Jakob Milani
Contributing Writer
Every school has its own traditions, no matter if it’s in sports or around campus. For Murray State, perhaps the biggest is that of the University’s beloved mascot Racer One.
From being part of the equestrian team to running around the track on race day, Racer One, also known as Vegas, is very busy year-round. While the horse is an important part of the tradition, the jockey is just as important. That’s where senior Emily Helmick comes in.
Helmick is a pre-vet and veterinary technology major with a chemistry minor. She participates in the vet tech and pre-vet club, as well as the competitive equestrian team. After college she plans to attend graduate school in order to get a doctorate in veterinary medicine and become a vet.
Being the jockey for Racer One is a pretty big deal. So how did Helmick become the new jockey? She says her fascination about the job goes back all the way to freshman year.
“My freshman year, I was friends with the jockey,” Helmick said. “So I got to live kind of vicariously through her. I got to go into the games and watch her run and I thought that was the coolest thing ever.”
After her freshman year, Helmick wanted to give the jockey position a shot herself.
“As a sophomore, I submitted an application and did an interview and got on the Racer One team, which are kind of like the bodyguards,” Helmick said. “They make sure the track is clear so that we don’t run over anyone.”
After she had lived the Racer One team experience, it was finally Helmick’s turn to saddle up.
“In November of last year I had to go through the process again,” Helmick said. “I sent in an application, got an interview, but for jockey I have to do a riding portion so they can see that I’m fit to ride the horse and handle it… I had a pretty quick turn around to find out I was the next jockey.”
After this long process, Helmick was finally named the next Racer One jockey and couldn’t be happier.
“I definitely cried when I received my email to say that I was going to be the next jockey,” Helmick said. “And I promise you the first time I go around that track, there will be tears in my eyes.”
While Racer One is most known for taking off around the track of Roy Stewart Stadium, there’s a lot that goes on throughout the year for the whole Racer One team.
“So obviously football games are the most public thing we do,” Helmick said. “We also [walk in] the homecoming parade. We do various meet and greet events here around campus. Sometimes people will come to us and meet us out on the field in front of the equine center. One thing we’ve done quite frequently is the eighth grade class from one of the local schools comes and does a scavenger hunt around campus, and the last thing they find is Racer One.”
Despite the pandemic causing abrupt changes to a typical season for Racer One and Helmick, she said it will definitely be a busy time for her come spring.
“With the equestrian team, all of our shows have been postponed to the spring as well,” Helmick said. “So I’ll have all of that on top of my football games, but obviously those football games will take priority… So I may have to miss a couple days here and there but hopefully I can plan ahead.”
To Helmick, the life of the Racer One jockey is a busy one, but a fun one as well. Racer One has been racing around the track after Murray State touchdowns for four decades and isn’t going to stop galloping any time soon.
