Life After Winning the Kentucky Derby with Brian and Jamie Hernandez: Ep 01
Highlights from the episode:
The moment Brian knew this win felt different
Why Jamie calls this lifestyle “beautifully complicated”
How they make space for family when the schedule never slows down
The little things that help them stay in sync on and off the track
Podcast show notes:
You’ve seen the finish lines. The photos. The trophies. But I’ve always been curious about what no one tells you about the time after the spotlight fades.That’s why I wanted to sit down with Brian and Jamie Hernandez. Brian had just pulled off one of the biggest wins of his career—but what stuck with me wasn’t the race. It was everything that came next. The drive home. The shift from jockey to dad. The way he and Jamie navigate a life built around fast horses, full calendars, and a deep commitment to each other and their family.
In this conversation, Brian and Jamie opened up about the emotional highs, the everyday tradeoffs, and the behind-the-scenes partnership that makes it all work. It’s a story about staying grounded while chasing something big, and building a life that matters even more than the win.
What You’ll Discover:
What it actually felt like to win the Derby… and then head home to real life (10:37)
Jamie’s view from the home front, and what she wishes more people understood (18:14)
How they’re raising kids with a rhythm shaped by both racing and presence (19:40)
The invisible labor behind the public spotlight (22:05)
What keeps them connected while chasing something big (37:10)
There’s something about Brian and Jamie’s story that reminds me of all the quiet, unsung moments that happen off-camera. The balancing acts. The family dinners. The deep love that doesn’t make headlines.
Connect with Brian
Follow Brian on Instagram
Bonus Feature: D Wayne Lukas
Also, do not miss a special clip (41:18) with the horse trainer whose name has become synonymous with greatness, D. Wayne Lukas. And to see more about the special part of his life he revealed to me in when we talked, check out this amazing blog post made possible by his wife, Laurie, who shared with some of Lukas’s work with us.
If you’ve ever wondered how to stay grounded while chasing something big, this one’s for you.
See More about D. Wayne Lukas
Check out my blog post, “Horse Trainer D. Wayne Lukas’s Unexpected Poetry and Perspective.”
Be sure to subscribe to Things No One Tells You—Lindsay’s podcast all about the real, unfiltered conversations we don’t always have but should. From big names to everyday voices, each episode dives into the moments that shape us. Listen wherever you get your podcasts!
Follow along with Lindsay below!
Full Transcript
[00:00:00] Jamie: “Dad, I don't want you to win the Derby again.” And we were like, why wouldn't you want him to win the Derby? That's like the highlight of a jockey's career. And he is like, “Dad, you were gone so much after Derby.” It's sad. Like he sacrifices so much to be gone. But like when your son or your kid tells you that, yeah, you're not here, it's heartbreaking, but he's doing it for them.
[00:00:24] Lindsay: Hey everybody. I'm Lindsay Czarniak, and this is Things No One Tells You. This is a podcast about the behind the scenes moments that shape who we are, those things that also are really relatable and really connect us. So each week I'm gonna talk with newsmakers, trailblazers in the worlds of sports, entertainment, all things, but also everyday folks, people who are talking about the real stuff that no one intends to share.
[00:00:48] Follow me at Lindsay Czarniak and be sure to subscribe, rate, and review. Things no one tells you wherever you like to listen. Hey everybody. Welcome to things no one tells you, or Tea Knotty as me and my friends like to call it. We think it's catchy. I hope you do too. So today we're talking about things no one tells you about the hectic life of everyone, everywhere because I know it doesn't matter if you are in the midst of your career journey.
[00:01:15] If you're not, if you have kids, if you're not. Everybody is hectic at this time of the year. It ebbs and it flows. And I don't know about you, but I've been thinking a lot lately about why I'm waking up in the middle of the night being like, oh my gosh, I forgot this. I'm not doing that. For me it's a lot about this time of year with my kids because school is wrapping.
[00:01:36] We're also very much in our house still getting used to this new normal of. a work shift that has been an adjustment for us. My husband goes to bed very early. That's one thing, but we're also just trying to reframe some of our routines and especially that's a great chance I feel as summer's approaching, but also something I've really been working on is the mantra of don't try to hit the marks and miss the moments.
[00:02:01] And for me, this is something that I came up with because I love adventure and I love to just do fun things. My mom does this too, and she calls it her Woo. We love to make sure that we're celebrating the holidays the right way, that we're making the milestones matter. And sometimes I think the biggest thing is making sure that you're actually just in the moment.
[00:02:22] And I have realized that whether it's with my kids, with my husband, but most importantly, honestly, with my, myself, it's like taking the time to just be present. Maybe it's five minutes. Maybe it's 10 minutes. I always try to do that before my kids get up. That never works, but I'm still trying. So I just think in this season of life, I'm like, let me just try as hard as I can to put the phone away, to be in the moment and to see how that feels.
[00:02:50] I've got a little levity for you today. All right. For those of you who follow along on social media, you know that I like to do a joke of the day. It's something that I started during the pandemic because I was honestly trying to get my kids to pay attention when I was going through homeschooling.
[00:03:02] But the joke today, courtesy of my daughter: Why was the chipmunk late for work? Because traffic was nuts. It's good. It's good. Thank you. Today my guest, and I'm so excited for you guys to hear from me, is known for understanding exactly how to work through traffic. I own a race horse. Brian Hernandez is the jockey who rode Mystic Dan to victory in the Kentucky Derby.
[00:03:29] Not this past year, but the year before. You guys know I love horse racing. It's something that my dad covered as a journalist, and so when I was given the opportunity to do that a few years ago, I just loved everything about it. My favorite time at a racetrack is in the morning. I really love understanding.
[00:03:45] All the different roles in horse racing, whether it's the trainer, the exercise rider, the groom, the farrier who puts the horse shoes on the race, horses, all these things including the jockeys. And I've really been fascinated by what that lifestyle is like. Netflix recently did a show called Race for the Crown.
