L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017 www.italoamericano.org 14 L'Italo-Americano ALFONSO GUERRIERO JR. T he sparse crowd was sit- ting and standing as the t h o r o u g h b r e d s w e r e paraded around the paddock. Unlike the throngs of spectators awaiting a major race like the Kentucky Derby or the Travers Stakes in Saratoga Springs, NY the onlookers today are much m o r e s u b d u e d . T h e r e a r e n o television crews or streams of photographers covering a main e v e n t . T h e o r d i n a r y s c e n e reflects most racetracks across America with the exception of the paddock, traditional to the G u l f s t r e a m R a c e t r a c k i n Hallandale Beach, Florida. The paddock is where the physical appearance of a thoroughbred is displayed in front of equestrian enthusiasts. On this day, there are a handful of scattered gam- blers around the betting win- d o w s , a n d l i k e a l w a y s , t h e y hope to score big on an exacta, trifecta or take a huge risk by t h e p l a c i n g a w a g e r o n o n e horse to win across the board. In the paddock before the upcoming race, horse trainers and their assistants mill around to discuss the competition and s t r a t e g y w i t h t h e i r j o c k e y . Every horse involved in the con- test is led from a small stable, and encircles the oval shaped p a d d o c k b e f o r e e a c h j o c k e y mounts his/her horse and heads to the starting gate. Prior to every race the act is repeated o v e r a n d o v e r a g a i n a t Gulfstream Racetrack. In the parading area a trainer pats the shoulder of a jockey in blue silks wearing the number five, and gives a thumbs-up sign. As the rider climbs onto his thoroughbred, the jockey in- return looks back and acknowl- edges the trainer's gesture with a nod. The horse trots away to t h e m a i n g a t e w i t h t h e r a c e moments away from starting. There are nine horses running in the fourth race; none appears to be scratched from the competi- tion. One of the equines run- ning in the fourth race is the number five horse, Grand Edge, led by Italian-born jockey Luca Panici. Luca comes from a lineage of fantini a cavallo or horse jock- eys. His father Vittorio Panici was very famous in Italy during the 1970s and 1980s, as well as h i s u n c l e s a n d h i s b r o t h e r M a r c o . S u d d e n l y t h e g a t e s thrust open while a bell sounds o f f f r o m a d i s t a n c e , a n d t h e announcer can be heard saying t h e c u s t o m a r y " A n d t h e y ' r e off." An array of grey, black, light bay and chestnut- looking thoroughbreds gallop out of the starting gate to gain an early lead or position. These animals symbolize beauty, speed and stamina and are ridden by a highly skilled jockey. Grand Edge has about a two-length lead in the first quarter mile. All the horses are in perfect uni- son and can be viewed from afar at the grandstand area of the racetrack. The team of fillies reaches the half-mile point, but now from the distance it is difficult to follow as the thoroughbreds are packed together like a bunch of bananas. They are approach- ing the final furlong and all bat- tle for the lead. At last, Grand Edge makes a move but like most days, the competition is intense and the tension builds, " C o m e o n b a b y , C o m e - o n , " shouts one spectator. Within a blink-of-an eye a few thorough- breds make a move and gallop on the outside, passing the num- b e r f i v e h o r s e . T h e t e a m approaches the final furlong; Grand Edge goes full throttle but is unable to make-up his e a r l i e r l e a d a n d f i n i s h e s i n fourth place. A dejected few moan but quickly recover and study the next race while some present their ticket to collect their winnings. For Luca there is no time to contemplate on what happened because in about thirty to forty minutes he will have to change into another uniform and ride a different horse. He, like most jockeys, will repeat this action for at least six more times in one day, and on an average five days a week, unless his agent com- mits Luca to another location. This is the life of a jockey. For Luca, ever since he could remember, he has only wanted t o b e a p r o f e s s i o n a l j o c k e y . Now at forty-three years old, he still talks about the thrill of rac- ing. "The adrenaline is what I live for" he says with excite- ment. "When I ride there is a connection that I feel with the a n i m a l , a n d t h a t i s t h e m o s t beautiful part of riding." Luca was born in Milan and at an early age, with his father's sup- port and influence, fell in love with horses. After