With a total of 8,803 career victories, Pat Day stands fourth on the all-time list among North American jockeys. A four-time Eclipse Award winner as outstanding jockey, he led all riders in wins six times and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991.
He won nine Triple Crown races – highlighted by Lil E Tee’s Kentucky Derby success in 1992 – plus 12 Breeders’ Cup contests, among them the inaugural Classic in 1984 with Wild Again. He won the Classic four times altogether. He was the regular rider of Easy Goer, whom he described as the best he ever rode.
For an extended period the dominant rider on the Kentucky circuit, he is the winningmost rider in history at both Keeneland and Churchill Downs. He also earned a record 12 riding meet titles at Oaklawn Park; he also holds the U.S. record for most wins on a single card, with eight out of nine at Arlington Park in 1989.
Day, 67, retired in August 2005, after which a statue of him celebrating his Derby win was unveiled at Churchill Downs; the track also renamed the Derby Trial in his honour as the Pat Day Mile. A born-again Christian, Day has devoted himself to the Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy since his retirement and is their current president.
Who do you believe is the most important figure in the history of racing around the world?
Not real sure because I am not familiar with all the history of racing. I came into the sport in 1973 and at that time had only heard of Bill Shoemaker, Eddie Arcaro and the Kentucky Derby, and until late March had never even been to a bona fide horse race. But, in my time since then, I would say John Gaines, who was the visionary behind the Breeders’ Cup.
Which is your favourite venue and race anywhere in the world?
It was pretty close between Keeneland and Churchill Downs but in my opinion Keeneland presents the sport in its purest form. I’ve had some wonderful moments on all the major racetracks in North America and they all have their own flavours, but there’s just something about Keeneland. It’s a grand facility in a beautiful location at the heart of racehorse country and they race in April and October, which are the two prettiest times of the year here in Kentucky.
When I started, Keeneland was more like a social evening. Ladies were all decked out and guys all wearing coats and ties … it was just a very unique setting, with big crowds every day. When you came back after the race, they just clapped for the winner – not like some racecourses where, if you get beat on a short-priced horse, they like to express their displeasure and say you’re a bum!
There was none of that at Keeneland. It’s more of a sport there; other places, it’s more of a gambling outlet. Obviously wagering is what drives the ship, but it took a backseat at Keeneland.
My favourite race is at Churchill Downs, though. It’s the Kentucky Derby, as I’ll explain in my next answer.
What is your fondest memory in racing?
The Kentucky Derby of 1992, when I was blessed to ride Lil E Tee for my dear friends trainer Lynn Whiting and owner Mr Cal Partee to victory (see video above). It was the absolute highlight of my career.
Here in the States, it is THE race. When you say you’re involved in racing, everybody always asks you: ‘Have ever won the Kentucky Derby?’ There’s just so much history and nostalgia attached to the race. I’ve won a number of other races that were worth more money and played a bigger role in moving my career forward, but they all pale in comparison compared to winning the Derby.
I also had the greatest honour after my retirement when Churchill Downs unveiled a statue of me after winning the Derby. The pose is me after I got off Lil E Tee in the winner’s circle, just rejoicing and thanking God for allowing me the privilege and joy of winning that storied race. It’s a tremendous honour, to say the least.
What do you see as the biggest challenge racing faces today?
The declining fanbase; it’s dropped off immensely since I started riding in 1973, when they were still getting huge crowds, and not just on special days. But at that time we were the only game in town because you used to have to go to Las Vegas or Atlantic City for slot machines. Now there’s more competition for the entertainment dollar and there’s a casino on every corner.
I’m sad to say we’ve missed a generation who just don’t love horseracing and the fanbase has dropped off tremendously – to the extent that we are dependent on alternative gambling to subsidise racing!
We’re living in a microwave society. We want everything and we want it right now and, while I’ve never personally enjoyed the gambling aspect very much, if you’re wanting fast action, horseracing is not the place when you can roll the dice or flip over the cards.
If you could change one thing in racing, what would it be?
Well, obviously I’d like us to do something to reverse the trend with regard to the fanbase, but I admit I don’t know how we do it. But it’s the lifeblood of the sport – getting people enthused about racing.
We missed a generation who didn’t learn to read the races, and the sport is not necessarily conducive to newcomers. For the true fan, they’ll want to go to the paddock and look at the horses, and if they want to gamble they will probably have already processed all the information, but it can be very intimidating to walk up to a window as a novice. We’ve failed to educate them and get them enthused.
So for me, that’s what I’d like to change. I’d like there to have the stands full every day. I don’t know if we can ever regain that level of popularity but rebuilding the fanbase to some extent has to be a priority.
I can’t imagine riders around the world riding at the moment with no fans. We all love to play in front of a full house. I couldn’t imagine people on stage putting everything into their acting if there is nobody in the house.