[00:04:02] If you haven't seen it, they went on a deep dive behind the scenes with all different people in horse racing, including jockeys. Brian Hernandez is one of them. Last year Brian won the Derby. He also won The Oaks, which happened the day before, which was a massive feat, a huge deal. But my backstory with Brian is the day after that Kentucky Derby, when he won on Mystic Dan, my dad and I took my dad to the race.
[00:04:24] So fun. We were walking in the barns because we had an opportunity to join a friend to go for a little tour there, and, like I said, we both love being there in the mornings and so we were walking by one of the shed rows, one of the barn areas, and it was trainer Kenny McPeak who trains Mystic Dan.
[00:04:40] And we saw a big gaggle of people over there and my dad's look, it's Brian Hernandez. So Brian had come back early in the morning just to see the horse, to see the trainer, to chat, assumingly about the big victory. And I was like, this is so awesome. And people were taking pictures of him and he had the front page of the paper that showed his derby win and they were snapping photos.
[00:05:01] And I asked him if he would answer a few questions. And the question that I loved so much was when I asked Ryan what people didn't know about the racehorse. And Brian was like, oh, he's a, some version of, he's a really cool customer. And he said, he just really understood the moment. And I love that so much because I have heard that phrase so many times covering different sports.
[00:05:22] And I know that's key. Whether it's LeBron James hitting the basket because the basket at that point looks like a massive hula hoop to him. It's huge. or a horse. Barreling down the rain track racetrack. So I wanted to know more about that and flash forward to Brian being cool enough this year to sit down with me along with his wife, Jamie, because what I also love is understanding not just the sports Xs and nose of what his job as a jockey is but what that's like for them.
[00:05:50] They've got three kids. They live on a farm and I did not expect for them to share some of the perspective that they did. I loved hearing what he said as the thing that no one tells you. I hope you enjoy this episode. All right. So things no one tells you about the hectic life of a jockey, right? But we should start.
[00:06:08] So Brian and Jamie, thank you guys so much for joining. Not like you have anything going on this weekend. Tell me we're outside the jocks room. Can I just start there and can you just tell me exactly what goes on inside the jocks room? Brian, for folks that haven't maybe been around horse racing a lot.
[00:06:24] Brian: It's the only sport where guys that compete against each other go back into the same locker room. So you have to have the respect for the guy that you sit next to every day, because at the end of the day, you have to look at it as we're out there competing against each other, but that guy's life is in your hands and your life is in his hands.
[00:06:39] 'cause we're out there racing in close quarters. So you have to have that mutual respect for one another and just go out there and trust that guy next to you is gonna make a decision. When we come back into the jocks room here, like I said, you just have to have respect for one another and, it's more of comradery, re and friendship.
[00:06:53] Lindsay: And it's the place where, what happens would you say? What, what goes on here?
[00:06:56] Brian: We come in here between each race and we change our silks and we have Vals and guys that take care of all our equipment and we have to turn around and check our weight, make sure our weight's correct, and then they turn around and saddle the next horses and it's all done within 20, 25 minutes per between each race.
[00:07:13] Lindsay: It's just a fascinating routine, isn't it, Jamie?
[00:07:17] Jamie: Yeah. Why are you laughing? It just seems so, it's probably for the outside, it's wow, that's a lot that happens. But it's a routine and they do it less. There's 10 races a day, 10 times a day.
[00:07:28] Lindsay: And to Brian's point, that it's like a locker room where you're in there against all of your competitors, with all of your competitors, right?
[00:07:35] They probably don't always love each other. No, but they do have a mutual respect, I think, and that's a good thing. Yeah. What do you think has, what has it been like returning to Churchill Downs? After the winning Kentucky Derby jacket?
[00:07:48] Brian: It's been fun. I don't think, like with horse racing, we're just always on the go.
[00:07:52] So we never really got to sink in. And I. Really let it set in that, hey, we won the Kentucky Derby and then coming back this week with, Derby weekend and all the fans here coming on the backside and stuff like that, and people recognizing us and knowing who you are after winning the Kentucky Derby, I think this week is when it's finally set in that what a magical weekend we had last year.
[00:08:13] Lindsay: Have you seen that, Jamie?
[00:08:18] Jamie: It’s nonstop. His phone doesn't stop. Yeah, it's really great though. Texting. Just the calls, phone calls, interviews.
[00:08:30] Brian: TV.
[00:08:30] Jamie: I think I mostly love, I love when little kids come up. We were at an event the other night and a little kid came up and said, “I have your autographed” and he saved last year's program and came up. Oh my gosh. And I just think those moments are so cool. but you get that a lot. There's a lot of young fans. I think you even had somebody at the kids' school yesterday, a little boy, come running up and obviously people, the school know that he's a jockey and he won. But this little, one little boy came up and he said “could you sign this for me?” And I love that because it's like…
[00:08:59] Brian: Luck this weekend.
[00:09:00] Jamie: Yeah. What's that like for you?
[00:09:02] Brian: It's just, it's great. I think it just makes you realize that people have noticed the accomplishment that we had and just makes it a lot of fun.
[00:09:11] Lindsay: Yeah. And so for people that aren't aware, not only did you win the Kentucky Derby, obviously the marque race the weekend last year, but you also won the Kentucky Oaks, and you were the first jockey to do that since 1952,
[00:09:21] Brian: Since that first jockey and trainer to do it together since 1952? Yeah.
[00:09:25] Lindsay: But no, to make that, to do that, and I loved watching The Netflix show, right? Race for the Crown. When you guys were talking just about the moment after and taking the time to let it sink in and how you wouldn't let yourself be in that space. But then once you won and you went there and it started to hit you, how, what has that year been like after?
[00:09:45] Brian: it's just been almost a whirlwind, really, to. Even now, I'll go out there to the Derby Winter circle and just soak it all in remembering that what a magical weekend it was for Mr. Dan to be able to pull it off for us. And I've been quoted as saying, I would never step into the Derby Winter circle, even though I have been riding here for 20 years.
