Today's Jockey

Today's jockey is in the forefront of a grassroots movement to promote improved permanent facial adornment on our nation's racetracks. Satisfied no longer with simple tattooing and piercing, the 21st century jockey is undergoing a battery of reconstructive surgeries including but not limited to silicone and collagen implants, nose and ear repositioning, hair follicle removal, transplantation of glands and small insignificant organs to the facial area, and ceramic, metal and stone facial and dental implants.

What is truly amazing about the growing trend among jockeys to lavishly decorate their heads is that only a decade ago the only permanent facial adornment on the racetrack was given, not to the jockeys, but to the horses. Eyebrows were lengthened or plucked, nostrils were flared and in extreme cases eyeballs were removed and replaced with glass orbs for both aesthetic reasons and as an alternative to forcing the horse to wear blinders. Once the owners and managers could appreciate the benefit of return, they convinced a handful of riders to follow suit. That select few became the pioneer cadre that launched a revolution. Soon it was the jockeys themselves, in collaboration with their reconstructive surgeons, who were dreaming up radical concepts that would trump even those of Brazil's footballers. Stereo adornment of both horse and rider became the order of the day. A board of governors was elected and the first Frontal Award was presented four years ago. The rest is history.

Yes, the future looks bright for horse racing. And we have today's jockeys and the art of permanent facial adornment to thank for it.