Hello,
Happy Thursday!
On Monday, I mentioned there are a number of different jobs at the race track. With these various occupations, one sees so many different personalities.
Rafael Mendoza is a gentleman who wears a few different HATS at the track! (No pun intended!) He tries to make work FUN! Rafael is an exercise rider for another barn. This means he has a job like STEVE did with ME. Each morning, he gets on horses for the trainer who employs him. Depending upon where the horses are in their training programs, he is aboard them for their required exercise each day.
What Rafael loves to do…is also have FUN while he works. For all of the different holidays and ‘special occasions’, he has a different festive hat he wears over his safety helmet. John happened to get this photo of him a few days after the 4th of July. From what I’ve heard, and seen while I was in California training, Rafael has very creative taste in HATS.
All riders (exercise riders and jockeys) must wear a safety helmet and a safety vest every time they get on a horse. This is mandatory in the quest to protect each person as much as possible.
The ‘other hat’ that Rafael wears is that of a VALET for a JOCKEY. Since exercising horses only takes place in the morning, many of these riders have a second job in the afternoon. Rafael works in the Jockey’s Room as a valet for different riders.
The job of valet is to take care of the jockey he is working for and his equipment. He is to keep all of his tack in good condition, make sure the rider has the proper silks in his cubicle for the horses he is riding that day, and then go out before each race and help the trainer saddle the horse. When the valet leaves the Jock’s Room to go to the paddock, he is carrying the jockey’s saddle and the pad that will be used on the horse…which holds any additional weight if needed.
For instance, when I ran carrying 129 pounds, Mike and his equipment accounted for the majority of this weight. The rest of it was added in the form of small lead weights which tuck inside the pad.
Weight is a big thing! That is why you see the jockeys weigh out after each race. The weighing process is done in the Jockeys’ Room before each race and then after at the scales in front of the grandstand. Everything is always monitored very closely.
The jobs of an exercise rider and a valet are extremely important in racing. It is great to see people like Rafael truly enjoying their work!
Have you ever thought about how many HATS you wear each day?
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
JAG from California :-)
Sorry if this is a duplicate post!
http://www.drf.com/news/del-mar-training-
milestone-within-reach-mitchell
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Love ZAZU :-)
JAG from California :-)
@ The Kennedys in San Diego
I agree with you about the employees on the backstretch! I’ve been to several barns and there is always someone SINGING! They greet you with a SMILE! They say HELLO (even when they don’t know you!)
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Earlier this year I visted Lewis Cenicola’s barn and David Flores walked by me and said “hello” – he could have just as well walked by without a word.
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Thanks Trina for the reminder about the cards to TONY LEONARD! {{hugs}}
judy berube
Dear Z,
Happy Thursday. Hope you have a wonderful day today with TT. Rafael is very creative. Love you and love to all of you, Judy and Russ
JAG from California :-)
CORRECTION: Backside NOY backstretch – I’d get run over LOL
DJ
To Sharon C: I am leaving and will be gone all day. Also, I do not know how to do those special things! :) and probably good I don’t… will just live in the present moment! Enjoy Today!
judy berube
Dear JAG:
Thanks for the video of Maty. Very special. Hugs, J.G.
Lauren
Dear Zenny – thank you for all of the information. It is so interesting to learn all the details of the track. Have a blessed day beautiful girl!!!
DJ
Dearest Sweet “Z” and little “z”,
I remember when you raced at 129 lbs. I was there, and heard whispers all around about why did they let her get that heavy, etc. etc. etc. I did not know about weights. How interesting. All we know is that you Won! As Usual! and it was Thrilling! I’m trying to remember, was it at Santa Anita?…Well, we never doubted you, your capabilities or your marvelous Team’s expertise!! You are AlL Winners. And by the way, “Hi Rafael!” Can’t wait to see your Easter Bonnet :)
Margaret
I love that this guy can “wear” all his hats at work and not have anyone complain. How often do we get reprimanded because we don’t quite fit in with some one else’s opinion about “perfection”?
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And yet, this guy has his hard hat on and with a great hat on over it. And no one complains.
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Wished I fit in like this guy does.
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I love Team Z and Z. Because they accept one and all, warts and all–and still treat us like they would want to be treated. And Z?, how could I ever forget my very own special Z hug? How could I ever forget how she had her ears pricked at me when the camera was up? Such beauty and grace from all–that is one of the many reasons Z ended up with so many fans.
DJ
To Sharon C: If we continue to do the ‘next right step’ …I trust that He always draws forth Good from Evil. We will keep persevering!
The Kennedys in San Diego
@JAG — “Backside” and “backstretch” are synonymous when referring to the area where the horses are stabled and maintained. So you were correct with either term. I usually refer to that area as the backstretch. I have enlarged the term to such things as the area of a zoo where the animals are housed and trained. When I visit those areas, I refer to it as visiting the “Panda Backstretch” or the “Cheetah Backstretch.”
The “backstretch of the track” — another matter — not a good place to take a walk.
Margaret
One other thing and this is vitally important that you abide by it. Horses lives depend on it.
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If you ever get to visit the backside of any track–DO NOT LIGHT UP a cigarette. Period. I don’t care how bad your nicky fit is. DO NOT EVER EVER LIGHT UP a cigarette.
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Hay is totally combustible. And the manure pile is just waiting for someone to toss in a cigarette butt not thinking.
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Twice last Dec right before Z left for Kentucky I had to tell people that the backside IS NOT THE PLACE to light up.
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Sorry for my bluntness here but too many REALLY BAD things happen when people don’t think.
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This also applies to any stud farm you visit.
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If you must light up–leave the area, leave the backside, leave the farm tour–those horses lives depend on people THINKING and not being selfish.