[00:10:03] I'd never step in there until we actually were able to win the derby and to be able to do it last year and walking up those steps, that was like that. I think that was the pinnacle of horse racing, just to be able to. Be on that podium and see the crowd. once you get out there on the info and you see how massive this crowd is here at Derby Day. It's something you'll never forget.
[00:10:21] Lindsay: What does that symbolize to you when you're in it? Or like what actually goes through your mind for both of you when you're taking that in?
[00:10:27] Jamie: I don't know. It was so emotional. Brian. when we were walking up to the podium, he actually, I thought he was gonna pass out. I thought he needed water. And I'm like, can somebody gimme some water? I think he's gonna pass out. And he was. Just got really emotional and I'm like, are you okay? Do you want some water? And he was like, no, I just, I wanna soak this moment in. And he looked up, he's won the Kentucky Derby. And for him to pause and actually take that moment, it was like, it was really special.
[00:10:57] I don't feel like I was taking it all in until that moment. And I'm like, oh my gosh, we won the derby. That's amazing.
[00:11:05] Brian: I think one of the coolest scenes from the Netflix episode was when they had Jamie on camera and she's hugging one of her friends jumping up and down and she just goes, I'm just so happy right now.
[00:11:15] Jamie: Oh, that was, yeah, that was from Oaks. But on Derby, I was saying today to his grandparents, I'm like, I was so grateful. You don't know what's gonna happen, come out on the Netflix show, who knows? Like they could only use a small portion of what they filmed or whatnot, and then. There was a special moment, like after he won the derby.
[00:11:34] they weren't even filming us, but somehow they got the footage, of, I was hugging his dad and his mom and, I didn't get to, we didn't get to see that we're living, we lived that moment. Yeah. But it seemed like it all happened so fast. I don't even remember that happening. So then to be able to see that, I just thought that was so special.
[00:11:52] Lindsay: That's wild. I did an interview at a conference with two Olympic swimmers who were sisters and one of them had won a medal at the Olympics and they pulled up the highlight of her swim and she was like, I actually haven't gotten to see this. And it was a very similar response that she had, and everyone in that room watched her and she was like, I'm sorry.
[00:12:09] It's just, and I think people on the, who aren't professional athletes who don't, live in this space. Yeah. It's like you don't think about the fact that, yeah. You just keep going. Yeah. And so, to me, my eyes have really been open to that too. Just how in this job, in this sport, like you're never stopping.
[00:12:26] Like sure, you can celebrate, but then you're onto the next thing. And Jamie, when you're describing what that routine is of however, like many races you're doing, so how would you describe the hectic life? what
[00:12:37] Brian: Fortunately for me, I have Jamie in my corner, she's home taking care of the kids most of the time because.
[00:12:43] I live a hectic lifestyle with being a rider. you're always on the go. You never stop. we're here for derby week and in two weeks we're gonna be Baltimore for Preakness. And then in the winter time I leave and I go to New Orleans for the whole winter. And I'm there from the end of November till the end of March and come home every once in a while.
[00:12:59] But she's, she's in charge of the kids and she bounces 'em around between school and baseball and everything else. And, like we did a Race for Grace thing the other night, a fundraiser and. Like I told the crowd, I was like, if it wasn't having Jamie in my corner, we wouldn't be a quarter of a successful as I've been.
[00:13:15] and it's been a huge help because. It makes it simple when after a long day of the races, you're able to go home and she's there and she understands that, Hey, I gotta get back up tomorrow morning at 5:00 AM she's got everything handled.
[00:13:25] Jamie: Somewhat. I try, I'm a little bit of a hot mess express. I sometimes say no, you're not. And hopeful boy, that I really am. But I'm just, yeah. it is what it is. I feel like some of those little details don't really matter. I'm like, oh, it's okay. You guys didn't brush your hair today. No big deal. We're surviving.
[00:13:41] Lindsay: But right. Yeah, it is. and we talked a little bit, but I do the same thing.
[00:13:43] It's oh, my child is at school and your pants are three inches too short. Yes.
[00:13:47] Jamie: Like those little details for me, I like, we just try to cherish and be like present for those moments. And like our kids weren't here for derby, they were here for oaks, and Oaks is so special. But like you wouldn't even imagine that he was gonna win the derby.
[00:14:03] Like I would never want my kids to miss the derby. And I'll say I was happy and proud of him, but in the moment, like he didn't forget about them. Like he said hi to them on the cameras. Yes. And they showed that on the thing. And that just still makes me tear up because I, even before the show, Netflix, the Race for the Crown came out.
[00:14:21] I went back and watched the NBC footage and he was waving and saying hi to them. And I'm like, Ugh. I'm like, that's what it's about. It's our family. The kids are watching, they are still there. Yeah, that's a big deal for me.
[00:14:35] Lindsay: What is their take on what Dad does for a living?
[00:14:38] Brian: They enjoy it.
[00:14:39] Lindsay: They love it?
[00:14:40] Jamie: Yeah. They enjoy it. It's, they know, and I, they've been doing it since they were little, so they're,
[00:14:45] Brian: they understand the whole concept of it now. They ask every day what race, what horse we're riding in the derby and they are just kind and they know. It's kinda sad though.
[00:14:53] Jamie: Tell him what Ben said about winning. if we wanna win the derby again.
[00:14:58] Brian: You think you gotta come up with a good strategy?
[00:14:59] Jamie: No. So my son literally said to him, a few weeks ago, we were talking about the Derby. It was right after the Bluegrass, and he won. And we said, we qualified for the Kentucky Derby again. And he got emotional and he was like, dad, I don't want you to win the derby again.
[00:15:14] And we were like, why wouldn't you want him to win the derby? That's like the highlight of a jockey's career. And he is dad, you were gone so much after dating. Oh no. It was like a heartbreaker. He was like, you traveled all year, you were never home. And for me, it was heartbreaking.
