NEWS
Jockeys pose in 2012 calendar to benefit Disabled riders
Posted: Tuesday, April 19, 2011 5:06 PM
KENT DESORMEAUX
Barbara Livingston photo
by Teresa Genaro
As a lifelong racing fan and public relations professional, Christine Sabia has often found herself frustrated by racing’s inability to market to new fans. Working recently to create a website for Racing Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, she had an idea.
“I’ve always admired Kent as an athlete, and I realized that there’s nothing in racing for fans with regard to the human athletes themselves," Sabia said. "I wanted to find a way to reach out to fans.”
The result of her collaboration with Desormeaux is the 2012 Thoroughbred Racing Jockeys Calendar, with photographs of 12 jockeys by Eclipse Award-winning photographer Barbara Livingston.
“Lots of athletes pose for calendars like this, and if any athlete needs to be fit, it’s a jockey,” Livingston said. “I wanted it to be sexy. They have amazing bodies.”
Desormeaux was immediately enthusiastic.
“One of the demands of our jobs is that we’re physically fit,” he said. “We wanted it to be something to be fun.”
According to Sabia, Desormeaux contacted the other jockeys, and it was his idea to donate a portion of the proceeds to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
“I asked my peers to join me in putting the calendar together, and they were all happy to hear that we could choose the charity,” said Desormeaux. “You’re looking at athletes who have soared and achieved great success; they’re not doing it for their own pockets, that’s for sure.”
The opportunity to contribute to the Fund and at the time show off their fitness appealed to several jockeys featured in the calendar.
“I was excited to do it,” said Ramon Dominguez. “A lot of people have this idea that we just sit on the horse, and we’re not really perceived as the athletes we are. I’m not taking anything away from the horses—they are the main aspect of the game—but we’re athletes as well.”
Channing Hill, whose month was photographed on a “freezing” day at Long Beach, New York, commented, “Anytime we can help out injured jockeys is a big thing. You never know when you’re going to need that help. Even if you’ve never met the guys who get injured, it’s not like they’re just people in an organization. They’re our friends.”
Photographer Barbara Livingston did most of the shooting in New York.
“I had to do it at tracks I was at,” she said. “That’s why there are no women. We tried to get some women in it, but the logistics didn’t work out. We hope to do it again and get some females in the next one.”
Livingston characterized the shoots of all those shirtless men as “really difficult,” her smile and tone of voice belying her words. She shot Dominguez at Yaddo, the pastoral artists’ colony that abuts Saratoga Race Course, and Mike Smith in the weight room of his hotel during last year’s Breeders’ Cup. Several jockeys gave her credit for putting them at ease.
“I was a little bit shy, but Barbara was so funny when we were doing it that she made us feel comfortable,” John Velazquez said.
“Barbara made it so much fun that she made all that uneasiness go away,” Hill said.
It was no different, observed Edgar Prado, “than being at the beach,” and he welcomed the chance to promote the sport and the jockeys.
“It’s good for the sport,” he said. “We have to work out; we have to be in very good shape to ride these horses. Firemen do it, football players, basketball players…why not us?”
Livingston hopes to do signings with the jockeys at the Triple Crown races and the Breeders’ Cup, and during the Saratoga meet. Sabia hopes that tracks will sell the calendar on their premises, and she expects it to sell well. “The response from fans,” she said, “has been incredible so far.”
The dozen riders featured are Calvin Borel, Shaun Bridgmohan, Javier Castellano, Desormeaux, Dominguez. Gomez, Hill, Julien Leparoux, Prado, Smith, Terry Thompson, and Velazquez.
For more information on ordering the calendar, click here.
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: HANSENLOVER!, horseland, IL on December 10, 2011 at 02:21 AM
This is the first decent and not lustful comment i have read!! While i am still not for this porny calendar! your comment megan is well said!
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Posted by: megan, vacaville, CA on December 08, 2011 at 11:58 AM
i think this is a great idea! clearly this is ment for women most likely. but what some of you dont know is that jockeys dont have as much publicity rights as they used to, so this is a brilliant way to do that & help disabled riders. its no different then football players doing it. saying there "mini-men" is rude. small or not who cares. now if you are wanting to be a jockey then you should appreciate this all the more because you should know just how hard it is to make weight. this is also a fabulous way to show people just how fit jockeys are, contrary to what myths say about us being very unfit & saying that all we do is "sit on a horse". there aren't as meny ways for jock to make money like a lot of people think. unless your not leading in the country or well known then your lucky if you can pay your bills. please support this. jockeys need our support more then ever right now with the CHI (church hill incorporated) vs. jockeys guild issue at hand. i by the way am neutral on this topic even though i am a rider because there is a lot to it & both sides make valid points.
sorry if i said to much LOL xD
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Posted by: Kathy, San Diego, CA on September 27, 2011 at 01:33 PM
I ordered two of these calendars. One for me and one for a friend. I really
like the calendar! ;) Well done!
The jocks look great and it is to help
a very good cause!
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Posted by: Awesome maria lover!, Horseland, IL on August 14, 2011 at 10:18 PM
OMG!! YOUR ALL GROSS FOR LIKING THIS THIS IS SICK!!! THEY CAN FIND BETTER WAYS TO MAKE MONEY!
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Posted by: barrett, folsom, CA on June 22, 2011 at 11:15 PM
Yummy ;) Damn, Mikey is hot! Garrett's not bad either. Y'all are just jealous.
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