Hall of Famer Mike Smith guided Tom’s Tribute to a Grade I win on Saturday at Del Mar to be named the JockeyTalk360.com Jockey of the Week. The title goes to the week’s outstanding jockey in the opinion of a panel of industry experts. They looked at races run from July 14-20.
The Jockey of the Week is the centerpiece of JockeyTalk360.com, a new website offering a unique blend of news, features, social media and statistics that will appeal to racing’s casual fans, as well as seasoned handicappers.
JockeyTalk360 is collaborating with the Jockeys’ Guild and other industry partners to bring fans closer to racing’s talented and fearless athletes. A majority of the revenue generated by the site is earmarked for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
“I’ve been very fortunate to ride (Tom’s Tribute) at the right time,” Smith said. “He’s got tremendous talent, but he can be very aggressive and the trick is getting him to relax. Wherever he goes next, he’ll be tough, and I hope I’ll be back aboard.”
It was Smith’s first Eddie Read Stakes win, his 41st career stakes win at Del Mar and 11th Grade I win at Del Mar.
Smith also won the Oceanside Stakes with Enterprising earlier in the week, coming from far back in the field.
JockeyTalk360.com spotlights the riders across North America and around the world who may be the bravest, toughest and most accomplished of all athletes. The Jockey of the Week is selected by a vote of representatives of America’s Best Racing, the Daily Racing Form, Equibase, the Jockeys’ Guild, the Paulick Report, the Thoroughbred Daily News, National Thoroughbred Racing Association, National Turf Writers and Broadcasters, Thoroughbred Racing Associations, and Turf Publicists of America.
To find out more about the great sport of horse racing, and to learn more about your favorite jockeys visit JockeyTalk360.com.