[00:15:32] And I, Brian got really emotional about it because it's sad. Like he sacrifices so much to be gone, but like when your son or your kid tells you that, yeah, you're not here, it's heartbreaking, but this is our, his career and he's doing it for them.
[00:15:49] Lindsay: Of course,
[00:15:50] Jamie: And it's sad, but it's not. Like you have to explain to him because they're kids, they don't understand.
[00:15:54] They understand, but they don't understand. They get it. And he's how old? He's eight. Yeah, no,
[00:15:59] Lindsay: Totally, right. And you're like on the other side of it. There's so much. And by the way, we should just mention, is that a headshot going on? There was a jockey headshot for the Derby. Derby. I love it. Okay. So we're gonna just see a pro.
[00:16:11] This is fantastic. Yeah. but no, it's of course your right. The mind knows this is amazing. Not only everything that we're giving them, but also just like this, what they're seeing and the values that they're learning from both of you. Yeah. It is incredible. But I get it. Like our children.
[00:16:25] Have slept in our bed with us the past six nights. And the reason is my husband works on a morning show and he has to leave at four 30 in the morning. Yeah. And they get that sense of it's not stable. It's stable because you make it stable. They know that, but it's still, there's a sense of, like they miss you at times.
[00:16:40] Jamie: Yeah. When can they get that bonding time,
[00:16:43] Lindsay: Yeah. And. So how do you, I know you say you're a hot mess express, but how do you do it? She's not a hot mess express, is she?
[00:16:51] Brian: I know that for sure. I don't know how she does it. I don't, when I'm home sometimes I'm like, how do you keep track of all this? Between the baseball schedule, then everything else, I’m like, how do you do this?
[00:16:58] Jamie: I literally tried to cut it down.I feel like I grew up where my parents were working the same as like his parents and I didn't get to do a ton of the sports stuff 'cause they're like, we have to work, like we, like they couldn't take us to sports.
[00:17:12] So like with our kids, I like wanted, make sure that they get to do everything they want to do. They, whether it's sports or whatnot. I will say I'm trying to get it to where, tone it down to where they're like in one sport. But my son's playing. He's has basketball second season. He's on a soccer team.
[00:17:30] He's on a baseball team. Annie shows horses. Why, like, why so many things? My daughter, she's on a softball team. She shows horses competitively and is super competitive. It's nonstop. Every weekend she could have a horse show. And I'm like, I don't, we don't really have time. And then my youngest is so neglected that she wants to do gymnastics and she wants to do stuff, and she's been asking me for probably two years and I'm like, I'm gonna sign you up.
[00:17:55] I swear you're good, you're fine. Like just, let's go to these events. Like we have all this to do. I just don't know when I'm gonna have time to sign her up. And I keep saying I really gotta get her into gymnastics, but I'm like, I don't know when I have an hour in my day to drive her to gymnastics.
[00:18:11] Lindsay: So when, during this swath of time, when Brian's gone from winter until March, what, how do they, I guess I don't wanna say like, how do you fill that void, but, you're coming back in, but what types of things do you do to just keep it the close knit family that you are?
[00:18:26] Jamie: We just, we stay so busy. The kids stay in their same routine. They have a bedtime, they're in bed at eight o'clock. They have school. We stay busy, but we do take a lot of trips to New Orleans. We try, he comes home. I just like to keep a good routine. I think a bedtime's really important.
[00:18:43] eight o'clock they gotta be in bed 'cause if not, they cannot function with everything happening Yeah. In life. Other than that, I think we try to keep it, try to keep it really normal. I mean like FaceTime. that's that, yeah. Do a lot of FaceTime. benefits of technology now, yeah.
[00:18:56] Brian: Luckily.
[00:18:58] Jamie: And our daughter has a phone, so we try to stay in contact as much as possible.
[00:19:01] Brian: Yeah. It's just, it gets tough when you're gone, especially when I'm sitting down there by myself in New Orleans after work, and you get home at night and you're just sitting around the house and Yeah. Knowing Jamie and the kids are back home and come about February. It's okay, I am ready to get outta here. It's time. It's time to get back home. This is a little too quiet.
[00:19:20] Lindsay: And then the reentry must be interesting also. Yeah. I like,
[00:19:23] Brian: Yeah.
[00:19:24] Jamie: I'm like, he needs to tell me you need to be kind. I'm like, your temp, like you don't have a temper or snap at them. You haven't been here for four months.
[00:19:31] Brian: I'll come back after three months and back. When you're by yourself, you know the house is clean and everything else. When you walk back into the tornado den and she's got the kids and the dogs running everywhere. It's, oh man…
[00:19:39] Jamie: We live on a farm, mind you,
[00:19:41] Brian: And 15 horses, five dogs, five cats.
[00:19:44] Jamie: They don't all live in the house, mind you, but. we have a… it's a high traffic house, and he's like, I cannot live like this. And I'm like, I guess you're gonna have to go back to New Orleans. See, speak in my language. Yeah. Yep. No, I'm like, I'm surviving. I make sure I have dinner cooked. Your kids are fed. They're growing. They're healthy. They go to sports and you can't live like this. Shame on you. I find that'll be okay that sometimes
[00:20:08] Lindsay: When my husband's feeling that way, he'll, I will find a random piece of new art that's hung somewhere in the house and he's like we've just gotta get more art on the walls.
[00:20:16] And I'm like, what are you talking about? Art. Yeah. Yeah. That's just that's how it manifests for him. Yeah. Wanting organization. 'cause I'm, oh, I would love organization. It would be great. Okay, so I am curious how you handle the day to day, like not only the, I guess the needs, but the requirements of your job and just all that stuff, including pressure.
[00:20:35] Like what is your process and your routine for
[00:20:39] Brian: you? Just, I guess over the years you learn to manage it like. When we're here at the racetrack, every day you're focusing in on your job. But then I've learned, especially since we've had kids now, I've learned that once you walk away from it and you get to the house, don't bring work home with you.
