Melody Brooks

Melody Brooks has been riding for over 20 years now and I recently got her on the phone for an interview and a thumbs up to jockey Kelsi Purcell for hooking me up with this interview.

FOTH: Melody the 1st question I have for you is where were you born and where did you grow up?

MB: I was born in Texas and that is where I stayed for most of my time, but we did do a little traveling as my dad was in the army.

FOTH: What sort of girl were you growing up? Were you a tomboy like most of the other female riders I have spoken to over the years.

MB: Pretty much. I didn't care much for the dolls. (laughs)

FOTH: When you were say 8 or 9 yrs old, did you know you wanted to become a jockey or was that something that was the farthest thing from your mind?

MB: I went to the track when I was like 8 and my dad was always complaining about a jockey giving a bad ride and I said we don't have to worry about that cause pretty soon I am gonna be a jockey and he would say, "Oh yeah sure thing" and he would pat me on the back and I actually started riding at 13.

FOTH: What was your 1st impression of a racetrack when you first went to one. Were you at all amazed at how fast the horses were and how small the jockeys are?

MB: Thoroughly excited. The little saddle that they rode on really impressed me.

FOTH: What event or events led to you becoming an actual jockey. Did you when you were 16 or 17 go to a track and start working there or was it something else that led to you riding?

MB: I had horses around the house and I spent a lot of time around there, but my parents were gun ho about me going to school and didn't want me hanging around somebody's barn, they made me stay focused and go to school. It was OK for me to think and want, but they didn't push me in a jockey direction, but they also didn't complete shut down the idea. So I did a lot of work around the farm and that is where I got most of my training and learning.

FOTH: Did it feel natural getting up on a horse the 1st couple times and were you nervous at all?

MB: I love animals so I really wasn't afraid of the animal. It was shaky the first couple times when the horse would go really fast. We would be out there riding in a big old field and sometimes the horse would start off real slow and then you would let him go rip for a little bit. That is kinda a neat feeling right there.

FOTH: Now looking back was becoming a jockey harder or easier than you thought it would be?

MB: It was hard. Getting started was hard. I did a lot of crying and disappoints and broken promises from people and trainers. It was not an easy thing to do. I just continued on until I was accepted. It is a lot better for my now then when I first started.

FOTH: How long have you been riding now?

MB: About 23 years.

FOTH: Wow that is a long time.

MB: Yeah I started riding at 13. The only track that I didn't get to ride down this was is Evangline Downs.

FOTH: Now I know this is going back a bit, but tell me what you can remember about your 1st win.

MB: My 1st win was at Manor Downs. My 1st actual win was at a match race (a match race is just 2 horses going at it in a race-chris) and I had this one horse that I had been practicing on, I actually learned on the little saddle that was in the jockey's room and he was the 1st race that I won, but like I said it was a match race. My 1st actual win was at Manor Downs on a horse named "Under a Cherry Moon". My 1st pari-mutuel win was on a horse named "Badger Booster". It was nerve wrecking race as they told us we would be on TV and forgot to put my goggles down and lost my grip and I was like 20-1 and this horse was my favorite to ride on and all I did was pat him on the shoulder and told him to "come on boy, come on" and we won the race by like 3 lengths.

FOTH: I know you must have had some injuries over the years. What was the worst one in your opinion?

MB: I would say the one in 2006 cause it kept me out the longest. I broke my clavicle and also my sternum, it didn't break, but it popped off and I also crushed my 7th vertebrae. That kept me out for like 9 months.

FOTH: If a young girl came up to you and said she wanted to become a jockey, what advice would you give to her?

MB: I would tell her that it is not going to be easy and if you think you are just going to go out there and be welcomed with open arms, you got another thing coming. If your able to take a punch, cry about it and then get back up again, then this is the sport for you. If you are gonna sit there and whine, then this isn't the place you want to be. It is a hard sport.

FOTH: What are some of the tracks that you have ridden at over the years?

MB: I have never been out of Texas to ride and some of the tracks weren't pari-mutuel and I was in Oklahoma for a little while, but we didn't take the stable down there.

FOTH: What are some things you like to do when your away from the race track?

MB: My down time is really strange. I like movies and just trying to relax. On Sundays I do a lot of things with my church because I don't actually have a lot of time to be in church, but other than that I am a movie person and I am kinda quiet when I am away from the track.

FOTH: What do you think of the "Jockeys" show on Animal Planet?

MB: I have watched one episode and I think it is a very interesting program. I am glad to see they are doing a show like that.

FOTH: How much longer do you think you will ride for? Do you think it will be for a while or are you pretty much taking things day by day?

MB: Pretty much day by day. As long the body doesn't hurt and I really don't think of this as a job so as long as I can handle this I will ride. Once it gets to be more like a job for me then it probably will come to an end really quick. Right now I still have the love for the horse and I think of this as more like a hobby now.

FOTH: If you had the power to say change 2 or 3 things in the sport of horse racing, what would they be?

MB: One would be concerning the stewards, as the rules tend to stray from race to race. Be more consistent with their calls. The 2nd one would be I wish we could the slot machines down here in Texas to compete with the other tracks and to make sure the surfaces are good for the horses and kept the limitations on medications.

FOTH: Do you feel you have been treated pretty fairly as a jockey during your career so far?

MB: I think I have been treated fairly about 50% of the time. It is hard for most girls anyway.

FOTH: I am out of questions. Thumbs up for the interview and anything you would like to say to wrap this up the floor is yours?

MB: Thanks for the interview and best of luck with the website.

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