(Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

From the Horseshoe Indianapolis Media Team:

Smith relishes big days at smaller tracks such as Indiana Derby Day at Horseshoe Indianapolis

Hall of Fame jockey rides Publisher for long-time friend Steve Asmussen

 

by Jennie Rees, Eclipse Award Winning Turf Writer

 

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Friday, July 4, 2025) — Two of horse racing’s all-time greats will be riding in Saturday’s $300,000, Grade 3 Indiana Derby at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Mike Smith has the mount on Arkansas Derby runner-up Publisher, the 5-1 fourth choice in the Indiana Derby and John Velazquez rides New York allowance winner Tip Top Thomas, who is 6-1 in the morning line.

The iconic jockeys are riding for iconic trainers, Smith for North America sport’s all-time win leader Steve Asmussen (10,914 heading into Friday) and Velazquez for all-time earnings leader Todd Pletcher (more than $505 million).

Big Money Mike and Johnny V. got into the Hall of Fame through years — now decades — of winning the sport’s premier races across America’s most famous venues, highlighted by the Triple Crown races and Breeders’ Cup. But Smith said time has given him a greater appreciation for riding the biggest days at smaller tracks. Prime example: Saturday’s card, which is Indiana’s premier day of horse racing.

“I absolutely love it,” said Smith, who at age 59 has been riding racehorses for 43 years. “You get to meet a lot of new people, new experiences. Listen, I wouldn’t go if it didn’t mean something to me. It means every bit as much to me as it does anybody, if not more. That’s the way I look at it and feel about it. I haven’t gotten the opportunity to ride for Steve in a while. I’m excited about getting a chance to ride for him and to go to Indiana.”

The Indiana Derby is one of eight stakes on Saturday’s 13-race card that also includes the Grade 3 $200,000 Indiana Oaks, presented by Daily Racing Form. Coal Battle is the 7-2 favorite in the Indiana Derby, followed by Instant Replay at 4-1 in the morning line. Chunk of Gold and Shan will be scratched, leaving a field of seven 3-year-olds. First post for the day is 12 p.m. with the Indiana Derby set as Race 12 with an estimated post time of 6:33 p.m. General admission and parking are free.

Smith rides three stakes Saturday for Asmussen. In addition to Publisher, Smith rides Our Pretty Woman in the $100,000 Mari Hulman George Memorial for older fillies and mares on dirt and multiple stakes-winner Track Phantom in the $100,000 Michael G. Schaefer Memorial for older horses on dirt. He also has the mount on Godolphin’s Deloraine in the Indiana Oaks for trainer Eoin Harty.

Velazquez has never ridden at Horseshoe Indianapolis, though he won the 2004 Indiana Oaks with Daydreaming back when Hoosier Park held thoroughbred racing. Velazquez is named to ride nine horses, including the four $100,000 open stakes for older horses and Sturgeon Moon in the $200,000 Grade 3 Indiana Oaks for trainer Will Walden.

“Just let me have my four and he (Velazquez) can have the other five. That’s fair,” Smith joked in a phone interview. “Of course all the other jocks want to win, too. It’s a lot of fun. I just came in from Texas last week. I was at Lone Star. I was blessed to have won the big one. Matter of fact, Keith (Steve’s son) beat me on Steve’s horse in the filly race on grass. It was a lot of fun, got to see old friends, people I used to ride for back in the day. Now we’re going back to Indiana and see if we can do it all over again.

“As you get older, you learn to really appreciate things. We’re so busy when we’re young. I had so much going on. I had to fly here, fly back there. Now I go in and I’ve got time to really think about it.”

Smith said he appreciates the local horsemen who make racing possible at a track. The same with the fans who support the races and come out to cheer on the horses. While he’s not looking to ride an entire card, Smith said his enthusiasm is as strong as ever for the races he rides.

“There’s going to have to be a time at some point where I’m going to have to call it,” he said. “So I’m enjoying every minute of this, man. I don’t think it’s any time soon; I feel too dang good. But at some point it’s time to go ahead and call it a career. I think I appreciate it and enjoy it more right now than I ever have. I’m blessed and I’m lucky that I’m in good shape and good health. Not only does it mean that much more, I’m still as good as I was. It’s just a matter of getting these good opportunities, ride for the right people, on the right horses and good things happen.”

Good shape? Before the phone interview, Smith had worked out two hours at the gym and run five miles, saying of Indiana, “I can’t wait to get over there.”

Smith has known Asmussen, who is also 59, for almost all his life. Among the horses he’s ridden for Asmussen is 2019 champion older female Midnight Bisou.

“Look, I knew Steve when he was riding,” Smith said. “Heck, I rode with his dad, Keith. Being from New Mexico and the Texas area, we knew each other at a very young age. In fact I won some of Steve’s first races as a trainer at Remington Park. The whole family is half-horse. They’re bred to train, ride and they think horse. All of them are brilliant horsemen.

“… He just asks me to ride, and I say, ‘Where?’ Publisher in the Indiana Derby is still a maiden, but he may be the most highly regarded maiden we’ve ever seen….  Listen, we’re going to go in there and give it a shot. All those races are good, they’re competitive. They’re going to have to show up and run their A game, and I’m going to have to do the same. But they’re all with a good chance, and I’m just happy they called me.”

Smith’s 5,783 North American victories rank 21st all time; his $355 million in purses No. 3. Velazquez, who started riding in 1990 and has spent most of his career based in New York and Gulfstream Park’s elite winter meet, ranks No. 1 all-time in purse earnings at $500.8 million; he’s No. 11 in wins at 6,718 heading into Friday.

“He says he’s waiting on me (to retire),” Smith said of Velazquez. “I told him, ‘Then get ready to be going for a while longer, buddy.’ I’ve known Johnny since he first came over (from Puerto Rico). He was staying with Angel Cordero. I’d be over there all the time. We’d ride Exercisers together, would play video games at Angel’s house, hanging out the whole time. He named his first son after me! I introduced him to his wife, Leona and John.”

Both jockeys have ridden less than a handful of times in the Hoosier State. Velazquez’s four lifetime mounts in Indiana were at Hoosier, with the lone win being the Indiana Oaks, according to Equibase statistics. Smith won his only mount at Hoosier in the 2007 Indiana Oaks on Tessa Blue.

Given that Smith has ridden all of three horses at Horseshoe Indianapolis — including finishing fourth in last year’s Indiana Derby with E J Won the Cup — does he have any advice for his Johnny-come-lately pal on how to ride the track?

“Are you kidding me? You’re talking about Johnny Velazquez, one of the greatest, if not the greatest, of all-time,” Smith said. “He hasn’t even ridden on it, and he could close his eyes and do it. He could have his hands tied behind his back and it wouldn’t be a problem.”

The 23rd season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing runs through Thursday, Nov. 13. For more information on racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis/racing or find details on social media @HSIndyRacing.