[00:20:53] Don't worry about, don't worry about, you could have had a great day and we'll celebrate it at home. But a lot of days are rough. When you're competing at a game that is hot, if you're winning at 15%, that's considered successful. So there's gonna be a lot more long days than there are good days.
[00:21:08] I've just learned to not bring it home with us. Once the day's over, we'll go home and enjoy the kids and Jamie, and then get up at four 30 the next morning we'll start all over again and try back at it.
[00:21:19] Lindsay: Can you describe what that process is that you touched on about when you come in here between races?
[00:21:24] Brian: Yeah. You just come in. Luckily we have a guy that works for us and he has everything set up for me, all my tack and all my equipment and everything, and all I have to do is come in and change and get ready for the first race and. Go out there, you ride the first race, you come back and he has everything cleaned up once again.
[00:21:38] And I change and do it all over again. And in our case, like my ballad here, he's got a, he's got four other riders as well, so he's gotta stay on top of that. And he's got a sheet there where it shows all the races. We ride all day long and he makes sure all the helmets and saddles are all, all in the right places and just.
[00:21:56] He's the backbone, behind the scenes guy that makes sure everything's organized and taken care of. And then it makes our job easy where all we have to do is focus on racing and ride. I guess he's almost like the wife at home.
[00:22:07] Jamie: Yeah, I was gonna say, so they've been together for how long?
[00:22:10] Brian: 20, 20, 21 years.
[00:22:12] Jamie: Yeah. Like these are guys that he chooses to work for him. Yeah. Okay. This is like a really good relationship. He's been there as long as Brian's agent. Yeah. And like coming in here, he is very comfortable. Shane has, whether it's things that they like or He knows them from top to bottom, all of his jockeys and especially Brian and, but they're friends.
[00:22:32] But like he knows Brian's quirks and. He makes his, what are his quirks? His day? I could, that's a big list. Okay. But he makes life easy for Brian. Yeah. Yes. He doesn't have to worry about anything. He comes in here and, reminds him to do this, has this ready,
[00:22:48] Lindsay: I think that it also takes a very unique person/skillset to really thrive in that. Like the people that can work well with the systems like that in place and who nail it, I think are the ones that are most successful. That's a gift could be successful and that's what
[00:23:03] Brian: makes you so successful. As well as like you said, that you have those people behind you. Like I have Shane Borel, my valet, and then Frank Bernis, my agent.
[00:23:10] Lindsay: And a valet, real quick for people who dunno a valet is.
[00:23:12] Brian: He's the guy, he takes care of all of our equipment and he's like our personal. Personal helper. Okay. Yeah.
[00:23:18] Jamie: Brian's dad is actually his ballot in New Orleans. In New Orleans, yeah.
[00:23:21] Brian: Oh, that's nice. We go back to New Orleans. Dad works for Awesome.
[00:23:24] Jamie: So he has Shane here, and then he has his dad in New Orleans, okay.
[00:23:27] Brian: And then we have our agent that works for us on the backside. He does all the, He handles all the trainers and makes sure we have all our mounts lined out and everything else. And we've been with him 14 years and
[00:23:37] Jamie: Yeah, longer than we've been there.
[00:23:39] Brian: We like to keep things simple and keep it all the same. It makes things a whole lot easier.
[00:23:43] Lindsay: Yeah. And then, so that's you getting ready for a race, part of that process you said is weighing in?
[00:23:47] Brian: Yes.
[00:23:48] Lindsay: Can you explain that? A lot of people have questions about that 'cause they're not sure about how it works.
[00:23:51] Brian: Yeah, because like in the Kentucky Derby, for example, we have to weigh a hundred and you have to attack, your horse has to carry 126 pounds. And like myself, I'll weigh 115 pounds. So what with, we go in to weigh in, before a race, you have your saddle, and then you're gonna have to put some lead weights in the pockets of the saddle.
[00:24:08] So you'll put three or four pounds of lead weights, and then all your vest and your helmet and stuff like that, and your silk, and then the valve, he has to make sure that's gonna be correct when you step on the scale for the clerk.
[00:24:19] Lindsay: What's the hardest part about having to maintain a certain weight? Do you have to work at it?
[00:24:24] Brian: I'm fortunate enough to where I don't really have to worry about it, but guys that have to hit the hot box every day and they have to consistently stay on it. Fortunately, I left enough in my case, I just maintain, watch what you eat and just, on the dark days or the days, you can take it easy. But other than that, it's a strict, normal diet that we just hold onto and keep it rolling.
[00:24:44] Lindsay: For you, Jamie, on a race day, when is the time that you start to feel whatever it is that you feel before the race?
[00:24:53] Jamie: I don't have a ton of nerves on normal race days. I think because the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby are of that caliber, those make me extremely nervous. Or for example, like he's been riding the Torpedo Anna since last year's. Or before last year's Oaks even. And now that she's gotten to where she's gotten in her career, bigger races make me nervous.
[00:25:16] but it's like the butterfly is right before, as they're going into the gate, and it's not so much like for if he's winning, it's I'm just hoping that he gets a clean race. A safe race. per se, For the craziest reasons, like I envision bad things happening. I'm like, oh my gosh, please don't fall out of the gate.
[00:25:31] Or, and that has happened, like he won the Breeders Cup the one year and the very first race back on his horse, it fell out of the gates and he fell off and the horse won without him. And I'm like, oh, the horse fished without him.
[00:25:41] Brian: The horse finished first.
[00:25:44] Jamie: And I'm like, oh my gosh, that just happened.
[00:25:48] Brian: He just ran. He just ran the crown track, ran the end up. Just not with me. They ended up catching him on the backside.
[00:25:52] Jamie: Okay. yeah. So he literally just outran everybody without Brian. And Brian was just standing at the, with the gates like, oh my gosh. Like he just cut a flip and yeah, like those things happen.
[00:26:01] So I feel like that's the part of it that makes me the most nervous because like I've been there, he's fallen, he does all that. Like I just want for a clean trip. and at the end of the day and nothing else, like I can't control anything else, nor can, he has some control over things, but gotta have the horse and the luck and all of that stuff.