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Again I apologize for my bluntness here.
Sharon Call
@DJ. So sorry, I meant J Smith in my last post. Sorry for the confusion.
Allen
Great picture Queen Z, looks like Rafael enjoys his work.Thank You Z, Dottie, and John for all the updates, information, and pictures. Have a good afternoon my Queen.
JAG from California :-)
@Margaret
Common sense would say never, ever light anything back there, but thanks for pointing it out to some pepps who may be short on “common sense” ;-)
Stella Bagwell
Dearest Queen,
I really enjoy your stories and information about the ‘backside’. Without all these workers there would be no racing and I personally thank them all for their hard work and dedication. It’s also great to see someone enjoying their job. Rafael must be a fun guy.
I see that higher temps are coming your way, Queen, please be careful and take care of yourself and your little one!
Love and kisses,
Stel
Cathy Marshall
Cute photo! Love ya, Zenny1
Barbara Wood
@Margaret–no apology needed. You are so right. Horses are in enough danger as it is. Someone asked the other day why they don’t have sprinkler systems in barns. Seemed like an appropriate question to me.
sherry drish
hi zennie, I HOPE ALL IS WELL WITH THE QUEEN AND ALL THE FANS. KEEP UP THE INFO, THERE IS MORE TO RACING THAN WHAT PEOPLE THINK. ALOT OF BEHIND THE SCENE JOBS. SHERRY D. WV.
Brenda S
It sounds as if the backside is a great fum place to be and Rafael must liven up the special days with his imaginative hats. TOO FUN. Thank you for another lesson about the TB business, I’m very interested because Victoria wants to work with horses and so you and Dottie are teaching me about jobs I didn’t know about. I’m sure that any job with horses is a fun, happy job, I think that only people who truly love horses would choose to work with them – with notable odd exceptions lately. Hope you’re having a nice peaceful day with Tasty T and that you munching on that healthy grass together.
Debbie
hi Z! another TOO CUTE photo! love hats, I have tons!! love YOU gorgeous mama!!! stay cool xoxoxo
Mary
UPDATE ON BILL 1176: I called the DC office of Sen. Landrieu and spoke to Elizabeth who works on the issue. She said they need as many Senators as possible to CO-SPONSOR the bill. Without enough co-sponsors it will never get out of committee. Tell everyone to call the DC office of their Senators and ask them to co-sponsor Bill 1176. Since the phones are so busy you will probably have to leave a voice mail.
Sharon Call
@Margaret. When I had my boarding stable, one of my boarder’s husband came by during the day to look at their horse and flipped a cigarette right into the bottom of the shavings pile outside of the barn. I was at work at the time and got a call from the kennel that was adjacent to my barn to say that there was smoke coming from the barn area and the fire department was there. I left work in a total panic and by the time I got there, the fire department was gone after having completely saturated the shavings. The barn was untouched and the horses completely OK. The guy that flipped that cigarette was still there and said he didn’t know what all the fuss was about, that he had stepped on the cigarette. What he didn’t seem to understand was that the ignited shavings fed up underneath the shavings pile and was continuing to burn sending off smoke. It was the gentleman that ran the kennel that called the fire department and the fire department tore apart the shavings to soak everything to make sure it was out. I never thought it was necessary to post a sign about not smoking up until that day. I posted 3 signs, 2 going up the driveway and 1 outside the barn. The signs said “People caught smoking on these premises will be subject to fines, imprisonment or possible hanging”. Everybody got the idea and it never happened again. You’d think folks would know better than that but, obviously not.
Sally
Some days there are just too many hat changes to count!
Alexandra Bowdoin
I do believe Rafael must have a great personality…likes to have FUN…nice looking horse he is on. I hope you are staying cool our Queen Z?? In the shade of the barn with the fans on during the worst part of the day. Thank you Dottie so much for being Zenyatta’s voice!
LauraJ
Cool that his goggles coordinate with the hat. I wonder if that’s luck, or if he has a wardrobe of goggles?
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@Christine from VA, that’s an interesting question. There are several reasons why a broodmare in Zenyatta’s situation would not be ridden. First, there are a lot of broodmares at LE. There isn’t time for them to be ridden, nor are there enough people to do it. Plus, they can’t risk them getting hurt. Another factor is that Zenyatta doesn’t know how to be ridden for pleasure. If someone threw a saddle on her, she would probably take off. Ex-racehorses make excellent pleasure mounts and sport horses, but they have to be retrained. If the Mosses wanted to retrain her as a saddle horse they could, but she would have to be vanned to a suitable facility. (I doubt that LE has a riding arena.) In a way it’s a shame, because Zenyatta would make a first-class eventer. Her genes are way too valuable to risk, though. Small farms that own just a few broodmares do sometimes put their girls under saddle. And mares that don’t have value as broodmares can become good riding horses.
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Stallions sometimes are ridden. Seattle Slew was ridden daily throughout his stud career. Three Chimneys has a track. Some of their stallions enjoy being ridden. Three Chimneys has decided that their fitness and well being are worth the risk. The stallions that don’t like it are not ridden.
Lois Gillespie
Does anyone remember a few months ago the news report that 6 young horses in training on the way from FL to NY died when someone flicked a cigarette on the highway and it went into their trailer? Another instance of thoughtless behavior having horrible consequences—
LauraJ
@Mary, thanks for the update.
LauraJ
@Judy Berube (from #311). Thanks. They will appreciate it.
DMCQ
Thank you for posting about the backside of the track and the jobs to keep everything organized and going smoothly. I wonder if You knew Rafael and his good humor. Hope You are keeping cool our beautiful Zenyatta. Special thanks to Dottie and also for John’s picture taking skills!