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

    Dear J. Smith:
    Let’s hope our contacting Mountaineer makes a difference and they start enforcing their anti-slaughter policy. Hugs, J.B.

  2. / Reply

    Dear Zenny
    Really love the hat, gorgeous horse and the lesson.
    It is great to learn so much about racing. How can someone
    Not smile and sing when working all day with race horses and to
    Get paid to exercise them. What actress job. Horses
    Have a wonderful impact on humans and vice versa.
    Stay cool, keep that foal in the oven and eat healthy.
    Glad your weight is progressing nicely. I guess like humans
    You don’t want to get too much so you can get your
    Girlish figure back after foaling.

    XXXXOOO

  3. / Reply

    Dear Sharon Call:
    Unbelievable. Thank God the firemen were able to totally control the situation. Hugs, J.B.

  4. / Reply

    @JAG
    Thanks for all the great links. Mixed feeling about
    Canford Cliffs, would love to see him on BC as he is
    So talented, but really want Goldi to win. I think he is
    very talented but the overage of 2 lbs on Goldi
    Was definately a factor. She may have won with 2 lbs.
    Less. He will definately be a popular Stallion.
    @LauraJ
    I would think that Stallions would like to be ridden. Of course
    Not riding the ones with personality issues like Dynaformer. It is
    A risk to ride them if one is inexperienced.

  5. / Reply

    Dear Laura J.:
    Thanks for all the interesting info on broodmares and Three Chimney’s. Hugs, J.B.
    Dear Margaret:
    Shouldn’t have to state the obvious, but better if you do. Lucky you got your own hug from Z. Hugs, J.B.

  6. / Reply

    @Margaret
    Thanks for the reminder of NO SMOKING at
    The barn. We never had that problem. Thank
    Goodness.

  7. / Reply

    @JAG
    Loved the article on Prized and Smarty Jones
    enthusiasm in the shed when he arrived in
    Uraguay. So glad he will be back in six month.
    He is an American Treasure.

  9. / Reply

    Oh, I do hope that the BC people decide on Santa Anita for 2012. Then, I could go again. I went for the 2008 edition when you won the Ladies Classic. Miss you so much!
    Hugs and kisses

  10. / Reply

    Thanks for such a fun update on Rafael and his many hats! He must be a man who likes to have fun with his work and there is definitely nothing wrong with that attitude. More people should try to enjoy their jobs. Thank you so much for sharing so much with us as we learn about racing, about the back side and about one another. Thank you for this beautiful place.

  11. / Reply

    @All. I just went to RIP Deputy Broad’s facebook page and put in what information I had regarding Mountaineer and also SB1187, encouraging everyone to contact their senators to support the bill and cosponser to that it will go to the floor for a vote. There are people there that want to help but don’t know exactly what to do. Let’s join up on that facebook page and see what we can do. Registering for facebook only requires a name and address. You don’t have to post anything else if you don’t want to. I’ve had mine for a while now and haven’t had any problems with people contacting me about things I don’t have any interest in. It seems to be pretty safe, so far.

  12. / Reply

    Many barns have sprinklers and they have saved many horse lives. Some people think they cost too much. Storm Cat has sprinklers and air conditioning. The windows should not have been left open on that trailer that burned. There are screens that can be put over trailer windows. Trailers have vents for air circulation and windows are usually kept closed. It was a long haul trip from Florida to New York and unless they are making a stopover where horses are unloaded for the night box stalls(the entire width of the trailer with the horses loose so they can lay down) are recommended. If they had box stalls with the windows open they could have put their heads out and suffered an injury to their eyes or airways from flying dirt,leaves,etc. The cigarette(if there was one)could have come from the cab of the truck. The article did not say a cigarette was definitely the cause. They should have been carrying a fire extinguisher also. The trailer should also have had a water tank and buckets for giving horses water that could have been used on a fire. Have put out fires using whatever was available including a blanket. That fire was out almost instantly smothered by lack of oxygen. Water takes longer. There was another trailer fire prior to that where all the yearlings died on a trailer that was stopped at the side of the road to change a tire. They claimed to have accidentally started the fire while changing the tire by setting axle grease on fire and claimed they could not get any of the horses off. I do not believe that story.

