National Museum of Racing (NMR) and Hall of Fame jockey Mike E. Smith made a surprise visit to a dinner hosted by National Hardwood Magazine during the recent National Hardwood Lumber Association Convention, held in the hometown of the Kentucky Derby, Louisville, KY.
Dubbed “The Jockey’s Jockey” by Sports Illustrated magazine in 2014, Smith was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 2003. A seven-time Triple Crown race winner, including a sweep of the series in 2018 with undefeated Justify, he also won The Derby in 2005 with 50-1 longshot, Giacomo; the Preakness in 1993 with Prairie Bayou; the Belmont in 2010 with Drosselmeyer and 2013 with Palace Malice.
The NMR further noted that four of Smith’s Breeders’ Cup wins have come in the Classic, with Hall of Famers Skip Away (1997) and Zenyatta (2009), as well as Drosselmeyer (2011) and champion Arrogate (2016). He has won five editions of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, with the Hall of Famers Inside Information (1995), Azeri (2002), Zenyatta (2008), and Royal Delta (2012), as well as Ajina (1997).
Also, in December of 2019, Smith won his 217th Grade 1 race, breaking the record previously held by Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey. Through 2022, Smith has won 5,692 races with purse earnings of $344,795,158 (No. 3 all time).
The above are just some of Smith’s career accomplishments.
Read more at www.racingmuseum.org.
