Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Z's Diary

Diary Post #312

The backside of the race track has so many FUN people! Photo by John Shirreffs

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

Reader Interactions

199 Comments

  1. / Reply

    Zenyatta,

    Thank once again for the educational information. Rafael must own lots of hats. :) I think we all do.. Enjoy the lazy, crazy days of summer, but stay cool Big Mama. xoxo

  3. / Reply

    Just love all this information you pass on to us – never realized how much actually goes into this sport from the early training, the backside and eventually the track! So interesting – thanks so much for sharing it all with us! Have a wonderful day in that gorgeous pasture of yours…..

  4. / Reply

    Mountaineer/Danny Bird update, this info was posted by Mary Johnson on her facebook page: “Okay, Bird has been banned from the W. Virginia tracks, but not because he sent Deputy Broad to slaughter. Bird has been banned in Ohio since 2005 and the Ohio Racing Commission sent that info to WV. He was banned here in Ohio for a financial issue. I guess he owes someone $1500. He has now agreed to pay it so it will be back to business as usual with Ohio and WV tracks.” Contact info for Mountaineer & local media on diary 311, should you wish to ask why their 2008 ‘No Ship to Slaughter’ policy is not enforced. Also, for those on fb, someone started a page RIP Deputy Broad, for all horses who were not able to live out their natural lives. I’m hoping they will have some good info on various bills, and ideas for being pro active in helping make positive changes. I will certainly suggest it.

  5. / Reply

    I have at times in my life wondered how I could wear so many hats…but now that my sons are on their own….doing good thank goodness….my life is a little calmer. But still wear several hats…but I like that…staying business. I wonder how many hats “Dottie” wears….wow…Z…now that you are in retirement …you have fewer hats to wear…but enjoy…because when you become a mom…you will be so busy. Hugs to you Z…

  6. / Reply

    WOW that is sure one impressive hat!!! Thanks for sharing Rafael’s picture wearing it. If he keeps this up, I think he should get a ticket to Royal Ascot or the Kentucky Derby where “the hat is the thing.” I mean, why be sexist about hats, right?
    @ JAG : Thank you for that wonderful footage about a wonderful dog. As many of you know, my Jericho wears a brace on one foreleg and, like Mattie, we go into high schools to spend time with teens in difficulty.Jericho is always a big hit, largely because they see that he’s been hurt but he goes on in spite of it.
    That’s my other “hat,” thanks to my wonderful boy!
    What are you up to today, big girl? I miss you and send you a mountain of virtual kisses!

  8. / Reply

    Awesome picture Zenyatta! Thanks for teaching me about the job of a valet; I learned something new today. Hope you’re doing well. Love,
    ______________

    Have you heard that Canford Cliffs has been retired? Shame. I was dreaming that he, Goldi, and Frankel would somehow magically meet up in the BC Mile. Oh well :(.

  9. / Reply

    Hi Z Im going to be sending picture of DUSTY AND THE OTHER HORSES TO YOU! Keep checking the mail!!

  10. / Reply

    Zenny and Dottie, thank you for another wonderful diary entry and picture to boot! It’s been great to get such insight into the racing world and all the spirited personalities that participate in it. Zenny, hope you are staying cool in this heat. Hopefully, the next few days will bring welcome showers and lower temps.

  11. / Reply

    @LAura J–I know for a fact that Dynaformer is NOT one of those who is ridden–lol!
    @J Smith — thanks for the update on Danny Bird, etc.

  12. / Reply

    Are they asking for names for the baby?? I wonder what the horses are thinking of all these hats>> lol

  16. / Reply

    LOVE today’s message, dear Zenny! Piece by piece, you are teaching all of us who love horses and racing but who have never owned horses what goes on behind the scenes. You and Dottie have taught me more about racing in a few months than I learned all of my life! I LOVE YOU, PRECIOUS ZENYATTA!!!! Every film I see of you makes me fall in love even harder…bless you and keep you!!!!

  23. / Reply

    Today’s joke–As the waitress served the elderly couple, she noticed something unusual. The man began to eat his meal while his wife stared patiently out the window. “Is there something wrong with your food?”, the waitress asked. “No,” the lady replied, “I’m just waiting until my husband gets through with the teeth.” @Barbara Grimaldi-More senior song titles–I can’t see clearly now; Bald thing; The first time I ever forgot your face; and Bad prune rising.

  24. / Reply

    Terry–you are a treat! More song titles that are keeping my neigbors roaring!!!! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

  25. / Reply

    “I have the greatest teammates.”
    – Amy Rodriguez
    I just love that quote and I think it fits “Team Zenyatta” really well :)

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