[00:26:21] Lindsay: What's it like the moment that you're waiting for those gates to open,
[00:26:24] Brian: That's like the key thing. You're just looking down the track and if you want your horse focusing on the racetrack because a lot of races are won and lost in those first couple of steps away from the gate.
[00:26:34] So you wanna, you want the horse to be standing there good and making sure he is standing on the racetrack because if they get in there and they start fidgeting around and stuff like that, then you miss the break just a little. Especially in big races, if you miss the break just a little, it can cost everything.
[00:26:47] 'cause you're running against horses that are. At as good as yours and at that level. So it's hard to, it's hard to make those little bitty mistakes and overcome 'em. So you want to just have 'em focus in and looking down the track.
[00:26:59] Lindsay: How about when you're coming down? I. That final stretch. I think I asked you this, 'cause I remember talking to you the morning after the Derby last year, and it was just, it blew me away with the way that you were describing Mystic Dan.
[00:27:12] But, what I think was one of the questions that actually my kids had was, what's it like to ride on a horse when it's that fast?
[00:27:19] Brian: It's probably one of the most adrenaline-filled things you can do. Like when you turn for home and you know that horse is really running and he has a really good chance of winning.
[00:27:28] It's a feeling that you can't really bottle up and explain. It's just something that once you feel it, it's wow, I wanna keep doing that. And that, I think that's the case for all jockeys is once you win a race, it's I just wanna keep doing it. And you block out the things like falling and stuff like that, and you never even think about it just because you want that thrill of winning again.
[00:27:48] Lindsay: What about, what's the most exciting part for you?
[00:27:51] Jamie: Of him winning or just the race in general? Yeah, in general. Probably when he is winning a big race, that makes me happy, excited. I like watching the kids. I like watching their celebrations. At this point, I feel like I used to celebrate a lot harder and now, like last year when all that was happening, I was just in a state of shock.
[00:28:12] I was like, oh my gosh, is this happening? Like these are things you dream about. I dream about him crossing the finish line first, and I'm like, did that just happen? I don't even think I yelled. I just was like, oh my gosh. I do. I like, I really enjoy watching the kids now, seeing it through their eyes and I.
[00:28:28] Winnie and my daughter, she's loud like me since she gets to yelling and sometimes I'm like, stop yelling so loud. And I'm like, oh, she's taken after me. It's okay Down.
[00:28:37] Lindsay: I love it. You said last year Mystic Dan, I remember you described him as a cool customer, but Oh, but you said this is what I love so much.
[00:28:44] This actually carried me through a lot of other interviews last year, so thank you. No problem. Because when you said to me, he just understood the moment and I was like. Damn. That is cool. A horse, just like an athlete. That's what so many people say. Understanding the moment a horse can understand, was it really the horse partially understanding the moment?
[00:29:02] Oh yeah. Or was it you doing what you do?
[00:29:05] Brian: No, he understood the moment. Once you do this for so long and you've been around horses a while, that you can see it in their eyes and in their demeanor. And like last year we got in the derby and we got. 150,000 people singing my old Kentucky home.
[00:29:19] Yeah. And his ears perked up, but he didn't, it didn't phase him at all. He was like, whoa, this is good. But then really, like going to the gate, he was bouncing around a little bit, but then as we were walking into the gate, he just, he picked his head up and he was you can sense that he knew what was going on.
[00:29:33] And he knew this was a big stage. And then he showed it when he ran just the way he left the gate and did everything. It was almost like it was meant to be, because in races like the Kentucky Derby, 90% of the time not everything goes correct perfectly. And in that race it did. And that had a testament to do with Miss Sedan as well. 'cause like I said, he understood the moment. He understood what a big event this was.
[00:29:57] Lindsay: And the relationship also that I love, between you and Kenny McPeak. Yes. The trainer who you guys have been working together for so long.
[00:30:02] Brian: That's what made it. That's what. I believe that's why we've had so, so much success as well is just because it's so natural.
[00:30:09] Like he goes out there, he doesn't tell me how to ride 'em. And in the morning, everybody's just there doing their job and just keeping it as simple as possible. And that's been the key to our success. It's just keeping things simple and keeping it cruising along.
[00:30:22] Lindsay: How often do you ask Jamie for advice? Because you're a trainer yourself. She's actually one of the greatest.
[00:30:27] Brian: True. It's two we'll talk about, we'll talk about races before and then, but if I go out there and ride a bad race before I can get off the horse, my phone's blowing up.
[00:30:40] Jamie: I'm texting him. My phone's blowing up. Can I not text him or should I have texted him? I'm like, you know what? I gotta text him because I just can't live with myself right now.
[00:30:46] Brian: 90% of the time, she's right. She'll send me something and I'll watch her reply.
[00:30:51] Lindsay: What do you offer?
[00:30:57] Brian: It’s like, “that was a horrible ride” and then I'll watch a replay and I'm like. Yeah, she's right. But I'm like why? Just, why?
[00:31:05] Jamie: Oh my God. Sometimes I’m like “go forward.”
[00:31:08] Brian: But if it wasn't for her in some of those spots… it makes you, it's that extra help. 'cause then it makes you sit back and think about it and you're like, you know what? She was right. We need to do something different. And it's always great to have a second person. We can have opinions, we can talk like that.
[00:31:20] Jamie: He would be mad if I, if I didn't ever work in horses or know or can watch a race, I can hold my own in the watching the race category, I'm not gonna tell you how to ride 'cause I don't ride nearly as good as you have. But also when I'm watching the race sometimes I'm like, okay Brian, today's a big day. We need to win some races. I love it. Now and then I'm sure there are, there's golden age stuff. It's right.
[00:31:42] I feel like it's good banter. You know, it's like harmless, too, or, and there's sometimes he is “Nope, you're wrong today. Sorry. That's not how I see it.” And I'm like, “Okay, you're right. Maybe. I’ll text you too soon.”
