Spotlight 'Grandpa' jockey seeks history, aims to become oldest to win Kentucky Derby Josh Peter USA Today May 1, 2026 12 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 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp 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< $9@6>2<6C’D C64@C5]k^Am People are also reading… Friday Five: Celebrity spotted, Chick-fil-a opens and Rotary at the library Concord parks projects moving forward, openings on horizon Friday Five: Concerts return to Concord, a mall business closes and more Google bringing warehousing operation to Kannapolis Gritty and fun: Hickory Ridge’s winning identity Kannapolis issues statement about last week's water contamination As Dale Earnhardt’s mythology grows, so does that of his NC hometown. ‘One of us’ Cabarrus Transportation Services connects eligible residents to care, resources TMSA charter schools celebrate new Concord campuses Trump safe after being rushed from White House correspondents dinner; shooter in custody Northwest Cabarrus closes in on SPC title with win over Robinson Cabarrus Sheriff’s Office urges caution, clarity on e-bike laws Concord electric utility earns top national safety honor UPDATED -E. coli found in Kannapolis drinking water, a few Concord customers affected too Trump signs bill to fund DHS agencies including Secret Service, TSA kAm$>: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 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." Recommended for you 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."