  13. / Reply

    Oh sweet Z such a great post and all so interesting!! Raefel seems to love his job. Oh by golly, I have worn numerous hats in the past–nothing from Bourbon Street. (I never flew out a window) hee
    I hope to see a picture of you soon and wish you special tomorrows. love you with 2 kisses on your soft nose;one for baby z

  16. / Reply

    Z: Love your posts. You and your connections continue to amaze and entertain. Visiting you each day never fails to bring a smile. Thank you. XOXO

  17. / Reply

    HI Zenyatta I love today’s post. I never get tired of learning about the race track. I just wish I had a better one to go to. I am so upset by what happened to DB that I am not going to the WV Derby. Today in my class I asked another teacher if she would hold a sign over there about what happened. The only thing is we work about 3 miles from the race track. Some of the children’s parents work there. Also we could get in trouble with our school district. I will write a letter and go to FB page. Zenyatta I just know the horses I saw in Kentucky did not have these terrible owners. Blame lives a beautiful life and so do you. I pray for the horses at Mountaineer. Not everybody but I think more bad things happen than I know about. Brooke’s Dusty was left to die but now she has a really good life thanks to Brooke and her family. My friend Diane saved Armondo from a kill pen and he is one of the sweetest guys I have ever met. May God bless those less fortunate horses. My heart feels better after I send my donation to OUR MIMS for that same reason. Sorry Zenny I just went on and on. I love you sweet girl. Tell TT hi. Many Hugs and Kisses, Shari XXXOOO

  19. / Reply

    So glad to hear the news about Smarty Pants and his safe arrival down south We were sorry that he’d moved from Three Chimneys and couldn’t visit with him again but he’s obviously enjoying himself down in Uruguay and our boys are popular in the Southern Hemisphere. We had hoped to see Bernie on our trip but he had already jetted off to Australia. A couple of boys who enjoy their job!!!
    Good news about Prized, he’ll be very happy at OF and well taken care of.

  22. / Reply

    @Barbara Wood and Signofthetimes, LOL! Nobody wants to put a bit in Dynaformer’s mouth if they can help it. I have a copy of a documentary on TBs wherein they discuss Three Chimneys’ practice of galloping their stallions. I remember Lewis Michael is one who likes to be ridden, as do a few of the others. Can’t remember who does not (except Dynaformer of course).

  23. / Reply

    Dear Brenda S.:
    Bernardini is in Austrailia? For how long, do you know? I hadn’t realize he left Kentucky. Hugs, J.B.

  24. / Reply

    @ all

    Well, another day. I just finished speaking to Mary Johnson and she will be posting tomorrow and give you her back ground .I commented last night that Mary knows where the bodies are buried, she has been all over the US taking them out of shipment to Canada. I admire her a great deal.She aws thrilled to hear what we are doing, she was very touched, you could hear it in her voice. After listening to her and her stories I realize that this is not going to be easy, so don’t get discouraged. It’sworth the work,I know it is.

    I hope you all had a good productive day.It was 111 when I got home. In the parking garage at work there were 6 cars that batteries had literally fried in the heat.I knew that cold weather weakens a battery,just never thought about heat being just as bad.Itis beginning to wearon everyone,lots of cranky Texans down here.

    I am taking the evening off, but I have a lot of reading to do. So much to consider about moving forward.We may only have one good shot and we have to make it count.We defintely want that bill to get out of committee, so CHARGE.

    Have a good evening guys.

    Love ya Z.

  28. / Reply

    @All: Just read about Smarty’s “memorable arrival” in Uruguay :-) I’d be eager for a little attitude adjustment if I’d been in quaranteen too! YOU GO BOY!
    diastu in tempe

  29. / Reply

    @Breeders Cup 2012: Avast! Let the party planning begin! And okay all you Z-sters – a little math: Put 2 quarters a day into a jar starting today. That’s all. In 457 days from today, you’ll have $228.50 bucks saved for BC.
    diastu the financial planner

  30. / Reply

    @ All

    Almost forgot there is a Facebookfor Deputy Broad, it is RIP Deputy Broad. Just went on, it is very touching. there is a pic of Deputy from 12-19-10, winning in the winners circle.What did this poor beautiful boy ever do to deserve what he got.

    Ilove ya Z

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.