riding profes- sionally for seventeen-years in Italy, Luca decided the racing s c e n e w a s c h a n g i n g f o r t h e worse in his country. I n I t a l y , t h e r e h a s b e e n a steady decline in horse racing given that the government enact- ed drastic budget cuts on the sport. In fact within the past decade, forty racetracks closed. The lack of financial support caused Luca to choose a differ- ent path for his career. As a result, in 2006 he received a w o r k i n g v i s a a n d a r r i v e d t o F l o r i d a d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r months. He traveled back and f o r t h f o r a f e w y e a r s b e f o r e deciding to stay permanently in 2010. "It was a difficult deci- sion to make but my father and family were very supportive and proud when I decided to com- pete in America" he said after a full-day of races. It was an adjustment for Luca to make by switching to a differ- ent riding style. "In America" he s a i d , " t h e r e i s m o r e o f a n e m p h a s i s o n s p e e d t h a n i n Europe where technique takes over and the distances are short- e r t h a n i n I t a l y . " H e a l s o explained that "there are more tracks with sand than turf but in Italy this is comparable." Luca has made a name for himself in the horse racing world, and is presently ranked eighty out of about eleven-hundred, which include jockeys from the United S t a t e s , C a n a d a a n d P u e r t o Rico. According to Equibase, in five months this year Luca has ridden close to three-hun- dred and ninety races, earning nearly nine hundred thousand dollars. One of his most memorable races was in the 2012 at the Azalea Stakes. "I rode a very special horse Another Romance and won two (grade 3) races. I have ridden many special horses but that is the one that stands out f o r m e . " L u c a r e s i d e s i n Hollywood, Florida with his wife, an Italian model, and their dog Gianna. He begins his typi- cal day by awaking early, about five to six in the morning. Once he eats a healthy breakfast he is driven to the track and begins his workday. Depending on his schedule, Luca is involved with the horses' early morning work- out before the hot Florida sun covers the track. He then pre- pares for the races scheduled for a p a r t i c u l a r d a y a n d b y o n e o ' c l o c k i n t h e a f t e r n o o n t h e races commence. T h e f i v e - f o o t f o u r i n c h e s jockey is usually off twice a week, if he is not required to travel across the other racing cir- cuits. "When I am off, I enjoy staying home and working out in m y h o m e g y m o r g o i n g t o Miami." For Luca unlike other p l a c e s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , Miami as well as Florida "have a very Latin flavor and the warm climate and beach areas remind me of Italy." Lu ca is v er y activ e in h is t i m e o f f b e c a u s e l i k e m o s t Italians, he bike rides and plays soccer. "I do not get a chance to play soccer as much these days b u t I d o w a t c h m a n y o f t h e matches." Another part of his culture that he strictly maintains and is largely because of his career, is his diet. The one-hun- dred and twelve pound veteran jockey averred, "My diet is very Mediterranean-based. I eat very h e a l t h y b y h a v i n g t h e g r e a t Italian cuisine. Most important- ly, I try to have some carbs and avoid fried food and I do not smoke or drink alcohol." The move to America has been a good decision for Luca. The transition to another culture h a s b e e n s m o o t h . " I l i k e America because there is oppor- tunity" he then switches from his native Italian (he is also flu- ent in Spanish) to his less confi- dent vernacular English and con- tinues his thought by saying, "If you are in the right place, in the right moment anything is possi- ble." On the day we met, he did w i n i n t h e n i n t h r a c e w i t h a horse call Amberjack. He posed at the winning circle with the victorious horse for one photog- rapher. Like most wins on an ordinary day at the racetrack, there was little fanfare or atten- tion other than those with win- ning tickets. Once he left the winning circle and immediately went to be weighted-in, as is the racing rule for jockeys after win- ning a race, he turned to nod and wave at the modest crowd. For Luca, it was just another day at the racetrack and he would not want to be anywhere else. Italian-born jockey Luca Panici comes from a lineage of "fantini a cavallo" or horse jockeys A Day with Jockey Luca Panici LIFE PEOPLE MOVIES MUSIC BOOKS

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