Jockeys, Animal Planet reality: 2nd Season Fri Aug 21st

[Glimmerglass]

Has anyone seen any teasers for this program scheduled to air in Feb 2009?

All the filming was for the show ended with the Breeders’ Cup so everything should be ‘done’. I would think that some initially testing of the show would’ve been done.

Some of the assorted articles: Sports Business Journal Oct 2008

The series will focus on the high-pressure life of jockeys, who spend their days riding 1,200-pound thoroughbreds at high speeds and whose pay depends on how well their mounts perform.

Animal Planet is filming 12 episodes of 30 minutes each.

Foret and Haire said jockeys hope the show will bring more fans to the sport of horse racing. In addition to Talamo, jockeys who signed deals are Alex Solis, Chantal Sutherland, Jon Court, Mike Smith, Aaron Gryder, Kayla Stra and Brandon Meier.

The show began filming at the start of Santa Anita’s Oak Tree meet in late September and was to culminate this past weekend with the filming of the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita.

It would be appear to be MTV-esq: NY Post Dec 4, 2008 ‘Laguna Beach for Jockeys’

The show, titled “Jockeys,” is produced by the same company, Go Go Luckey Productions, that produced “Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County” and its followup show, “Newport Harbor,” for MTV.

Animal Planet execs say “Jockeys” represents the channel’s new, edgier approach to its lineup of animal shows, typified by the new “Whale Wars,” which has already been renewed for a second season.

As expected A true gem from the PeTA BB’s on this show:

The new show is called “Jockeys” …

I will have to say that is surprised me to find this show on a network that seemed to champion animal issues. How can a network with shows like “Animal Cops” and “Whale Wars” have a show that will glamorize an industry that is so ruthless on its animal athletes?

What can we do? I know not watch the show…i know write letters, but to who? What will make an impact and maybe make sure there is not s second season of this show? Ideas?

This quip from another was almost as good:

I’m for sure those horses dont want to be on TV and I heard the jockeys are mistreated too!

Ah the uphill battle that racing faces before the gates even open. Such fools

Anyhow, I suppose to some degree they’ll focus on the very attractive Chantal Sutherland and if they go MTV on this then they’ll play up the fact that fellow cast member and jockey Mike Smith is her boyfriend.

[Toadie_s_mom]

I hadn’t heard about it, but thanks for the heads up! Really good group they came up with. All talented and well spoken. I’ve been watching Kayla Stra, and while she picked a tough competitive circuit to start out in (or maybe she’s been somewhere else), I hope she makes it.

As to the peta crap, I just have no comment:(

[Blinkers_On]

Ah yes. myself and three friends had to sign waivers as we were filmed at the paddock.

[Glimmerglass]

If anyone is looking for a horse-fix on tv or rather on-line, equidaily.com points out an episode of the new TNT drama “Leverage” (which is about insurance investigation somewhat in the spirit of the brilliantly BBC done show “Hustle”) …

I digress: Television Review: Leverage, “The Two-Horse Job”

Episode preview on-line

The episode will be available on-line for free soon: here at TNT ‘DramaVision’ - look for Two-Horse Job

[Glimmerglass]

BloodHorse 12-24-08 “Animal Planet to Air ‘Jockeys’ TV Series”

“Jockeys,” a TV series billed as a ‘docu-soap,’ will premiere on the Animal Planet channel Feb. 6 with a pair of 30-minute episodes. The program is a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of seven jockeys at work and home. Featured are riders Aaron Gryder, Jon Court, Joe Talamo, Alex Solis, Mike Smith, Chantal Sutherland, and Kayla Stra.

The episodes follow the riders as they compete at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting this past fall. Previews show a well-produced effort with good production values, with race footage intermingled with scenes from the jockeys’ room as well as their home lives. They include interviews with family members.

The first show, which features a rivalry between Talamo and Gryder, feels a bit trumped up for drama sake, but remains compelling nonetheless. A subsequent episode shows the relationship between Smith and Sutherland as they try to make their romantic life mesh with the pressures of their jobs.

“Jockeys” will air two installments each Friday beginning at 9 p.m. eastern and pacific time. Twelve episodes have been shot.

