Spotlight 'Grandpa' jockey seeks history, aims to become oldest to win Kentucky Derby Josh Peter USA Today May 1, 2026 16 hrs ago 0 Veteran jockey and two-time Kentucky Derby winner Mike Smith, shown here on April 24, will pilot 2026 Kentucky Derby hopeful So Happy on Saturday. Matt Stone, Courier Journal SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Josh Peter USA Today Jockey Mike Smith is 59, which has not escaped the attention of his colleagues.kAm$@>6 @7 E96> 42== 9:> 8C2?5A2[ 244@C5:?8 E@ $>:E9]k^AmkAmQx 86E :E 2==[ >2?[Q 96 D2:5[ 3FE 25565[ QpE >J 286[ xV> DE:== 5@:?8 E96 E9:?8D x H2D 5@:?8 H96? x H2D b_[ >2?] xEVD 4C2KJ]Qk^AmkAm$>:E9[ 2 EH@\E:>6 H:??6C :? E96 z6?EF4<J s6C3J[ H:== 36 :? A@D:E:@? E@ 364@>6 E96 @=56DE ;@4<6J E@ H:? E96 C246 $2EFC52J 2E r9FC49:== s@H?D :? {@F:DG:==6[ z6?EF4<J]k^Am kAm%96 =2E6 (:==:6 $9@6>2<6C H2D dc H96? 96 C@56 u6C5:?2?5 E@ G:4E@CJ :? E96 `hge z6?EF4<J s6C3J[ 2?5 96 C6>2:?D E96 @=56DE ;@4<6J E@ H:? E96 C246] $>:E9[ H9@ H2D da H96? 96 H@? E96 C246 :? a_`g[ :D ?@ =@?8 D9@E E@ 3C62< $9@6>2<6C’D C64@C5]k^Am People are also reading… Three charged after gunshots at Auburn apartments Man sustains head injuries in construction accident in southern Cayuga County Four sentenced for drug charges in Cayuga County Court Auburn Community Hospital plans new $60M health campus Former CEO suing Cayuga Centers, seeks reinstatement Auburn school board approves $112M budget proposal with some job cuts When will Chick-fil-A open in Auburn? More details about restaurant revealed Two charged with welfare fraud in Cayuga County Cayuga County man charged with having child porn after FBI tip Developer moving forward with plan for 89-suite hotel in Auburn Cayuga County-area property transfers: April 27, 2026 Cayuga Centers cutting more than 300 jobs, 14 in Auburn Auburn police: Man wanted on felony drug charge found hiding in trunk Cayuga County-area police blotter: April 29, 2026 Who's running for school board in the Cayuga County area? Candidates for 9 districts kAm$>:E9 H:== 36 C:5:?8 $@ w2AAJ[ H9@’D f\`] %C2:?6C |2C< v=2EE 4@F=5 92G6 49@D6? 2 E2=6?E65 ;@4<6J 92=7 $>:E9’D 286[ 3FE 2AA2C6?E=J[ :E H2D ?6G6C 2 4@?D:56C2E:@? H:E9 E96 9@CD6 2?5 $>:E9 32D65 :? $@FE96C? r2=:7@C?:2] $>:E9 2=D@ 92AA6?D E@ 36 2 w2==\@7\u2>6C]k^AmkAmQw6 <66AD 9:>D6=7 :? AC:>6 4@?5:E:@?[Q v=2EE D2:5] Qp?5 6DA64:2==J :? 2 C246 =:<6 E96 s6C3J[ 9@H 5@ J@F C6A=246 E96 6IA6C:6?46 E92E 2 C:56C =:<6 |:<6 $>:E9 92DnQk^Am kAm$>:E9 :D D6E E@ C:56 :? E96 Q#F? 7@C E96 #@D6DQ 7@C 2 C64@C5 ahE9 E:>6] x? a__d[ 96 H@? E96 z6?EF4<J s6C3J @? d_\` =@?8D9@E v:24@>@] x? a_`g[ 96 H@? @? yFDE:7J 2?5 H6?E @? E@ H:? E96 %C:A=6 rC@H?]k^Am kAmQ*@FVC6 2=H2JD 6I4:E65 E@ >2<6 :E E@ E96 s6C3J[ 6DA64:2==J H96? J@F >2<6 :E H:E9 @?6 E92EVD C62==J 2 ECF6 4@?E6?56C[Q $>:E9 D2:5] Qp?5 x E9:?< E9:D 9@CD6 D9@H65 … :? E96 $2?E2 p?:E2 s6C3J E92E ?@E @?=J :D 96 8@:?8[ 3FE 96 24EF2==J 92D 2 3:8 492?46 E@ H:? :E 2==] w6 C62==J 5@6D]Qk^AmkAm$@ w2AAJ H6?E @77 2E bg\` :? :ED C24:?8 563FE 2?5 H@?] $:?46 E96?[ 96 92D C2465 E9C66 >@C6 E:>6D[ A=24:?8 E9:C5 @?46 2?5 H:??:?8 EH:46 — :?4=F5:?8 E96 $2?E2 p?:E2 s6C3J :? 2 C246 E92E 62C?65 E96 9@CD6 2 DA@E :? E96 s6C3J]k^Am kAmQx E9:?< H6’C6 ;FDE DE2CE:?8 E@ D66 E96 36DE @7 9:>[Q $>:E9 D2:5]k^AmkAmr@F=5 E96 D2>6 36 D2:5 7@C E96 dh\J62C\@=5 ;@4<6Jnk^Am The Thursday before the Kentucky Derby was officially dubbed Thurby in 2014, and drew more than 53,000 attendees last year. USA Today - Vertical 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Trainer Mark Glatt praises his Kentucky Derby 2026 horse So Happy Kentucky Derby 2026 horse So Happy's mind is "extremely good," says trainer Mark Glatt, and jockey Mike Smith knows the contender "inside and out." Watch Now: Related Video Josh Heupel on SEC depth compared to other football conferences Sights from the Kentucky Derby's Thurby festival at Churchill Downs Sights from the Kentucky Derby's Thurby festival at Churchill Downs Everything you need to know to enjoy the 2026 Kentucky Derby at home Everything you need to know to enjoy the 2026 Kentucky Derby at home What to know about win, place and show bets in horse racing What to know about win, place and show bets in horse racing
Trainer Mark Glatt praises his Kentucky Derby 2026 horse So Happy Kentucky Derby 2026 horse So Happy's mind is "extremely good," says trainer Mark Glatt, and jockey Mike Smith knows the contender "inside and out."