[00:31:53] Lindsay: I love it. Yeah. Okay. People have written in with a couple questions that I would love to ask you and then we're gonna get you off on your way 'cause you have races.
[00:31:59] Yeah.
[00:32:00] Brian: sounds good. Okay.
[00:32:01] Lindsay: I love this bigger, biggest superstition. Are you superstitious?
[00:32:06] Brian: Not really. Try not to think about that a whole lot at all. No. Okay.
[00:32:10] Jamie: Are you? I'm not, no. I feel like the only thing some, actually, one of our girlfriends who was riding with us to the track today, they asked this exact question and I'm like, no, not really.
[00:32:21] The only thing I hate is like if we're watching a race with somebody and they're standing next to you and let's say he's in front. Yep. Then they're like, he's winning. He's a winner. And I'm like, no, that's jinxing. don't say that. Like he didn't cross the line yet. Like anything can happen.
[00:32:35] Yes. So that's probably like the only thing on my end. I'm like, don't you can't say that until we like cross the line.
[00:32:41] Lindsay: So just not talking at certain points.
[00:32:42] Jamie: just not saying he's a winner because I'm like, there's just so many things that could happen from halfway down the stretch to the wire, right?
[00:32:50] Lindsay: Yeah, a hundred percent. Or not.
[00:32:51] Jamie: I feel like that kind of jinxes us. But other than that, I don't have any superstitions.
[00:32:56] Lindsay: Like not walking into the winner's circle.
[00:32:57] Brian: Yeah. Before that. Yeah. Yeah. But no, that's more of just you really wouldn't do that. You wouldn't.
[00:33:01] Lindsay: Yeah.
[00:33:02] Brian: Perspective, like it's more of the respect of the derby winter circle that you don't wanna be there unless you belong there.
[00:33:06] Lindsay: Yeah. Yes. Okay. Do any of the horses you ride ever make you nervous? I like that question a lot. 'cause I, I'm, I just get curious.
[00:33:15] Brian: Sometimes you'll get on horses that you've never been on before, especially young horses that you. You've never seen before, so you go into it a little more cautiously than you would if the horse had been riding it because you don't know, you don't know their tendencies and what to expect from 'em.
[00:33:29] But that's probably about the only time.
[00:33:31] Lindsay: Okay. are there, sorry, my glasses. This is the other thing that's happened to me. I have five pairs of breeders. please ask him, how often does he get hit with another jocks stick? They're so close..
[00:33:44] Brian: Every once in a while, but like now with the way our crops are, they're really padded.
[00:33:49] So you'll get hit on the arm or the shoulder every once in a while just by accident, and it'll leave a little red mark, but nothing bad. It doesn't hurt. just go on along with it and as part of the job.
[00:34:01] Lindsay: Yeah. 'cause I think, especially after watching the Netflix show, it's like people get a real view of how close you are.
[00:34:05] Brian: Yeah.
[00:34:05] Lindsay: And that's so fascinating. Yeah. Wow. All right. So you guys, you met in the sport, right? Yep. Yep. You guys both come from families that were in racing. I know how important this sport is to you. So now thinking back, like through that lens of things, no one tells you what is something about this sport or about your experience together and journey and it that you would think would be interesting and helpful for people to know?
[00:34:31] Brian: Probably just the hectic lifestyle that I have to live, but then on top of that. Just having the support of each other, I think, is the biggest thing. being able to know that with my travel schedule and everything, she's always in the back corner. She's always there rooting for me and it makes it a whole lot easier knowing that I have Jamie back home and just that extra support more than anything. It's definitely, I've said it before, I wouldn't have a quarter of the success I've had if it wasn't for her.
[00:35:00] Lindsay: Did you envision that this is, all of, this is what No. You would be a part of it also?
[00:35:06] Jamie: No, but I'm really proud of him. So I think both us coming from small towns and small racing circuits, and then this imploding too.
[00:35:17] Brian's career now. and we've got to bring his family, my family on the journeys with us. And again, they are coming from smaller racing circuits. I just think it's so rewarding and the years of work behind both of the families and getting to feel what Brian's fell and the love and, being here and supporting, that's why he does it and continues to do it.
[00:35:41] And, I think you've stated like, you want your legacy to be for the kids, moving forward, and I'm proud of that. So I would say talking to kids watching this or something, like you can do it too. You work hard, you get up every morning, you follow your dreams and yeah. Good things happen.
[00:35:57] Brian: That's it.
[00:35:59] Jamie: I should write a book, should do a parenting book. I know about that. That's what I said. No, seriously. I'm reading. I think it's so cool. Like it's, yeah, it's cool. Like it's, we both come from smaller circuits and it's things you dream about.
[00:36:10] Like I remember as a little girl watching these big races on tv, not thinking I would ever get to be here at Churchill Downs. I live here now. Oh my gosh, this is our home track. Yeah, what a dream. And I think the same would go for you, like you grew up at Evangeline and it's a smaller racing circuit, and he dreamed about being here, but he made it happen and he's here now and yeah.
[00:36:33] Lindsay: Not to sound funny, but I started in local news and so did my husband and our dreams were to get to do the big thing. And now my husband has a big right. And I will tell you, it is so funny to me. It's and it's probably really simple and obvious, but going through that when he was named as the Today Show host in January, I was numb.
[00:36:54] I'm in it. Yeah. It's massive. We know. We're so excited. But then you don't. I was, I don't know. I'm just like, this is so crazy. Yeah. And wonderful. But this has actually happened. It actually happens.
[00:37:05] Brian: Yeah.
[00:37:07] Lindsay: You dream about it. Dream about it. And then when it happens, you're like, wow, where'd this come from?
[00:37:07] Brian: Yes.
00:37:11] Lindsay: Yeah. Just, the hard work he put into it over the years. And then, there was celebration. Celebration. So over the moon, happy. And then I remember times where he's I just gotta do the work now. Like I gotta write and it's okay, so then you've got that new normal too because life changes.Exactly. You're, it's yeah, it does.
