Jockey Colonies -- few real good ones are out there

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

This would actually make an interesting topic.

I've seen a few people cut up Presque Isle's lately, but objectively speaking, they might be a borderline top 5 jockey colony.

Francisco Torres couldn't get anything going at PID, and he left for Arlington Park and was leading rider at Arlington in 2012 by both total wins and win percentage.

Taylor Rice had the bug here last year, and was just 9-for-90. She went to Hawthorne and was 41-for-196 (21% wins) $2.34 ROI and she even did OK in New York until she lost her bug.

Scott Spieth goes to Cleveland and rides Thistle Downs on PID's dark days. He's 27-for-79 (34% wins) $2.10 ROI at Thistle. Meanwhile, Speith is just 7th in the standings at PID, winning at 13% with a $1.00 ROI

Deshawn Parker is the king-pin at Mountaineer, year in and year out. He's winning 27% at MNR this year...he rides PID on the MNR's dark days and is just 12% at PID. Last year he was 34-for-403 (8% wins) at PID, while utterly dominating MNR's standings.

The leading rider at Tampa Bay Downs this year was Antiono Gallardo (122-for-422) 27% wins. Ronnie Allen JR. was 2nd in the standings at 22% wins. Daniel Centeno was 3rd.

By comparison, Gallardo is also the leading rider at PID, but with just 21% wins. Ronnie Allen is 3rd in the standings at PID, and with just 17% wins. Meanwhile, Centeno is the leading rider at Delaware Park.

Willie Martinez is currently 9th in the standings at PID 24-for-195 (12% wins) and he won a Breeders' Cup Sprint with Trinniberg, not too long ago.

Obviously, New York and California are 1-2 by a long way. Monmouth Park is a one man show. Paco Lopez (120 wins) has more than double the next guy (54)

Churchill's running a mini meet and is 3rd best. Edgard Zayas, a guy who hasn't even been riding for 3 years is absolutely dominating Gulfstream's standings over Ramsey Zimmerman...he was a very good Remington and EVD jock, but ran into drug problems and hard times.

There really are few good ones left out there.

Isnt the gap between NY and Cali bigger then ever right now? Stevens is out, Gomez is coked out....... You could argue those are the top 2 in Cali. That leaves us with Bejarano, Talmo and Smith. Even the 5th and 6th guys in NY like Lezcano and Maragh would go out there and dominate in IMO.

[Pants II]

You only have to look at the top level to realize how bad the colony is as a whole.

No way a 49 year old in any athletic profession gets the majority of top "gigs"

Except modern day thoroughbred racing in America.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by Pants II

No way a 49 year old in any athletic profession gets the majority of top "gigs"

How about the comeback Stevens made at age 50?

Mike Smith is currently 49 years old. He rode regularly at Canterbury Park in 1986, 1988. Amusingly, he finished one spot behind Ronnie Allen Jr. in the Canterbury jockey standings in 1988.

[rgustafson]

That got me thinking about another "old guy" still riding pretty good. In 1985, Canterbury's first year, Mike Smith, then 20, was leading rider. the late Ron Hansen was second and an 18 year old kid came up from down in Louisiana to finish third. Gerard Melancon, Geemoney, the king of the bayou. Not at the level of Smith of course but still making good money in the irons.

[Bogey]

The Gulfstream Park winter (Championship) meet is hands down the best jockey colony assembled throughout the year. They pretty much have the best riders from New York, Kentucky, Delaware, New Jersey, Florida, and Canada.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by Bogey

The Gulfstream Park winter (Championship) meet is hands down the best jockey colony assembled throughout the year. They pretty much have the best riders from New York, Kentucky, Delaware, New Jersey, Florida, and Canada.

It's been Javier a clear 1st and Paco Lopez a clear 2nd at that meet, the last few years.

The problem with Paco Lopez, is that he's not getting in the NYRA barns during that meet at GP.

Javier's got Pletcher, Chad Brown, Shug, and even Maker down there.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

It's been Javier a clear 1st and Paco Lopez a clear 2nd at that meet, the last few years.

The problem with Paco Lopez, is that he's not getting in the NYRA barns during that meet at GP.

Javier's got Pletcher, Chad Brown, Shug, and even Maker down there.

Who is better in your eyes Dougie....... Javier or Paco??
BTW Happy Birthday.

[Pants II]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

How about the comeback Stevens made at age 50?

Mike Smith is currently 49 years old. He rode regularly at Canterbury Park in 1986, 1988. Amusingly, he finished one spot behind Ronnie Allen Jr. in the Canterbury jockey standings in 1988.

Stevens is a cerebral rider in comparison to other jockeys. Same with Mike Smith.

That's not saying these guys are perfect. They're just reliable.

Now the question comparing how these jockeys would do against the colony in the 80's?

Great question. I'd imagine a few of them would be much, much better riders. Because if they didn't improve they wouldn't last long.