MANILA, Philippines - Every day on the racetrack, jockeys and horses put their lives on the line. Thoroughbred racing is never just a sport, it is a competition that saddles 115-pound jockeys on top of 1,200-pound horses. And at 45 miles per hour, anything can happen. If you win, you get huge purse earnings. If you lose, you get $75. In Animal Planet’s documentary series Jockeys, competitors get rich or die trying.
For any jockey, there is a lot at stake. Every race can mean you’re out to win. After all, thoroughbred racing is one of those sports where the only one who matters is the winner.
Through the episodes of Jockeys, you meet all kinds of men and women who risk their lives racing horses for a living. Some have long been racing legends with millions in purse earnings while others are new, fresh faces who are just starting to make a name for themselves.
To everyone, Mike’s probably done everything already. He’s had over 4,700 wins, including some in prestigious Preakness and Kentucky derbies. The man has over $14 million in earnings and he’s career is far from over.
At the same time, Mike is also competing alongside his good friend Aaron Gryder, himself a racing icon with more than 3,000 wins and millions in earnings. Aside from this, Mike also sees action alongside his girlfriend, Chantal Sutherland, a highly successful jockey who has ridden all the best horses in Canada. Chantal has already stashed away $5.7 million in earnings and she was also voted one of People magazine’s 100 Most Beautiful People back in 2006.
Another jockey on the track is 18-year-old newcomer Joe Talamo who had good success with his career early on. And then there are Jon Court, Alex Solis, Corey Nakatani and Kayla Stra. When they compete side by side for the 30-day Oak Tree Meet at the famous Santa Anita Park, only a few will qualify for the much awaited Breeders Cup with a $35 million purse up for grabs.
The Oak Tree Meet was also where the famous thoroughbred Seabiscuit won his final victory and where his jockey later died. The place is full of history. And here, these jockeys are also ready to make history.
Jockeys started airing on Discovery Channel’s Animal Planet last August 10 at 11 p.m. Encores will be aired on Tuesdays at 4 a.m., Friday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m. and Monday at 5 p.m.