spiritual, physical, emotional, and social/educational needs of the workforce at tracks throughout the U.S.
MODERATOR:
Today, we are pleased and privileged to have as our special guest one of the true legends of modern Thoroughbred racing. I'm sure everyone shares our excitement at this opportunity to spend some time with Mr. Pat Day, so let's get started...
New York, NY:
Dear Pat, I read once that you considered Lil E. Tee one of your worst Derby mounts. What was it like winning the Derby and is it a bigger thrill to win on a favorite or on a long shot? I have such great memories of going over the racing form with my grandfather, who's first question was always, "Well, who's Day riding?" Congrats on a terrific career.
Day:
Misnomer. I never him considered him to be a bad Derby mount. He is my only winning mount so I don't know what it's like to win on a favorite. Thank you and God bless.
Caracas, Venezuela:
Dear Pat: First of all, accept all the best wishes from all racing fans in Venezuela. We surely will miss you at the winner's circle. Back in '98 at Churchill during Breeders' Cup week, I had a chance to have my picture taken with you. At that time, I told you that my favorite Pat Day race was Louis Quatorze's Preakness. Is still that victory among your favorites?
Day:
Yes.
To read the complete transcript of this chat, along with many others, check out Best of Talkin’ Horses.
Best of Talkin’ Horses features provocative “chats” with some of Thoroughbred racing’s most prominent names. Adapted from “Talkin’ Horses,” the popular weekly online chat series hosted by Bloodhorse.com, this edited collection provides additional insights by Ron Mitchell, editor and moderator of “Talkin’ Horses."
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