Steve Haskin & Mike Smith Jockey

MODERATOR:
Thanks to everyone for joining us for today’s Bloodhorse.com Talkin’ Horses with Steve Haskin and his special guest, winning Kentucky Derby jockey Mike Smith. Steve is joining us from his home in New Jersey and we’ll also have Mike Smith, who is at Churchill Downs getting ready to ride in the first race. Mike and Steve have answered many of the questions readers have submitted in advance and we’ll post some of those now and continue to take questions during the hour. We greatly appreciate all of the questions. Due to the volume, we’re sorry if we were not able to get to every one. Let’s get started!

Union Bridge, MD:
Mike, how did you originally plan to ride the race, and did it unfold the way you expected it to?

Smith:
It happened just almost the way I planned it other than getting hung out on the first turn. I’d planned on sitting back and making one big run. And I knew I’d have to go through a lot of traffic, but it all worked out.

Poplar Grove, IL:
Mike - fantastic race! You said Giacomo was your Derby horse from the first time you got on him. What makes a jockey feel so sure so early on? Thanks, Judi.

Smith:
His balance. The way he carried himself. He felt like a good horse, and he looked a lot like his father. He reminded me of Holy Bull in a lot of ways and I just fell in love with him.

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."