BILLY " THE KID " ANTONGEORGI

Q & A With Jockey William "Billy The Kid" Antongeorgi III
Thu, 04/17/2008 - 2:02pm — archer_the_great
William Antongeorgi III
I had the pleasure of being on hand at Hollywood Park the day William Antongeorgi III rode his very first race. He instantly captured the hearts of horse racing fans in attendance by displaying nerves of steel through out the seven furlong race on the main track. Watch as William "Billy The Kid" Antongeorgi III guides Five O'Clock to the wire.
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Q: What made you choose being a jockey as your occupation?A:I grew up around the racetrack. My father was a jockey and my mother was a trainer and rode races for a short time. I started riding show jumpers first then went to galloping at the track for extra money and fell in love with it. The rest is history.
Q: When and where did you ride your first pro race?A: December 4th 2005 at Hollywood Park
Q: What do you remember about your first winning race?A: I won the first race I rode and lost my right iron out of the gate. I just kept thinking "hang on, hang on and hurry up wire"
Q: How did you celebrate your first win?A: I think I had dinner with my agent that night. Nothing too exciting because I had to work a horses early the next morning.
Q: How do you prepare your mind before races?A: I just focus in on the race. Staying calm is the most important thing. When you're calm the horses know and most of the time they relax and run better.
Q: Do you have a favorite horse that you like to watch, ride, or root for?A: I always loved watching Lava Man run. Hopefully he will return in top shape to defend his title in the Hollywood Gold Cup this year.
Q: When you are riding a horse and you have to make a choice on the final turn between taking the hole on the rail, going 4 wide, or waiting down the stretch for an opening, which do you choose and why?A: The rail is the shortest way around, so if you have a horse that likes to run on the inside then you take it. Some horses run better out in the clear and taking them to the rail will only cause them to slow down. You just have to know your horse and the way the race sets up.
Q: Is there another Jockey that you look up to?A: Alex Solis, David Flores, Corey Nakatani and Mike Smith all helped me out when I rode with them. They taught me how to ride smart races. They helped me train and get fit by running with them and going to the gym. To learn from such good riders really helped me with my performance on and off the track.
Q: Is it best to let the horse run his/her own race, or for you to position the horse based on the competition?A: From my experience, it is the jockey's job to put the horse in the right position to win the race. It is up to the horse from there. When I receive instructions from the trainers I try my best to follow them, but sometimes the race unfolds different from the way it looks on paper. That's where knowing the horse and the competition come into play.
Q: Is there a type of horse that is easier to ride,? For example front runner, stalker, mid pack, or closer.A: If they can run, it doesn't matter which style to me. There are just some thing you have to watch out for like speed duels with front runners and slow paces with closers.
Q: Which winning race gets your more pumped up, the stretch duel victory or the run away victory ?A: A stretch duel is my favorite. I love that battle down the lane. Gets me pumped and the crowd loves it.
After undergoing surgery in November of 2007, William wasted no time getting ready for his return to the races. He recently returned to early morning work outs in mid March of 2008. He has already posted wins in his return to racing in April. William is currently riding at Bay Meadows Race Course located in San Mateo California. While in Northern California he faces a jockey colony that includes Russell A. Baze, the most winningest jockey in North America flat races.