Riding with history

One Hundred and thirty one years. that’s how long the city of Louisville and its famed Churchill Downs have hosted the Kentucky Derby. Of the thousands of thoroughbreds to have loaded in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May, only eleven proceeded to capture the next two jewels and claim the Triple Crown. One of those eleven is the extraordinary Seattle Slew.

"The People’s Horse," as he was dubbed during his 1977 campaign for immortality, Slew entered the race for the Triple Crown that year with a flawless 3-0 record and would stride into the history books several weeks later as the only undefeated winner of horse racing’s most elusive achievement. In the driver's seat piloting Slew the entire way, was jockey Jean Cruguet.

Born in France in 1939, the sharp-tongued, hard-nosed, rough-riding jockey quickly cemented himself as a top-rate rider on the New York circuit in the late 60's. Never coy about his opinions, Cruguet’s confidence both delighted, and agitated spectators and stakeholders. Three days before he was to ride Seattle Slew in the Kentucky Derby, he brazenly guaranteed victory for his colt to a sea of reporters. Three days later, his riding did the talking.

Cruguet was on board numerous champion thoroughbreds, including Hoist The Flag, for whom he famously boasted, “The only way he can lose is if he falls down.” Now, at the age of 66, he continues his brilliance on horseback as an exercise rider at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. This is where I found him, fresh off the training track--in his element--and discovered that the great ones never change.


Hotwalker: When did you first realize that you wanted to spend your life riding horses?

Jean Cruguet: I left school when I was seventeen, and I wanted to do sports. I was always good at sports, even basketball. But you know, my size wasn’t the best for basketball. I tried fighting, being a boxer. I was a good fighter, but I didn’t want to get hit in the nose for the rest of my life. I didn’t know much about horses, but with my size and weight it seemed like a good fit.


Is that what brought you over to the United States?

JC: Well, I was in the (French) army for three years, then I came back and started riding. I spent six months is France, in the Bush leagues. I was pretty good, but I knew I had to go to England or the US if I wanted a good career a rider. So, next thing I know, I’m with my wife on my way to Florida to ride for the winter.

Not a bad place to be for the winter.

JC: (laughs) No. I didn’t stay there long, only a couple of months. I went to New York soon after, and there I stayed.


You said riding a horse came natural for you- as you indeed proved- but what are some of the less glamorous aspects of becoming a jockey?

JC: It’s hard, because people assume that most jockeys use drugs, but it’s more than that, you know. It’s really tough; a lot of competition and you gotta get lucky a few times and work hard. Especially in this country, there are a lot of Spanish names but I was “the French guy," one of the first. Then of course you have to learn the language.


You completed the Triple Crown on a Saturday, obviously. How was your life different on Sunday?

JC: Not too much. I was 28 when I won the Triple Crown, so I had already made a name for myself. Of course, when you win the Triple Crown your owner will take care of you a little, you know?


Sure, I’d say you deserved it.

JC: I won the Derby. Yes, I was on the best horse, but it was me that won that one, not the horse. We came out of the gate and he went like this (motioning towards the ground) so I kept him composed and we were in last by that point. Then I-bomp! beem! boom!-past three or four guys to be where I wanted to be. Most riders wouldn’t do that. But I knew the first time I got beat with this horse…I probably didn’t enjoy it like I should’ve.


You earned the reputation as a ‘rough-rider’ early in your career, did you not?

JC: Oh yes. My first year over here…you know in France that’s how you ride. Get out of the way or get killed. So that’s how I did it when I first came over, and I got, you know, 10-day (suspension), 10-day, 10-day.


You have never been shy about speaking your mind. Did your sharp tongue ever get you in trouble?

JC: (laughs) Oh yes. Hey, that’s me, that’s the why I am. You can be right 9 out of 10 times, but that one time you’re wrong, everyone’s saying “Oh, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” They forgot that 9 times you were right, you know?


When did you first realize with Seattle Slew that you were sitting on greatness?

JC: Well, the first time I breezed him, and he was OK, nothing spectacular. But the next time…I was hanging on for dear life, and I told the owners they had something big.


Do you see any positive or negative changes in the sport since you started riding?

JC: Oh yeah. It used to be, you know, 30, 35 years ago, you knew who was going to win the Derby, you know Hoist the Flag or Seattle Slew…you knew who was the best 3 year old. Now, everyone is so concerned about money, and every horse comes into the Derby with money, and nobody knows which horse is actually good, and which horse had greedy owners. Nowadays, people don’t care if they win or lose, they just want to get paid. To me, that’s a disgrace.


You competed into your 50’s, and you still ride everyday. How do you continue to stay fit?

JC: Well, I do 175 push ups when I get up. And I drink a lot of water and take vitamins.


175? Amazing. Did you have a similar routine during your career?

No, I only did 100 push ups back then. I couldn’t get too big you know, nobody wants a bulky jockey.


As Cruguet climbs onto his next morning ride a confident smirk creeps over his face. After all, this horse is in his hands now, and if it doesn't know it now it sure will when they hit the track. As they speed up, the world slows down. The rider and horse become one.

Reviled for his swagger, revered for his record, Cruguet is truly a unique character in a sport full of them. He’s a loving father and husband who still jumps out of bed every morning to do what he loves: ride. Brash and bold he may be, but his remarkable results and unyielding love and respect for his animals speaks for itself. Although I’m sure he’d have something to say about it.