Jockey Walkout, Aqueduct's Legacy, and Racing's Evolving Ecosystem - Episode Hero Image

Jockey Walkout, Aqueduct's Legacy, and Racing's Evolving Ecosystem

Horse Racing Radio Network · · Listen to Original Episode →
Original Title:

TL;DR

  • Jockey walkouts disrupt the entire racing ecosystem, impacting grooms, pony riders, fans, owners, and trainers, not just the jockeys themselves.
  • The jockey walkout was a misguided tactic that held the game hostage, demonstrating a lack of respect for all other participants in the sport.
  • The decision to ban children from the jockey's room, while potentially poorly communicated, is a necessary professional boundary for a high-stakes sport.
  • A jockey's career requires managing intense emotion and maintaining focus, akin to shedding one's skin to enter a professional headspace.
  • The Wood Memorial's historical significance has diminished due to changes in horse recovery times and weather unpredictability, impacting its role as a Derby prep.
  • Two-year-old races like the Demoiselle and Remsen are crucial indicators for classic distance potential, as nine furlongs tests young horses significantly.
  • A horse's nervous energy, often mistaken for skittishness, can be an outlet that improves with mental development, not necessarily a physical limitation.

Deep Dive

Richard Migliore, a former jockey and current NYRA/Fox Sports analyst, reflects on the legacy of Aqueduct racetrack as it enters its final season of racing. His personal connection to Aqueduct, stemming from childhood visits with his father and his own riding career where he became the track's all-time leading rider, imbues his perspective with a deep sense of history and emotion. While acknowledging the sadness of Aqueduct's closure, Migliore also takes pride in his enduring record, a testament to his dedication and his preference for racing in colder weather.

Migliore highlights how Aqueduct served as his tangible connection to the racing world, a "backyard" counterpart to more distant dreams like the Kentucky Derby. This personal history underscores the broader significance of such tracks as incubators for racing careers and fan engagement, demonstrating that even seemingly local venues can foster profound dedication and achievement. The closure represents not just the end of a physical track but the fading of a specific era of racing experience, one that shaped generations of horsemen and fans.

The conversation also touches upon the impact of changing racing formats and the evolution of key races. Migliore notes that races like the Wood Memorial have been affected by shifts in how horses are trained and prepared for major events like the Kentucky Derby, with a longer gap between preps and the Derby now diminishing the Wood's traditional role. In contrast, he emphasizes the enduring importance of races like the Demoiselle and Remsen for two-year-olds, arguing that their distance serves as a crucial indicator of a horse's potential for classic races the following spring. This illustrates how the strategic placement and distance of races influence the development and assessment of young talent within the sport.

Furthermore, Migliore offers a strong critique of the jockey walkout at Aqueduct, deeming it "100% wrong." He argues that the jockeys' actions, while perhaps stemming from frustration over issues like access for children in the jockey's room, were ultimately detrimental to the entire racing ecosystem. By disrupting the card, they disrespected grooms, hot walkers, owners, and fans who rely on the sport's operational integrity. Migliore's perspective emphasizes that professional athletes must manage their emotions and address grievances through appropriate channels rather than holding the entire event "hostage," which can have cascading negative effects on all participants and stakeholders. This incident reveals a tension between individual rider grievances and the collective responsibility required to maintain the sport's viability and public perception.

Action Items

  • Audit jockey room policies: Define clear guidelines for family access during racing hours to prevent future disruptions.
  • Create communication protocol: Establish a tiered system for addressing jockey concerns to avoid walkouts.
  • Measure ecosystem impact: Track the ripple effect of jockey actions on grooms, owners, and fans for 5-10 events.
  • Analyze historical Aqueduct races: Identify 3-5 key races that best represent the track's legacy for archival purposes.
  • Evaluate jockey room access: Review current policies and propose 2-3 alternative solutions for family presence.

Related Episodes

Key Quotes

"You know honestly the credit has to go to the guys that uh created you know the behind the scenes people I I'm just the face they put out there and I you know talk about it and you know they they uh they planned it out um you know evan and el and all the guys I work with we're you know we're being on air talent it's like you're the jockey right you're probably you're the most hype profile part of the team but no less important than the groom the assistant the trainer everybody else behind the scenes that make it happen"

Richard Migliore emphasizes that on-air talent, while visible, is only one part of a larger team. He highlights that the success of any broadcast or event relies on the contributions of many individuals behind the scenes, comparing the on-air person to a jockey and the support staff to the essential team that makes the jockey's success possible.