Video - teaser promo from Animal Planet (youtube)

[Glimmerglass]

As an aside here is an interesting quip:

SF Chronicle Dec 27, 2008 “‘Suspect’s’ winning jockey sets sights beyond the track”

The Los Angeles area also is a convenient venue for Chantal Sutherland’s off-track endeavors.

“I’ve got a PR person, and I spend my Mondays and Tuesdays (nonracing days) working on things,” she said. “I’m in a TV series about jockeys on Animal Planet (beginning Feb. 6), we’re working on getting on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ and I’ll be at the Golden Globe Awards (Mistura Beauty is a sponsor for the Jan. 11 event). I want to do it all.”

The CTV remark of “she’s the Danica Patrick of horseracing” isn’t fair as Danica while talented never has found the success Chantal has within her respective profession.

[Dixon]

I wonder if the “Jockeys” show will address bulimia.

[Blinkers_On]

or lasix or both?

[ThisTooShallPass]

Was wondering when a COTHER would finally get around to posting about this show. The info has been floating around upon other forums for a while now. I, for one, am looking forward to watching it, if I can.

[Milocalwinnings]

I really am looking forward to this series, the commercial I have seen made it look quite interesting.

Speaking of it showing some of the not so great aspects of jockeys, there was a documentary on last summer (I believe? maybe last winter) about jockeys and the difficulties they face in the industry with making weight etc. It was a really good documentary and I highly recommend watching it- it brought to light many things jockeys have to deal with in order to get a ride as well as the long term problems from them.

[Glimmerglass]

The series will debut Feb 6th and will be shown Friday nights at 9 PM ET/PT

The players from Animal Plant (their descriptions):

•THE ICON – Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith is a living legend and a fan favorite. His fierce riding style and stringent pre-race ritual has earned him a shaman-like reputation among fellow jockeys.

•THE HOTSHOT – Joe Talamo may be young, but he already has taken the racing world by storm earning nearly $4 million in purse money in one racing season.

•THE BREAKOUT FEMALE STAR – Canadian jockey star Chantal Sutherland is a woman who’s dominating the tracks. And, because she’s dating fellow jockey Mike Smith, it puts her in competition with the man she loves. Can they make this work?

•THE WORKING MAN – Aaron Gryder is credited with more than 3,000 career wins and is motivated by supporting his family.

•THE ELDER STATESMAN – After racing more than 30 years, Jon Court is the consummate veteran, and he has no plans to quit.

•THE NEW GIRL – Fresh-faced Kayla Stra is racing gold in her native land of Australia, but only time will tell if she has what it takes to be a success in the US.

•THE COMEBACK KID – Alex Solis bounced back after a broken back injury nearly took his life. He’s been to the winner’s circle 4,000 times, but he’s yet to be inducted into the Jockey Hall of Fame.

[pAin_t_Misbehavin]

Thanks for posting. I’m off to set my TiVo now.

[Glimmerglass]

I spied this extended trailer for the series (at 3 min +) which sadly seems to show waaaaay too many crashes. I’m not a fan with milking the danager of the job by showing horses breaking down. If a wreck occured during the filming and involving one of the characters - so be it. Otherwise I tend to think its simply gratuitous violence.

[Blinkers_On]

It sucks that they depict it this way… and Jimmy the Hat?? This is who else gets air time??? oh boy.
And Kayla IS a girl and not a ton of jockey. Sorry but it’s true.

[Glimmerglass]

It’s a shame that Animal Planet has chosen to put 1-hour before the premier of Jockeys the racing installment of their ‘thrills and spills’ show - Untamed & Uncut

As an aside, I didn’t know that Chantal Sutherland is as wild as she is in her actions until last nights Eclipse Awards. I think she enjoys the spotlight just a tad.

[LexInVA]

Hopefully it will be tasteful and not sleazy. But I’m not holding my breath. Several years ago when the channel was going through one of their many relaunches over the past thirteen years, this one towards family-oriented programming, they were given the mandate to bring horse-related content to the channel, and this is but the latest attempt to do so after having not done very well with the previous programs. As far as racing goes, I’d rather see a show about the people behind the jockeys. The horse trainers, owners, and breeders. But I don’t think we’d get that given that AP’s latest change in tone is going towards thrilling and dramatic reality TV.

