Sunrise at Lone Star Park is always a busy place, but this week its busier than usual. That's because trainers and jockeys have moved back in, to prepare for another thorough bred season.
For Quincy Hamilton and Justin Shepherd, it means more time in the saddle. As Jockey's, they're rising stars, having already combined for nearly 700-wins.
“I came here to Dallas, and we've become pretty good friends,” says Shepherd before he’s interrupted by Hamilton. “You should say Dallas Fort Worth (Dallas Fort Worth) because people, I'm serious you should, just because people in Fort Worth don't to hear about Dallas, right?”
Well, Hamilton is probably right. But competing on the track as a Jockey is one thing, but competing against your best friend is another. Justin Shepherd and Quincy Hamilton have known each other since the sixth grade. Today, they remain best of friends, but out on the track its all about the competition.
Hamilton is 22, married and the father of a 15-month old daughter. Justin is 19, single, and gets to baby sit a lot. Needless to say, riding horses is in their blood.
“How many people go out to ranches and pay to ride horses, when every day, we can come out here and do what we love to do for free, and then we end up getting paid in the afternoons,” says Hamilton. “I wouldn't trade it for anything, its pretty amazing that being so young like we are, we already have a career and a future established for us.”
Of course lineup up a ride in the gate, before a race, can be tricky if your best friend is making fun of you in the gate next to you. “It makes it more interesting. It’s a very competitive sport, and there is nothing I like better than beating him, ha ha ha”, laughs Shepherd. “You kind of get past all the friendship, you want to win races, you take care of everybody, and just make sure that everyone gets around there safe.”
Lone Star Park is begins its tenth year of racing in Grand Prairie on Thursday.
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