Robbie Davis
Encyclopedia
Robbie Glen Davis is a retired American
Thoroughbred horse racing
jockey
.
At age 14 Robbie got his first job at Buddy's Pizza in Pocatello, Idaho, working as a dish washer and busboy.
Robbie Davis began his involvement with horse racing
as a stable boy, cleaning horse stalls at a racetrack in his native Idaho
and by age 17 was riding in quarter horse
races at county fairs
.
In 1997, he was honored by Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Long Island for his support of that organization.
flat racing
and in 1982 moved to compete at New York
area tracks. He earned his first Grade I
victory in the 1985 Meadowlands Cup on board Bounding Basque.
During his career, Davis won a number of premier races including the 1986 Washington, D.C. International Stakes, the 1994 Pimlico Special
and Canadian International Stakes
, as well as the 1998 Wood Memorial Stakes
. His best result in two Kentucky Derby
starts was a fifth with Mecke in 1995 with whom he also finished fifth in the Preakness Stakes
. Of his five mounts in the Belmont Stakes
, Davis's best finish came aboard Kingpost in the 1988 running won by Risen Star
.
On October 13, 1988, Robbie Davis was involved in a racing accident at Belmont Park
in Elmont, New York
that claimed the life of friend and fellow jockey, Mike Venezia
. Venezia's horse, Mr. Walter K., broke his right front leg on the backstretch
; as the horse fell, Venezia jumped and rolled under the hooves of Davis' mount Drums in the Night. Venezia died instantly. The trauma resulted in Davis leaving racing for several years. After returning briefly on a few occasions, he came back full time in 1992. Five years later, he was voted the Mike Venezia Memorial Award
which honor a jockey who exemplifies extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship.
at large for the Jockeys' Guild
. In 2006, he was nominated for induction in the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
.
A classic car
collector, he and his wife own an 80 acres (32.4 ha) farm in upstate New York
, not far from the Saratoga Race Course
. Parents of six children, their daughter Jacqueline was one of eleven students in the inaugural class at the North American Racing Academy
in Versailles, Kentucky
, founded as a jockey training program through the auspices of the Kentucky Community Technical College System. Jackie Davis won her first career race on November 5, 2008, aboard 64-1 shot Blue Hill Bay at Aqueduct; she has won six races as of March 2009. Her father serves as her agent.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred horse racing
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
.
Early life
Davis grew up in a single parent household forced onto welfare, something that would impact him for the rest of his life.At age 14 Robbie got his first job at Buddy's Pizza in Pocatello, Idaho, working as a dish washer and busboy.
Robbie Davis began his involvement with horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
as a stable boy, cleaning horse stalls at a racetrack in his native Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
and by age 17 was riding in quarter horse
American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name came from its ability to outdistance other breeds of horses in races of a quarter mile or less; some individuals have been clocked at speeds up to 55 mph...
races at county fairs
Fair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
.
In 1997, he was honored by Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Long Island for his support of that organization.
Career
In 1981 he switched to ThoroughbredThoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
flat racing
Flat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
and in 1982 moved to compete at New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
area tracks. He earned his first Grade I
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
victory in the 1985 Meadowlands Cup on board Bounding Basque.
During his career, Davis won a number of premier races including the 1986 Washington, D.C. International Stakes, the 1994 Pimlico Special
Pimlico Special
The Pimlico Special is an American thoroughbred horse race held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland in mid May. It is raced on dirt over a distance of 1³/16 miles . The race is currently open to horses age three and older and offers a purse of $250,000.The Pimlico Special was first run in...
and Canadian International Stakes
Canadian International Stakes
The Canadian International Stakes is a $2 million Grade I Canadian stakes race on Turf for thoroughbred racehorses three years of age and up held annually in October at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario....
, as well as the 1998 Wood Memorial Stakes
Wood Memorial Stakes
The Wood Memorial Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Jamaica, New York. It is currently a Grade I race run over a distance of 9 furlongs on dirt....
. His best result in two Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
starts was a fifth with Mecke in 1995 with whom he also finished fifth in the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
. Of his five mounts in the Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
, Davis's best finish came aboard Kingpost in the 1988 running won by Risen Star
Risen Star
Risen Star, , was a champion thoroughbred race horse.The dark bay colt was the son of the great Triple Crown winner Secretariat out of the mare Ribbon. Bred by Arthur B. Hancock III and Leone J. Peters, Risen Star was bought by Louisianans Ronnie Lamarque and Louie Roussel III at the 1987 Calder...
.
On October 13, 1988, Robbie Davis was involved in a racing accident at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
in Elmont, New York
Elmont, New York
Elmont is an unincorporated census-designated place located in the northwest corner of the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, along its border with the borough of Queens in New York City...
that claimed the life of friend and fellow jockey, Mike Venezia
Mike Venezia
Michael Joseph Venezia was an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey who was killed in a racing accident....
. Venezia's horse, Mr. Walter K., broke his right front leg on the backstretch
Backstretch
The Backstretch is the area in a horse racetrack where horses are stabled and the training and daily work of maintaining the horses occurs. In many race tracks it will be found directly across the track from the grandstands and may also be called "the other side of the track."-Description:A...
; as the horse fell, Venezia jumped and rolled under the hooves of Davis' mount Drums in the Night. Venezia died instantly. The trauma resulted in Davis leaving racing for several years. After returning briefly on a few occasions, he came back full time in 1992. Five years later, he was voted the Mike Venezia Memorial Award
Mike Venezia Memorial Award
Mike Venezia Memorial Award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor given annually by the New York Racing Association to honor a jockeys who exemplifies extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship...
which honor a jockey who exemplifies extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship.
Retirement
Retired in 2002, Davis served as a DirectorBoard of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
at large for the Jockeys' Guild
Jockeys' Guild
The Jockeys' Guild Inc. is an American trade association based in Lexington, Kentucky, representing thoroughbred horse racing and American quarter horse professional jockeys...
. In 2006, he was nominated for induction in the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
.
A classic car
Classic car
A classic car is an older car; the exact meaning is variable. The Classic Car Club of America maintains that a car must be between 20 and 40 years old to be a classic, while cars over 45 years fall into the Antique Class.- Classic Car Club of America :...
collector, he and his wife own an 80 acres (32.4 ha) farm in upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
, not far from the Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...
. Parents of six children, their daughter Jacqueline was one of eleven students in the inaugural class at the North American Racing Academy
North American Racing Academy
The North American Racing Academy is an accredited college in Lexington, Kentucky. It offers the only college degree program in the United States focused on producing jockeys.-History:...
in Versailles, Kentucky
Versailles, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,511 people, 3,160 households, and 2,110 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,330 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 88.18% White, 8.67% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.35%...
, founded as a jockey training program through the auspices of the Kentucky Community Technical College System. Jackie Davis won her first career race on November 5, 2008, aboard 64-1 shot Blue Hill Bay at Aqueduct; she has won six races as of March 2009. Her father serves as her agent.