“The Greatest Of All Time” is a title that is earned by more than just championships, rings, and records. It recognizes the amount of adversity a person overcomes and how they respond to their environment on their path to achieving legendary status.
Mike Smith is the GOAT when it comes to Horse Racing, and this interview will show you a glimpse into the steps he took in order to get there.
What defines being the greatest of all time? In most sports, the immediate answer is championships, rings and records. And while they are absolutely part of the puzzle, WHO a person is, how they hold themselves, and how they respond to adversity – is what solidifies a persons status in the conversation of all time best.
This week’s guest on WIN: Championship Traits for life, is legendary Hall-Of-Fame Rider, Mike Smith.
Mike has been one of the leading riders in U.S. Thoroughbred racing since the early 1990s and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 2003. He has a RECORD 26 Breeders Cup wins and 10 American Classics wins including the Triple Crown in 2018 where he rode Justify at the age of 52. If that was not enough, in 2019 Mike took over the top spot of grade 1 wins by a jockey with 217.
To put it short, Mike is the GOAT when it comes to horse racing, and we had a great discussion about mental fitness with him that we’re very excited to share with you.
Mike takes us back to how he got started in horse racing, and how it shaped him as a person: 1:53
Mike shares a time he faced massive adversity and how he overcame it: 7:17
Mike talks about how he applies trust to his teams and how he develops that trust with a thoroughbred: 13:10
Mike shares how he creates maximum present moment awareness when he is riding: 17:27
Mike discusses the longevity of his career both physically and mentally: 24:43
Mike shares the question he wishes people would ask him about his career: 31:57
Mike shares what mental fitness means to him and how he practices it: 37:54
Mike talks about the mentorship for an up and coming jockey: 42:16
