Mike E. Smith (born August 10, 1965 in Roswell, New Mexico) is an American jockey who has been one of the leading riders in U.S. thoroughbred racing since the early 1990s.

The son of a jockey, Smith began riding races in his native New Mexico at age 11, and took out a jockey's license at age 16 in 1982. He left New Mexico the following year, riding mostly in the Midwest where he earned his apprenticeship at Canterbury Downs Minnesota before moving to New York in 1989.

In 1991, he became one of the few American jockeys to win a European classic by claiming victory in the Irish 2,000 Guineas aboard Fourstars Allstar (some other American jockeys, notably Steve Cauthen, had won European classics before Smith, but were based in Europe). The following year, he rode his first Breeders' Cup winner, Lure, in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

The year after that, 1993, he truly arrived as a top jockey, setting a North American record for stakes wins in a year with 62. Among his highlights were a win in the Preakness aboard Prairie Bayou and a successful defense of the Breeders' Cup Mile aboard Lure. That year, he won his first Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey, and also won an ESPY Award as top jockey. In 1994, he broke his own record for stakes wins with 68, 20 of them Grade I races. Several of those wins came while riding that year's Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year winner, Holy Bull. He also rode two winners in that year's Breeders' Cup, and again won the Eclipse Award as leading jockey. Smith went on to ride two Breeders' Cup winners in both 1995 and 1997.

In 1994, he was voted the Mike Venezia Memorial Award for "extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship".

The dangers of Smith's profession became evident in 1998, when he suffered major injuries in two separate spills. A broken shoulder in March took him out of action for two months. Then, in August, while leading the Saratoga meeting, he broke two vertebrae in his back, requiring him to wear a body cast for several months. He came back six months after the fall.

In 2000, he moved his home base from New York to Southern California. That year he was voted the prestigious George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award that honors a rider whose career and personal conduct exemplifies the very best example of participants in the sport of thoroughbred racing.

In 2002, he had yet another banner year, serving as the regular rider for his second Horse of the Year, Azeri. He rode Azeri to a win in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, and also rode Vindication to a win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Smith has ridden winners in 10 Breeders' Cup races to date.

In 2005, he rode 50–1 longshot Giacomo to victory in the Kentucky Derby. The win, Smith's first in the Derby, was something of a vindication for him. He was aboard Giacomo's sire Holy Bull, the 2–1 favorite in the 1994 Derby, but could only finish 12th after Holy Bull was bumped coming out of the starting gate.

Smith was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2003.

This is an authentic hand signed item and is NOT a preprint. The item size is whopping 13x19 and the GAI Cert number is GV278414

This authentic collectible was examined by Global Authentication or signed in the presence of a GAI representative and has been scientifically marked with a proprietary invisible forensic compound and is guaranteed authentic by Global Authentication. A Global tamper evident serial numbered label has been applied to this item matching the accompanying certificate of authenticity card.

Global Authentication which is headed by Mike Baker & Steve Rocchi, former founders of PSA/DNA is a leading provider of grading and authentication services of high-end sports and entertainment memorabilia, autographs, trading cards and other collectibles.

Their value added services provide collectors and dealers with the confidence to buy and sell high-end collectibles, making the collecting experience more exciting and memorable.

GAI is currently authenticating for many major auction houses and nationally known dealers including Home Shopping Network, Mastro Auctions, Rotman Auctions, Robert Edward Auctions, Hunt Auctions, American Memorabilia, Sports Cards Plus, Lew Lipset, and many others as well as being one of ebays official authenticators. GAI is also a title sponsor of the 2005 National Sports Collectors Convention.

We just recently purchased a large index card collection and will be listing hundreds of great autographs starting only at $.99 each. So check out our other auctions.  

Please let me know if the photo is not showing up. Sometime Ebay messes up my photos.

Shipping & handling for this item is $6.00 for with Delivery Confirmation in the United States or we can USPS Express Mail Overnight (Sometimes it takes 2 days) for $20. International customers shipping is a flat rate of $40.00 for Priority Mail Flat Rate Box. Yes I combine shipping. Check out our other auction that are starting at only $1.00. Buy more and still only pay one flat rate.

ATTENTION INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS:

Because of new anti-terrorist measures Airmail packages are taking longer. Typically a package to the UK or Australia was only taking 10 to 14 days now they are taking upwards of a 25 to 30 days. I have been having this problem with all airmail items. The only international items that are arriving to there destinations in a timely manner are Global Priority Mail.

NOTE: Shipping & handling covers more than just the actual shipping costs. It covers a lot of other things like shipping material (envelopes, Card board, sheet protectors, labels, etc.) Our time spent packaging, delivering photos to the Post Office, etc. IF YOU DO NOT LIKE OUR S&H TERMS PLEASE DO NOT BID....

ATTENTION VERO MEMBERS:

Please contact us first if you feel that we have violated your copyright. If you let us know first we will gladly remove the auction. 

Why you should buy from us?

Cliff Yow is the owner of Autographed Cards and is a member in good standing of the UACC, IACC and The Manuscript Society. He is also a member of The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels. 

Every autograph we offer for sale comes with a lifetime guarantee that it is authentic. Whenever you make a purchase from us you will receive a hard copy invoice for your records. We do this so you can contact us at anytime and to provide our customers with peace of mind that are dealing with someone reputable. We also offer free certificates of authenticity issued from our company Autographed Cards for all of our items on request. We are getting new collections so check out our auctions every week!

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If you are not happy with your purchase you have 10 days to return it for a full refund minus the cost of shipping. 

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Please contact us with any questions at autographedcards@hotmail.com or call 580-277-9261.

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