"And I remember being on the train with my father going back home to Brooklyn I grew up exactly eight miles from Aqueduct telling him how I was gonna be a jockey and I was gonna win the Toboggan Handicap and it's a very vivid memory for me and my father you know talking to me saying well you know anything you want to do you have to dedicate yourself you have to work hard uh and then obviously I did become a jockey and I won the Toboggan Handicap six times more than anybody"

Richard Migliore recounts a formative childhood memory where he expressed his ambition to become a jockey to his father, who instilled in him the importance of dedication and hard work. Migliore later achieved this dream, winning the Toboggan Handicap multiple times, demonstrating the fulfillment of a childhood aspiration through sustained effort.

"And you got to understand like where I grew up you know yeah I was aware of the Kentucky Derby but that might as well have been Mars um Aqueduct was you know something tangible for me it was right there basically in my backyard and the Toboggan Handicap could have been my Kentucky Derby"

Richard Migliore explains that for him, growing up near Aqueduct racetrack, local races like the Toboggan Handicap held the same significance as the Kentucky Derby does for others. This illustrates how proximity and personal connection can elevate the importance of specific events, making them feel as grand as nationally recognized ones.

"And then uh the Demoiselle and the Remsen which we run today are two incredible races because they really are a strong barometer of what these two year olds are going to go on to do as three because nine furlongs is a very demanding distance for a two year old and I I really think that um who can get the nine furlongs now it really bodes well for them to get the classic distances going forward the next spring"

Richard Migliore identifies the Demoiselle and Remsen races as crucial indicators of future success for two-year-old horses. He points out that their ability to perform well at nine furlongs, a challenging distance for their age, suggests a strong potential for them to handle classic race distances in their three-year-old season.

"The riders to me were 100 wrong uh and I'm always going to tend to lean in riders' favors obviously for obvious reasons right but you have a situation arise which frankly is none of your business it's a it's a NYRA employee at NYRA that's between them and you insert yourself in this position you allow emotion to get the best of you"

Richard Migliore states his strong disagreement with the jockeys' decision to walk out, asserting that the situation they intervened in was an internal matter between an employee and NYRA. He believes the jockeys allowed their emotions to override their judgment, leading to an inappropriate and incorrect action.

"Racing is an ecosystem if one part of that ecosystem is off the entire ecosystem is off and we are all reliant on every other component to make the game as healthy as you possibly can you cannot take the game hostage"

Richard Migliore emphasizes the interconnectedness of the racing industry, describing it as an ecosystem where every participant is vital. He argues that disrupting the game by holding it hostage, as he believes the jockeys did, negatively impacts all other components and the overall health of racing.

Resources

External Resources

Videos & Documentaries

  • NYRA social media video on great moments in Cigar Mile history - Featured as a well-done piece that Richard Migliore hosted.

People

  • Richard Migliore - NYRA/Fox Sports analyst and all-time leading rider at Aqueduct.
  • Evan - Mentioned as one of the behind-the-scenes people who created the NYRA social media video.
  • El - Mentioned as one of the behind-the-scenes people who created the NYRA social media video.
  • Ramon Dominguez - Former jockey mentioned as a potential rival for leading rider at Aqueduct.
  • Thunder Gulch - Horse mentioned as the last to win the Remsen and then the Kentucky Derby in 1995.
  • Paladin - Horse mentioned as having ability and placed first in disqualification on debut.
  • Renegade - Horse mentioned as having ability, benefiting from a prior start, and showing professionalism.
  • Gun Runner - Sire of a horse mentioned in the Remsen stakes.
  • Todd Pletcher - Trainer mentioned as having a deep group of two-year-olds.
  • Johnny Velazquez - Jockey mentioned as having options with Todd Pletcher's runners.
  • Ted Naify - Mentioned in relation to Todd Pletcher's runners.
  • Cigar - Horse mentioned as the namesake for the Cigar Mile.
  • Holy Bull - Horse mentioned in comparison to Cigar, with the opinion that Cigar would not have been as prominent if Holy Bull had stayed healthy.
  • Forego - Horse mentioned as Richard Migliore's favorite of all time due to his greatness and longevity.
  • Frank Whiteley - Trainer of Forego, mentioned for his interaction with Migliore.
  • Island Charm - Horse mentioned as Richard Migliore's favorite closing sprinter, who rearranged her style.
  • Mr. Demaro - Former employer of Richard Migliore.
  • David McDivitt - Owner of Island Charm, who advocated for Migliore to ride her.
  • Tax Holiday - Quality mare mentioned as being caught by Island Charm in a stake race.
  • Angel Cordero - Jockey associated with the mare Tax Holiday.
  • Joel Rosario - Jockey taking over the mounts for Philly's Fog.
  • Gus Rodriguez - Mentioned as putting blinkers on Philly's Fog.
  • Doug Sullivan - Mentioned as scratched from the Cigar Mile.
  • Bishop's Bay - Horse mentioned as a true miler and three for three at the distance.
  • Philly's Fog - Horse mentioned as a contender in the Cigar Mile, with questions about his turn back to a mile.
  • Dale - Mentioned as joining Mike for "I Ask, They Answer" at the end of the show.
  • Tim - Mentioned as joining Mike for "I Ask, They Answer" at the end of the show.

