Who is Heman K. Harkie?

I don't know.  Well, I didn't know until he was listed as IRENA N ELLA's jockey for her earlier race that was a Main Track Only entry.  He is our jockey for Sunday as well.  About all I know about him is that he is a relatively new jockey - at least in America - and I believe he is what they call a "bugboy".  His official profile can be read here.

Heman K. Harkie

Let me explain for those of you who are not familiar with racing terms as to what a bugboy is. It's a new jockey, which I believe is officially called an apprentice jockey.  The reason for the "bugboy" moniker is because new jockeys are allowed to be 10 lbs less than the seasoned jockeys they are going against. I guess it's a sporting way to give them a chance to notch some wins against their experienced opponents.   So bugs are light - and so are apprentices - hence the name bugboy.  After they get their first win they can be seven lbs less than the others, up until they get so many wins (I'm not sure of the exact numbers), then eventually they "lose their bug" and get enough wins that they can't be lighter anymore.  But Heman Harkie is still a bug, and he can be 7 lbs less than the other jockeys (that aren't also bugs) in the race Sunday, so that's slight advantage for us.

I do know he is from Guyana - which is in South America.  Guyana is not exactly a hot breeding ground for jockeys but hey - Kerry is willing to give him a chance and so am I.  The reality is a small stable like us isn't exactly on the rolodex of Javier Castellano or the Ortiz Brothers, so this is a typical coupling in the racing world - small stable and lesser-known bugboy.

Some guy, half obnoxious, half creepy, seemed to corner him in the airport for an impromptu interview that I found on Facebook.  It's awkward and funny at the same time b/c Heman just wants to get away from the guy.  You can watch it here.

So IRENA, Kerry and Heman.  Sounds like a folk rock group from the 60s, but for us we hope it's a winning combination on Sunday.  Wish us luck!  Post time is 2:45pm.