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Q&A with professional jockey Mike Smith

On training, nutrition, and why meeting a horse for the first time is like a blind date

When it comes to horse racing, “you’d probably think the animal does all of the work since it’s the one running,” says 52-year-old professional jockey Mike Smith. “But it’s the biggest misconception people have about the sport. You’d be surprised at how fit you have to be to ride a race,” he says. And Smith, who is five-foot-four, would know. He’s won the Belmont (twice), the Kentucky Derby, and the Preakness Stakes. He’s also the champion of 25 Breeders’ Cup races and will partake in this year’s event happening on Saturday, November 4, in Del Mar, California. Here, Smith shares his training routine, what makes this particular race so special, and more.