Legendary jockeys return to the track

Associated Press

ARCADIA, Calif. — Jerry Bailey, Pat Day, Gary Stevens, Julie Krone and Angel Cordero Jr. are among eight Hall of Fame jockeys coming out of retirement Saturday to ride in a "Living Legends" race at Santa Anita.

The race will officially count toward the winner's career victory total and has been approved for parimutuel wagering by the California Horse Racing Board. The riders will be licensed Friday.

Mounts were drawn by lot, and Bailey wound up on the early 5-2 favorite, Dee Dee's Legacy. He won 5,893 races before retiring nearly three years ago and becoming a TV racing commentator.

"You'll never see this again," Bailey said. "I will tell you that for sure because I won't be involved again. This is the one and only time I'm going to do this."

The jockeys will ride in a $47,000 allowance race for California-breds at 7 furlongs. Each horse was assigned 126 pounds.

Also in the field are: Sandy Hawley aboard Tribal Chief; Day on Swift Demand; Jacinto Vasquez on Kalookan Event; Stevens on Scandalous; Chris McCarron on Waafi; Krone on Major Smoke; and Cordero on Stathy.

At 65, Cordero will be the oldest rider, followed by Vasquez, 64. Hawley is 59, Day is 55, McCarron is 53, Bailey is 51, while Stevens and Krone are both 45.