Hollywood and Horsepower Show, August 27, 2026

Hollywood And Horsepower Show with Mark Otto

Legends in the Saddle and Stories Behind the Spotlight: Mike Smith, Buck Wilson, and Racing's Human Side

Summary

A Hall of Fame Career Still in Motion

Mark Otto opens the program with Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, focusing on a career that Smith says is still active and demanding even at age 60. Smith describes growing up around horses, beginning to ride at a very young age, traveling through the Midwest, moving to New York, and eventually establishing himself in California. He discusses mentors who helped shape him as both a rider and a person, and he explains how relationships with trainers can influence a jockey's path. Smith also emphasizes physical fitness, saying his long-term commitment to the gym has helped him remain capable of riding multiple races in a day. The conversation presents his longevity as a combination of preparation, discipline, experience, and continued enthusiasm for racing.

How a Jockey Reads a Race

The interview moves into the practical craft of race riding, including preparation, handicapping, race replays, trainer instructions, and the need to adapt once the gates open. Smith explains that a jockey can study speed, likely pace, previous performances, and the tendencies of competitors, but the original plan may have to be abandoned when a race develops differently than expected. He notes that turf racing can involve more ground-saving strategy, while dirt introduces different concerns such as kickback. Smith also says that riding a familiar horse can be an advantage because a jockey notices changes in behavior, although knowing too much can sometimes create extra concern. His description portrays elite riding as a mixture of preparation, feel, judgment, improvisation, and the ability to respond instantly.

Game On Dude, Zenyatta, and Justify

A major portion of the episode centers on famous horses Mike Smith rode, especially Game On Dude, Zenyatta, and Justify. Smith remembers Game On Dude as honest, straightforward, blue-collar, and the kind of horse whose personality made people want to be around him. He describes Zenyatta as gentle away from competition but intensely focused once she stepped onto the racetrack, with a remarkable ability to accelerate and run down rivals. The discussion also turns to Justify's Triple Crown campaign, with Smith describing the horse as physically imposing, highly regarded from the beginning, and dominant in training. Mark and Smith reflect on how rare the Triple Crown is, while also emphasizing the global quality of competition represented by the Breeders' Cup.

Racetracks as Living Meeting Places

Both halves of the program repeatedly return to the special atmosphere of racetracks and the way the sport brings different kinds of people together. Mike Smith names Del Mar, Santa Anita, Saratoga, Keeneland, and Oaklawn among tracks he enjoys, while Mark encourages listeners to visit racetracks because fans can often get unusually close to horses, jockeys, trainers, owners, and other participants. In the second interview, Buck Wilson expands on that theme through memories of Hollywood Park, describing its old Hollywood atmosphere, celebrity sightings, racing programs, autographs, and a sense that the track functioned almost like a social club. Mark and Buck compare Hollywood Park with other historic gathering places, including Saratoga, Del Mar, and Belmont. Their discussion treats racetracks not only as sports venues but as cultural spaces where entertainment, business, friendship, and nostalgia intersect.

Friendship, Old Friends, and Joe Torre