Stating that “horse racing is a microcosm of the world at large where every day is a gamble and the risks we take define the lives we lead,” Marjorie Kaplan, president and general manager of Animal Planet announced the return of docu-drama TV show Jockeys
.
Friday, August 21st is a date you can bet on – Animal Planet’s popular docu-drama, JOCKEYS, returns to the starting gate with a new season that promises to be bigger, bolder, faster and stronger. The new season of JOCKEYS expands from half-hours to hours to do justice to the rich and complex world of horse racing, bringing more dramatic, more compelling storytelling to the Animal Planet audience.
This season, Animal Planet’s cameras race along side the jockeys and their magnificent Thoroughbreds through every tight turn in both big and small races. They take viewers behind doors that are usually closed to capture every tense moment in the jock’s room or with the track stewards; they follow along into the evenings and during the pre-dawn mists for quiet conversations between jockeys and trainers, fathers and children, lovers and friends, and partners and rivals. Every day is a gamble for these men and women – in terms of earnings but even more so, each mount puts both jockey and horse at risk for serious injury or possibly even death as they race their way to victory.
Premiering August 21 at 10 PM E/P after the finale of WHALE WARS, the seven-part series, JOCKEYS, redefines the importance of each race, the stakes involved and the players whose dreams of fame and fortune, adoration for horses, and love of the sport pushes them closer and closer to the ultimate achievement – a chance to compete for the Triple Crown. And this season, Animal Planet shows the jockeys inching closer to riding in the Race for the Roses – the Kentucky Derby – the first of the prestigious Triple Crown races.
“Horse racing is a microcosm of the world at large where every day is a gamble and the risks we take define the lives we lead,” says Marjorie Kaplan, president and general manager of Animal Planet. “The challenges the jockeys confront – risk, trust, friendship and competition – are universal and have the power to resonate with all our viewers – from horse lovers to those being introduced to this remarkable world for the first time.”
This season, two newcomers but well-known warriors of the horse racing world enter the realm of the small screen. Corey Nakatani, known in the racing circuits for his temper and cut-throat approach, pours out a drama-drenched storyline in the very first episode. And, America’s top-ranked jockey Garrett “GoGo” Gomez is the envy of fellow jockeys for his fierce determination and the inspiring story that brought him from rock bottom to the height of his career.
Nakatani and Gomez join Chantal Sutherland, Kayla Stra, Alex Solis, Mike Smith, Joe Talamo and Aaron Gryder.
Full information on Jockeys is available on the show's website.