Just when it was thought there was no room for yet another reality-type television drama, along came Jockeys on cable TV's Animal Planet. The show's August 21st and August 28th shows included riveting, real racing scenes, bad boy antics, struggles in weight retention, and an extremely dramatic account of claiming race mayhem.
Exactly what is involved for jockeys, trainers, and owners when they participate in Thoroughbred claiming races, gigantic paydays, and everyday, but extraordinary pressure to perform at the top level of their sport became ingrained in many viewer minds at the witnessing of these Jockeys segments.
Jockeys As Real Life People
Corey Nakatani, portrayed as not well liked by his fellow riders, misbehaves in the jockeys' room, and is brought before the stewards to explain his part in a rough ride that might have caused serious injury to several riders and horses suddenly jammed against the rail by Nakatani's lugging-in mount.
The viewer gets a sticky taste of a serious steward's review.
Aaron Gryder goes off to the ride of his life and a career transfusion in the United Arab Emirates 2009 $6 million Dubai World Cup, the world's richest Thoroughbred race, aboard Well Armed, who is transported half way around the world by airplane.
Nineteen-year-old Joe Talamo gets I Want Revenge to the winner's circle in the 2009 Kentucky Derby-qualifying, $750,000 Wood Memorial, traversing a crammed field with unusual youthful skill on the back of a determined animal not to be denied.
Iggy Puglisi fighs for his job as a rider after injury. He is reduced to exercise riding, out of the big purses, and wants to marry his sweetheart.
Garrett Gomez speaks out against the use of some weight-reducing practices.
Jockey-Trainer Team Sutherland and Mulhall
Jockeys also dealt with the duo of female trainer Kristin Mulhall and her female rider Chantal Sutherland, two souls submerged in the waters of a male-dominated sport.
Mulhall had temporarily, but mightily surfaced in training circles with her beloved real-deal gray, Imperialism, in the 2004 Kentucky Derby that was all about Smarty Jones. Imperialism finished a good third in the Run for the Roses.
Sutherland is from Canada, where she did a little Mine That Bird...ing before that horse burst upon the American scene in the 2009 Kentucky Derby.
In Jockeys, Mulhall runs an undercover training session with Sutherland on Bullybullybully, a horse for whom Mulhall has expressed great feelings and grand hopes. A clandestine nighttime workout is Mulhall's way of shielding Bullybullybully from notice by those looking to pick up a cheap claimer with potential.
By entering the horse in the claimer, Mulhall hopes to win the race and the purse that will keep him in training. That, in turn, would pave the way for a surprise springboard to bigger and better things.
But a claiming race is also a quick way to lose a Thoroughbred. Anyone putting in a claim on one of the participants before the race may quickly claim him for the price offered when the race is over.
It's all about a chance Mulhall believes she must take to eventually race for a big payday.
Sadler Enters Claim Ticket
Meanwhile, viewers breathlessly take in the wiles of California trainer John Sadler, who is convincingly portrayed as having an eye on Bullybullybully through the dark of night. He is also shown at the claiming ticket window the next afternoon.
The suspense is dramatically heightened as Bullybullybully wins his race in drawing off fashion and steward's aid Heather Coreija approaches the track with a red claiming tag properly hidden in her hand behind her back.
Who gets claimed?
Clever writing and film editing has made the audience believe Sadler has put a claim in on Bullybullybully, while exposing the emotions of Sutherland and Mulhall, both hoping against hope that their prized Bully goes unclaimed.
Suddenly, the tag is pinned on a losing entry, and brows are wiped all around with worthy sighs of relief. Thus, viewers have lived intently through a dramatic lesson on the claiming ritual.
What Next On Animal Planet's Jockeys
Anything and everything jockeys is explored on this new reality show that is getting rave reviews.
BarbaraAnne Helberg - Barbara Anne Helberg, Supporter of Better Lives for Animals and Clean, Spirited, Competitive Sports
