Thunder and Reins

What does it take to be a Kentucky Derby winning jockey? From zero to 35 mph in a matter of seconds! Experience the strength, stamina, and courage it takes as each jockey guides you through wining the Kentucky Derby aboard a Thoroughbred racehorse full of heart. Seven world-class jockeys relive the most thrilling ride of their lives, describing how they use their entire bodies and the power of the reins to become champions in their finest hour. Seasoned racing writers Joe Drape and Billy Reed explain the complexities of a jockey’s job–the cunning and foresight that make Kentucky Derby jockeys some of the toughest, most competitive athletes in all of sports. Jockeys’ wives Rita Santos and Sheila Day share what it means to live with horse racing’s constant dangers and monumental successes. Trainers John Ward, Carl Nafzger, and John Sadler explain how they choose a jockey with the intelligence and skill needed to bring their Thoroughbred first under the wire at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.