Organizations & Institutions

  • NYRA (New York Racing Association) - Mentioned in relation to social media videos, employee matters, and racing operations.
  • Fox Sports - Mentioned as a broadcast partner with NYRA.
  • HRRN (Horse Racing Radio Network) - The podcast network hosting the interview.
  • Kentucky Derby - Major horse race mentioned as a goal for horses.
  • Keeneland - Mentioned as the purchase location for the horse Renegade.

Websites & Online Resources

  • HRRN - The platform where the interview is taking place.

Other Resources

  • Toboggan Handicap - Horse race at Aqueduct that Richard Migliore won six times.
  • Cigar Mile - Horse race discussed, with history and current contenders.
  • Wood Memorial - Horse race discussed as a key prep for the Derby, with historical context.
  • Swift - Horse race mentioned as part of a historical series of preps.
  • Going Six Furlongs - Horse race mentioned as part of a historical series of preps.
  • Bay Shore - Horse race mentioned as part of a historical series of preps.
  • Going Seven Furlongs - Horse race mentioned as part of a historical series of preps.
  • Gotham - Horse race mentioned as part of a historical series of preps.
  • Mile - Race distance mentioned in relation to the Gotham.
  • Remsen - Horse race discussed as a barometer for two-year-olds' potential for classic distances.
  • Demoiselle - Horse race discussed as a barometer for two-year-olds' potential for classic distances.
  • Nine Furlongs - Race distance mentioned as demanding for two-year-olds.
  • Classic Distances - Mentioned in relation to the potential of two-year-olds.
  • Kentucky Derby - Major horse race mentioned as a goal for horses.
  • Distaff in the Fall - Horse race mentioned in relation to Island Charm and Tax Holiday.
  • Vagrancy - Stake race in which Island Charm competed.
  • Aqueduct jockey walkout - Event that occurred on the past Sunday, leading to a meeting in the jockey's room.
  • Saratoga - Track mentioned in relation to a rule about children in the jockey's room.
  • Jockey's room - Location discussed in relation to rules and operations.
  • America's Day at the Races - Program for which Richard Migliore was reporting.
  • Thanksgiving weekend - Holiday weekend mentioned in relation to fans attending races.
  • Eclipse Award - Award category mentioned in relation to female sprinters.
  • Champion - Title mentioned in relation to Island Charm.
  • Free Highway - Mentioned as the sire of Island Charm.
  • Allowance race - Type of race mentioned.
  • Stake race - Type of race mentioned.
  • Weight allowance - Mentioned in relation to apprentice jockeys in stake races.
  • Hialeah - Racetrack mentioned as the location for Island Charm.
  • New York - Location mentioned in relation to racing and Island Charm.
  • Winner's Circle - Location mentioned in relation to winning races.
  • The Game - Referred to as an ecosystem and a professional sport.
  • Professional sport - Mentioned in relation to the jockey's room and athlete behavior.
  • Premier athlete - Mentioned as how jockeys should act.
  • Liability - Mentioned as a reason for not having children in the jockey's room.
  • Men's locker room - Mentioned in relation to the jockey's room.
  • Professional endeavor - Mentioned in relation to horse racing.
  • Big money game - Mentioned in relation to horse racing.

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