A homecoming for ‘Big Money Mike’ Smith
Triple Crown winning jockey to appear at Ruidoso Downs
Mike Smith, the Triple Crown winning jockey from New Mexico, will make an appearance at Ruidoso Downs on July 8, and will also be raising money for a charity close to his heart.
Smith, who was born in Roswell, and Justify won this year’s Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes to capture the 13th Triple Crown in horse racing history.
Smith, at 52, became the oldest jockey to win the Triple Crown.
Custom-made posters of Smith winning the Belmont Stakes will be on sale at Ruidoso Downs for $10 beginning at 11 a.m.
Smith will be at the east end of the grandstand for a special autograph signing session. There will be 100 posters on sale for $25 each
and Smith will sign the posters for the buyers.
All proceeds from poster sales benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund.
Smith will also lead the post parade for the seventh race.
He mentioned Ruidoso Downs while on Justify, and heading to the Belmont Park winner’s circle.
“He left (the gate) like he was going 440 yards in Ruidoso, New Mexico,” Smith told NBC after the Belmont win.
Smith earned his nickname “Big Money Mike,” for his success in the premier races. He has two Kentucky Derby wins, two Preakness Stakes wins, three Belmont Stakes wins and a record 27 Breeders’ Cup wins.
Inducted into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in 2003, Smith’s mounts have earned $313 million and he has nearly 5,500 wins. He had his best year in 2017 when his horses earned $20,540,871 with an average earnings per start of $74,694.
“Mike is a global celebrity now and we are honored by his willingness to come to Ruidoso Downs to share his Triple Crown celebration with us,” Ruidoso Downs’ president and general manager Jeff True said. “He is a wonderful ambassador of our sport and he never forgets where he came from.
“He told me his family will fill half the grandstand so we’re gonna welcome them and all the other racing fans in New Mexico that day to celebrate his amazing accomplishment.”