Sure you can , people seem to like smaller gallop people for the most part in the west, but back east they dont care if you are 165 lbs as long as you can gallop a tough one. To me size doesnt really matter for galloping horses, if someone "rides light" per say and can think "horse" then it doesnt matter what they weigh . For working horses lighter is better in most cases but some big strong horses a heavy work rider can be a benifit. ( when I say heavy its all relative).
My boss is lucky that no rider in our barn weighs over 135 and they are all very good horse people.
If you have never galloped a racehorse before , you can simulate it with an english saddle by adjusting the irons , then my next suggestion would be to find a training center near where you live and start there.

That guy that galloped Smarty wasa big boy , I bet he was more like 180 , and Smarty still pulled his azz off LOL.

A friend of mine who trains here in NY has an exercise guy who looks like a damn linebacker.

I bet he gets all the "rats" and unmanagable ones, Im glad Im not big lol.

He does, lol.

You know, it's funny that you say that because other riders at my barn think that it is wierd when I do this on my hunters across pastures at a hand gallop. I'm not so wierd after all...LOL. I need to get an exercise saddle...

Just get a leather punch and put more holes in the stirrup leathers,you can jack them up as short as you want . The shorter you ride the stronger your legs will become , pretty soon youll be crouching down like your working one when you are flying across the field.:D

Yeah, props to you guys. It is way different riding like that than the classical way. I think that it is harder to ride like you all do. You don't have nearly the security, and your balance has to be just right. I love it though. It gives you a free feeling. Oh yeah, and I have children's leathers on the saddle that I use to gallop around in, but the saddle has knee rolls and blocks. I've raised the leathers up by degrees though. It's tough and it BURNS. I'm glad I'm so light because it makes it easier on my legs.:D

That's not heavy at all for galloping. Even with all the experience you have, still listen to people that have been galloping for awhile. Riding jumpers compared to racehorses is a totally different ball game. One of the main things in learning to gallop a racehorse is how to throw a cross.

Yep. Ol' Pete even admitted once that he can reach the 195 mark.

They have never heard of the two-point postion at a gallop in an English saddle? Do they ride western?

at first it was growing up about 45 mins away from Saratoga in the 80's and it was a great place to go party when we were teenagers and check out girls. Then when I was a little bit older and was working my summers up in Lake George in the 90's got into the actual racing and apprection of the sport been a huge fan ever since.

No, they just think that I am crazy for galloping my well-trained hunter/jumper across fields in a jock position. Totally different from riding courses in the classical position. They aren't race people. The only one who doesn't think I am crazy for doing that is my trainer, and that is because she used to exercise and help train race horses a long time ago. She understands.

BTW, two point is VERY different from riding in the jock position.

I'm dying to go to Keeneland. My brother and I are making plans for their spring meet. Everyone has said the two best places that gives you that chills down your spine for horse racing are Saratoga and Keeneland. Been to 'toga I don't know how many time now it time for Keeneland.

Loved to gamble, even took action in Middle School. Progression led me to racing where I felt with the proper time put in you could make money. Aunt and Uncle ran a BNB in Toga. Rest is history.

Thanks for the question!
 

Interesting to hear the paths we all have taken!

My mother took me when I was 7 or 8 to Randall Park in Cleveland and fell in love from the first time I held a program and watched a race. Stared hitch hiking to the Big T (Thistledown when I was 14, always worked, and always lost my money at the track). By 12th grage I had my scheule arranged to catch the first post.

Then went to NC State and thought I'd lost the Mo, but treated myself to the Kentucky Derby when I was 22 and went 7 years in a row. From there my sales career took me to 70% of the tracks in the US and happened upon Saratgoa 12 years ago where I've gone 9 of the last 12 years.

It's the greatest game on earth and there is nothing better than playing the ponies. The people, the atmosphere, the challenge, the hope, the hopes dashed, and the eternal next post time in ten minutes keeps me going. It's all good....and the big wins...gravy baby, pure gravy!!!

Excercise riders dont throw crosses , jockeys do. Exercise riders are paid to pull not push.

My brother took me to DRC in the early 80's. I distinctly remember him telling me "don't tell Mom". It was our little secret.