At the age of 59. jockey Mike Smith is still a player in the sport’s most popular race, the Kentucky Derby.
Smith, who grew up in Dexter, New Mexico, will be aboard So Happy on Saturday, May 2, in the race billed as the most exciting two minutes in sports at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
Smith, who got his first Derby mount in 1984, will be back for the first time since finishing 12th with Taibia in 2022.
He is already considered a legend of the game after winning the Triple Crown in 2018.
Mike Smith’s history with Kentucky Derby
Smith has won two Kentucky Derby races in his storied career. He won with Giacomo in 2005 and with Justify in 2018. Justify went on to win the Triple Crown. Should Smith win with So Happy, he would replace then-54-year-old Bill Shoemaker, who rode Ferdinand to victory in 1986, as the oldest jockey to win the Derby.
This year’s Kentucky Derby is Smith’s 29th appearance in the race.
Mike Smith jockey highlights
Mike Smith’s 2026 horse in the Kentucky Derby, So Happy
What time does the Kentucky Derby start?
Kentucky Derby 2026 post positions, horse, trainer, jockey, odds
Click on a horse’s name to learn more:
1. Renegade, Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz Jr., 4-1
2. Albus, Riley Mott, Manny Franco, 30-1
3. Intrepido, Jeff Mullins, Hector Berrios, 50-1
4. Litmus Test, Bob Baffert, Martin Garcia, 30-1
5. Right to Party, Kenny McPeek, Chris Elliott, 30-1 (scratched)
6. Commandment, Brad Cox, Luis Saez, 6-1
7. Danon Bourbon, Manabu Ikezoe, Atsuya Nishimura, 20-1
8. So Happy, Mark Glatt, Mike Smith, 15-1
9. The Puma, Gustavo Delgado, Javier Castellano, 10-1
10. Wonder Dean, Daisuke Takayanagi, Ryusei Sakai, 30-1
11. Incredibolt, Riley Mott, Jaime Torres, 20-1
12. Chief Wallabee, Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado, 8-1
13. Silent Tactic, Mark Casse, Cristian Torres, 20-1 (Scratched)
14. Potente, Bob Baffert, Juan Hernandez, 20-1
15. Emerging Market, Chad Brown, Flavien Prat, 15-1
16. Pavlovian, Doug O’Neill, Edwin Maldonado, 30-1
17. Six Speed, Bhupat Seemar, Brian Hernandez Jr., 50-1
18. Further Ado, Brad Cox, John Velazquez, 6-1
19. Golden Tempo, Cherie DeVaux, Jose Ortiz, 30-1
20. Fulleffort, Brad Cox, Tyler Gaffalione, 20-1 (Scratched)
21. Great White, John Ennis, Alex Achard, 50-1
22. Ocelli, Whit Beckman, Joe Ramos, 50-1
23. Robusta, Doug O’Neill, Emisael Jaramillo, 50-1
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: New Mexico jockey Mike Smith eyes history again in 2026 Kentucky Derby
Reporting by Felix F. Chavez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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