“20 Questions” with jockey agent Bobby Dean

Iowa Horseman Dennis Bracewell Interviews Noted Agent

 

This edition of “20 Questions” is with jockey agent Bobby Dean. Bobby was born in Iowa, but grew up in Grand Island, Neb. The day after graduating from high school Bobby drove to Ak-Sar-Ben Race Track in Omaha to begin working as a groom for trainer Marvin Johnson. In the years following, he also worked for Bobby Jorgensen and Mick Kirby.

Bobby also trained a few thoroughbreds on his own during that time. Greg Hosch gave Bobby his first racing office job at Lincoln and Columbus. In 1997, Bobby came to Prairie Meadows to work as a Paddock Judge, and worked as an agent for jockey Glenn Corbett later that year. Six months later, Corbett won the Phoenix Gold Cup in wire-to-wire fashion with the 10-1 shot, Russellthemussell, and it was at that point that Bobby realized he would forever be a jockey agent.

Bobby met his wife, Robyn, while working for trainer Marvin Johnson. They lived in Omaha after Robyn graduated from college but have called Iowa home since 1998.

Bracewell: You have personalized University of Iowa license plates which read “AGTBOB.” Did you attend the University of Iowa or are you just a big fan?

Dean: I was born here in Iowa and am a lifelong fan!

Bracewell: How did you get your start as a jockey agent?

Dean: In the summer of 1997 I worked at Prairie Meadows as the Paddock Judge. I met Glenn and he convinced me to go to work for him. I started with him and Perry Compton at The Woodlands in Kansas City.

Bracewell: You have been Glenn Corbett’s agent for a very long time. How do you maintain a jockey-agent relationship for that long of a time period?

Dean: With the exception of a couple months, I have worked for him since 1997. We don’t just have a working relationship; he is part of my family. Things aren’t always perfect, but we know we can depend on each other.

Bracewell: I notice a lot of agents’ golf, bet the horses or spend their time gambling in the casino. What do you do with your down time?

Dean: I do enjoy golf and luckily, I can do that most of the year. I like watching college basketball and football. I also attend my fair share of movies.

Bracewell: You have gotten off to a great start so far in 2011 winning the first two stakes races of the meet for trainer Dan McFarlane. Other than McFarlane, who are some of the Arizona trainers that we should keep an eye on and do you anticipate these trainers buying or claiming any Iowa-breds?

Dean: Bart Hone and Mike Chambers are both very high percentage trainers that are here in Iowa for the first time. The Iowa Bred money is very impressive and I would think both barns would be looking to claim.

Bracewell: You have had such a great relationship with trainer Dick Clark over all of these years. How did you forge that relationship?

Dean: I (my riders) started riding for Dick my first year hustling in Iowa in ’98. He has always ridden Glenn and we just steadily started riding more and more for him. I have a great deal of respect for Dick and he has always found business for my other riders as well.

Bracewell: You have an excellent support staff in your wife, Robyn. How does she cope with you being away from home all winter?

Dean: That is the hardest thing about this job, being away from home so much of the time. She puts up with way more than she should. I couldn’t do what I do without her. She is part of the team. She is our bookkeeper, travel agent, and still works a full-time job. I appreciate all she does so that I can do a job I love.

Bracewell: Occasionally as an agent you must “spin” a trainer. How do you “spin” a trainer and yet still keep their business?

Dean: You don’t do it very often!!!

Bracewell: When trying to decide between two horses to ride do you get any input from your rider? Do you pull past performances and Beyer figures? Is it purely instinctual? Do you try to stay with the better trainer? What?

Dean: I look at past performances and get the input of my jocks. Obviously, you are more obligated to some trainers than others, but I always try to ride the best horse that I can.

Bracewell: You have the book of Glenn Corbett and Jake Barton this year. Can you tell our members what you feel are the strengths and weaknesses of Glenn as a rider?

Dean: Glenn has won more than 3,000 races. He is aggressive and can win on the lead or close from left field. He is a hard worker and has a good sense of humor.

Bracewell: What are the strengths and weaknesses of Jake Barton as a rider and can you tell us a little more about him?

Dean: Jake is a very smart rider and isn’t afraid of working hard, either. He is a winner of more than 2,000 races between the US and Canada. Jake and his family moved to Arizona from Edmonton permanently last year.

Bracewell: Do you handle Jake’s book in Arizona and how difficult was it to get him to come back to Iowa this year after a brief stay here last year?

Dean: I have handled Jake’s business in Arizona for 3 years. It was not tough at all to get him to come with me. He always had every intention of coming back to Iowa. It was just bad luck and bad timing last year. He is a great fit to this colony of riders.

Bracewell: How difficult is it maintaining a relationship with both of your riders when Glenn has been “the man” here at Prairie Meadows for so long? How do you keep the second rider happy?

Dean: I have been very lucky to work with some great second riders: Perry Compton, Joel Campbell, and David Essman. They were wonderful to work for. Jake and Glenn have known each other a long time and complement each other well. As long as I am honest with both riders, things seem to roll smoothly.

Bracewell: Do you hang out with any of the agents or riders outside of the track? And if so, whom?

Dean: Glenn and Jake are two of my best friends. Gene Short, Brian Assman, Troy Bainum, and Chad Anderson are some agents that I spend a lot of time with outside of the track. Sometime during the year all of us agents golf together at least once.

Bracewell: How do you deal with the grind of going to the track every day?

Dean: It is not a grind, I love what I do. I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else.

Bracewell: Last year Glenn had a mount that was on the Triple Crown Trail and another mount that was a top class sprinter. The two of you went to Oaklawn Park for a month or so to ride these horses and then when it came time to enter for the Arkansas Derby and the Count Fleet Stakes the trainer chose a “big name” jockey. How do you deal with that?

Dean: I would be lying if I said it was easy and didn’t bother me. It is part of the business. We have been on both sides. It is important that you pick your head up and go on with it. It isn’t going to do anyone any good to dwell on it. I still appreciate Jeff Mullins giving Glenn the mount in the Kentucky Derby on Lusty Latin. He certainly could have looked for a big name jock.

Bracewell: Glenn has been riding quite some time now. Are you always looking for that next rider who can come in and keep you in business for another twenty years?

Dean: No, I try to concentrate on the here and now and do the best job I can.

Bracewell: There can be a lot of deception (lying) on the backside by both jockey agents and trainers. How do you deal with that?

Dean: That isn’t easy, either. Hopefully, if you have been around long enough, you can figure out who is telling you the truth. Again, that is just part of the game.

Bracewell: What is your favorite racing movie?

Dean: ‘Let it Ride’ with Richard Dreyfuss….hands down the best track movie ever!

Bracewell: Has having worked as a groom, trainer and in the racing office provided you with any advantages over other agents?

Dean: I won’t say that it gives me an “advantage”. It is useful that I can help tack/un-tack a horse or lead one up and back from the track. Sometimes you have to do all you can to get your workers out in the mornings. I would like to think my time on the other side of the counter has helped me with efficient entries, but the office may tell a different story!

Thank you for your time, Bobby, and continued good luck to you, your wife Robyn, and your riders!