[TheSpokesman]

In my career as a jockey agent I have represented numerous jockeys on the Louisiana circuit including Rico Flores, Amanda Crandall, and Beverly Burress (who won the leading apprentice title at Oaklawn Park in her bug year). I am sometimes amused at the capsule comments in the Daily Racing Form, and thought I would offer a little insight on one of my favorites.

I'm sure you have seen a race where two horses of seemingly equal ability that were ridden by the same jockey in their most recent race are in again. Obviously, the jockey will only be named on one and the capsule comment will invariably say something like, "Jockey sticks" or "Flores lands here" which leads the handicapper to believe that the jockey has chosen the better of the two. Take it from me, this is not the case more often than not.

As an agent my job is to put my riders on the best horse, but sometimes I will have to ride the lesser animal due to circumstances beyond my control. Here are some examples:

1. My rider has been taken off. In this business a jockey is as good as his last ride. Trainers will make changes at the drop of a hat and offer no rational explanation for doing so. Just because a jockey finished 2nd on a horse last out does not mean he will be offered the mount today. In the recent Delta Downs meet that just closed my client Nick VanDeVoorde, an apprentice who began riding in late January, was given the mount on Foxy Foxy. The filly ran big for Nick after a considerable layoff and finished second after losing ground on the final turn. In her next out she was 4-5 and won with ridiculous ease. The rider was Steve Bourque. Trainer Gary Duhon apparently thought that a more experienced rider would benefit this horse who probably would have won with me in the saddle.

2. I had already given a call for the selected race. Agents have to be masters of anticipation. After a horse runs big for one of my riders I must study the condition book to anticipate where the horse will be entered next. I will then keep that spot open until the last minute in case the trainer decides to go there. However, trainers can change their mind at the last minute. Last year I took a call for Beverly Burress for trainer Steve Wren. At 8:00 a.m. on entry day Wren decided that he wanted to go in a turf race instead, and I had already given a call to someone else. When an agent gives a call he is expected to honor it. If he backs out on entry day (we call it "spinning") he is subject to a hefty fine from the Stewards and risks losing the barn.

So, how can you tell if the jockey and his agent have truly chosen the best horse today or if the decision was made for them. There is a reliable way.

Go to the racing office at your local track and get a copy of the condition book. These are available to anyone for free. In the back of the book there is a list of agents and their riders along with the agent's contact information. You will notice that we agents are permitted only 2 jockeys in most racing jurisdictions. One is usually a top-tier guy and the other is like a second-string quarterback. If my 2nd String rider is riding the other horse in today's race this likely means that I chose the superior animal for Rider 1 but thought enough of the second horse that I have made an attempt to keep it in the family. If my rider has been replaced by another agent's rider it is likely that I was taken off. The second horse may indeed be the better of the two, but I was not offered a chance to ride.

Take the capsule comments in the racing form with a grain of salt and apply some good common sense. This information may give you an edge that others don't have.

The Spokesman