[VelvetNoses]

@LexInVA;3838151

Hopefully it will be tasteful and not sleazy. But I’m not holding my breath. Several years ago when the channel was going through one of their many relaunches over the past thirteen years, this one towards family-oriented programming, they were given the mandate to bring horse-related content to the channel, and this is but the latest attempt to do so after having not done very well with the previous programs. As far as racing goes, I’d rather see a show about the people behind the jockeys. The horse trainers, owners, and breeders. But I don’t think we’d get that given that AP’s latest change in tone is going towards thrilling and dramatic reality TV.

I have hopes that this series will promote the sport and get more people to take an interest in it. The promos are emphasizing the danger aspect, the rivalries and of course the Mike Smith/Chantal Sutherland relationship. I hope it doesn’t focus too much on the “thrills and spills” part. It would be a shame if the show creates new fans who only go to the races to see a “crash”.

It does seem that a natural plot line would be to follow Smith through the Oak Tree meet, culminating in Zenyatta’s victory in the Breeders’ Cup. That, at least, would have a “feel good” aspect to it.

[Glimmerglass]

Positive comments from the San Diego Union Tribune’s Hank Wesh who has previewed the first episode:

Racing fans, particularly ones from Southern California, will appreciate the closer look they are afforded into the personal lives and circumstances of a representative group of riders they’ve watched regularly and upon whom they’ve likely placed many good-faith wagers.

Those who don’t follow racing will have information and revelations in store for them concerning the inner workings of an increasingly overlooked sport and the under-publicized athletes which the group represents.

Animal Planet spokesperson Tahli Kouperstein said “Jockeys” represents a new type of series for the network. Kind of an unscripted soap opera or docudrama. It is taking over the time slot of the popular series “Whale Wars” and the network hope is that the favorable time slot and the content will make it a hit.

[VelvetNoses]

I was able to preview the first episode.

I am sure that Animal Planet is using this first episode as the hook upon which they hope to get viewers to tune into subsequent episodes. It looks like the hooks are danger, intense competition, rivalries, and love lives. All the stuff that makes reality TV, well, reality TV.

The hook for me is learning about horse racing through the eyes of the jockeys – getting it from their perpective. I also like learning what makes athletes tick, what motivates them and keeps them going.

The first episode touches nicely on that. It also emphasizes the hard work required for jockey’s to stay at the top of their game, and how important winning is to a jockey’s financial security.

It looks like a future episode will also touch on how jockeys are obsessed with making weight.

I liked the time spent following Kyla Stra and her agent around, early in the morning on the backside, as they tried to drum up business. It was especially interesting as Kyla is fairly new to the colony and she is a woman, but she has a long way to go to be a top rider.

I really did not care for some of the more personal stuff. I was OK with interviews with family and loved ones regarding life in the horse racing world. But, in all honesty, I was a pretty bored watching the scenes with Mike Smith and Chantal Sutherland. Their conversations seemed a little silly and I couldn’t figure out why I needed to hear them. I mean, I really don’t care how much closet space Chantal needs for her clothes. But I am probably in the minority there.

Episode one does focus on the danger involved. There are scenes of horses and riders going down and interviews with jockeys about injuries.

Future episodes look like they will highlight emotions and temper tantrums in the jock’s room. One trailer shows two jockeys engaged in a fist fight out on the track and a jockey having a fit and throwing all of his riding boots onto the floor. Episode one sets up a rivalry between Joe Talamo and Aaron Gryder.

I imagine the producers will follow Mike Smith and Zenyatta to the Breeders’ Cup.

I will be eager to hear what others think about the program as the weeks progress.

[Glimmerglass]

Animal Planet’s web homepage for the series is up with variety of offerings

They even have a ‘message board’ where you can join the discussion in our message boards to chat about the show, ask the Jockeys questions and share info on horse welfare.

Alas I only scored 9 of 10 with the ‘popular phrases’ quiz earning me quote: "Congratulations! When it comes to knowledge about the world of horse racing and related idioms, the odds are in your favor! "

Canada’s National Post newspaper 2/2/09 “Opposites at track — Mike Smith and Chantal Sutherland”