Jockey calendar showcases riders in a different way

Last updated: 5/4/11 3:55 PM

Gomez is the cover boy for the 2012 Jockeys Calendar
(Courtesy of Black Liner Productions)

Photographer Barbara Livingston is used to taking shots of jockeys in
action, but for the 2012 Thoroughbred Jockey Calendar the Eclipse Award
winner focused on something else entirely: the conditioned and fit
physique of those in charge of piloting their equine co-stars.

In an attempt to offer up a different side of horse racing, 12 top
jockeys stepped up to the challenge of turning model for a day.

Calvin Borel, Shaun Bridgmohan, Javier Castellano, Kent Desormeaux,
Ramon Dominguez, Garrett Gomez, Channing Hill, Julien Leparoux, Edgar
Prado, Mike Smith, Terry Thompson and John Velazquez all posed, some
with out shirts, to both promote the sport of horse racing and raise
money for a good cause. A portion of the proceeds will go to the
Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF).

The calendar was the brainchild of
Christine Sabia, president of Black Liner Productions, a marketing firm located
in Connecticut. Sabia felt there was not enough focus on the jockeys as
athletes, so she teamed with Livingston, a two-time Eclipse Award
winner and one of America’s most highly regarded racing photographers, to shoot
the photos.

“Generally it’s all about the horses, but to us, the jockeys and the
horses work as a team,” Sabia explained.

Sabia asked Desormeaux, a friend and client, to help make the calendar
happen.

“Without Kent’s help, I don’t think this project would have been
possible, he was instrumental in pulling together the jocks; working with Kent,
Barbara, and all the jockeys was great fun,” Sabia said.

“I’ve actually spent my professional lifetime
photographing jockeys, but just as part of the coverage of the sport, but as far
as a project focusing on jockeys, this is the first I can remember and certainly
the first on this big a scale,” Livingston said. “We already know what they look like with silks
on. This is to show them sexy as well as incredibly talented, and it was a lot
of fun.”

“I’m used to my picture being taken when I’m in action doing my job, and this
was a little different,” said Gomez, one of the featured jockeys who is
also on the cover. “But working with Barbara and Christine made it very fun.
It feels really good any time that I can be part of anything to benefit a
charity.”

The calendar, which ships in June, is on sale now for $13.99 plus shipping,
at www.blacklinerproductions.com.
The calendar will also be on sale at Churchill Downs, Santa Anita and other
racetracks.