[00:37:28] Jamie:Yeah. Definitely change, but you stay humble and you keep working and do your thing. Live on deep thoughts. I, we tell each other, people are like, oh, how is this? How's that? And I'm like, we are very normal people, just with a busier lifestyle. Yeah. People probably think you're nuts, but you're like, this isn't who we really are.
[00:37:44] Jamie: We don't normally get out. Like I don't get out of farm clothes. I'm on the bottom all the time. I'm like, I pick my kids up in the carpool line in both truck and trailer. I'm like, I love it. It just is like it is.
[00:37:53] Lindsay: Thank you guys. This been awesome.
[00:37:57] Brian: It's been fun. Thank you.
[00:37:58] Jamie: Thank you. Thanks for having us.
[00:38:00] Lindsay: Oh, I'm so appreciative of Jamie and Brian and also love the fact that the jockeys were taking headshots behind us 'cause we were doing that recording. but a big shout out for Churchill Downs giving us that space outside the jocks room. That was pretty cool to see. Sidebar story. To share about another thing that no one tells you.
[00:38:18] Okay. So my dad, like I said, covered horse racing for years. He did so for USA today, and one of the legends that he would always talk about that he followed closely in his day was Hall of Fame Horse Trainer D. Wayne Lukas. D. Wayne Lukas is 89 years old, but back in the day he really brought the Hollywood vibe and the standard of excellence to the race track.
[00:38:38] In fact, a lot of people have really followed what his standard was at the time and have adopted the way that he trains, the way that he works with assistants as part of the method that they use. Anyway, it is serendipitous and really awesome to have even gotten to know him because it was a big deal for me, just feeling this connection also to my dad and.
[00:38:57] To be able to do that has been really meaningful. So I saw him the morning before the Derby and I asked him, as I was doing a short interview with him for America's Best Racing, I asked him at the end of that, what's something that no one tells you? And he shared something that no one had ever told me about, a fun fact about him.
[00:39:17] I loved it so much, I just had to share it with you guys.
[00:39:20] D. Wayne: That's simple. Nobody knows. I write poetry. Really? Yeah. In fact, they're the guys in that little, I wish I could tell you this. Luke Irwin has put one of 'em through music and it's gonna be out, I think Derby week. It's called Lot of Time poem.
[00:39:39] I wrote a number of poems. I write poetry to you, but I'm just reflective and sending it home. I wrote one the other day called Unconditional Love. I wrote one to my wife, different things.
[00:39:53] Lindsay: So you're a real softy.
[00:39:54] D. Wayne: I am in a lot of ways.
[00:39:57] Lindsay: Great.
[00:39:58] D. Wayne: So I like to do it. I, if I sit down and something my mind like that I.
[00:40:02] Like I wrote the lyrics to that song in less than five minutes. It just fell into place.
[00:40:08] Lindsay: How long have you written poetry?
[00:40:10] D. Wayne: Oh, lots for years and years. Problem is, I don't save many of 'em now. Lori, my wife is starting to save them now, but,
[00:40:19] Lindsay: And what are most of them about? Where do you find your earth?
[00:40:23] D. Wayne: Yeah. About, I wrote, On unconditional love. I don't know. The last verses, can a simple dog teach us how to kneel and pray? I found unconditional love today. A yellow dog showed me the way. See stuff like that? That's good.
[00:40:46] Lindsay: Yeah. That is awesome.
[00:40:48] D. Wayne: Surprise you?
[00:40:49] Lindsay: That is so cool. Yeah. It's your, it's a bit of your escape. Yeah. Yeah. Is that your escape? That's what you do when you're not doing this and this.
[00:40:57] D. Wayne: I don't have to be tough and, on top of everything.
[00:41:03] Lindsay: I love that. Thank you so much Mr. Lucas.
[00:41:06] Are you kidding? When he recited his poetry, I just… it was such an awesome moment and I loved that he writes a lot of it about his wife, Lori.
[00:41:14] Lori has actually shared with us some of the copies of D. Wayne's poetry. If you wanna see that, just click on the link in the show notes. Really good stuff. And I love the fact that they turned one of them into a song. In closing, okay… Things no one tells you. Things no one tells you about the hectic life of a jockey.
[00:41:31] I think the biggest thing that I took from the conversation overall with D. Wayne Lukas, and frankly also with what I just shared with you about D .Wayne, is the sacrifice of time. but also the acknowledgement that sometimes it doesn't get easier and you just have to keep doing it. And I think with Brian, when he was sharing about his son not wanting him.
[00:41:51] To do the Kentucky Derby again to win the Kentucky Derby again. That is, they said it was heartbreaking that it actually makes me feel like I could vomit because I'm like, as a parent, you understand what that feeling is like when you're missing something or, but then it comes back to what I was saying in the beginning, like sometimes we have so much.
[00:42:10] Attention that is paid to hitting the big marks and sometimes it's just being present. So my dad always would say to me, you know what? When things are hectic, and he would say this early on when I was looking for marriage advice, you might be pulled in a million different directions between the two of you, but what matters is that when you're together, you're really making the time important.
[00:42:29] And that's it. And it's just being there listening, not having all the devices in your hands doing the thing, but just showing up and showing up is the real you. With an open ear and an open heart. I. Deep thoughts with Lindsay. Alright. Thank you so much for joining us today. I really hope that you enjoyed getting a peek into the life of Derby winning jockey Brian Hernandez.
[00:42:49] And please be sure to tune in every Thursday to hear new episodes. And if you're loving this show, I would love it. If you please take a minute to subscribe. Also, rate and review things no one tells you. We'll see you next week. Thanks so much for joining me. I can't wait to see you back here next week.
[00:43:04] Please don't forget, follow and subscribe to Things No One Tells You [TNOTY]. And of course, if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, don't forget to leave a five star review because that's really what helps people get more listeners. We would love to grow this community. We are so grateful that you're a part of it.
[00:43:19] See you next time.