Kristopher Fister

Racer One and jockey Madison Presley run down the the front stretch of the track.

One of the University’s biggest traditions resides in the presence of Racer One, Murray State’s victory lap running horse and jockey duo. A tradition that began in 1976, the appearance of Racer One and its jockey have become staples of home football games. Since Racer One’s original appearance, the duo has had its fair share of different jockeys and horses adjoining the track.

The current Racer One horse is a 12-year-old quarter horse named Vegas, his jockey being Madison Presley, senior equine business management major.

Presley grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, where at a young age, she was introduced to the joy of horseback riding.

“I started riding when I was seven,” Presley said. “A friend from church got a horse, and she was like, ‘Do you want to come do lessons?’ It was like a backyard horse that she put me on and then I started doing English (riding), so I learned to jump and stuff like that. I (started) showing (horses at) around 10 or 11.”

Presley’s father, as an alumnus of the University, encouraged his daughter to consider Murray State because of its horse mascot and the presence of an equestrian team.

Since her arrival at the University, Presley has been a member of the Equestrian team and Hunt team, proving her passion for horse riding and competition. Presley plans to one day own her own farm with a sales force.

“From freshman year, my tour and everything, I was like, I’m going to be the jockey,” Presley said. “Then a few months out (before jockey applications), my confidence declined, and I didn’t know if I wanted to do this anymore.”

Finding herself struggling under the weight of her mental health, Presley withheld from applying to become the jockey until the day the application was due. Typically, students interested in applying are required to email Shea Porr, the head of the Racer One program, for an application, but fortunately, one of Presley’s friends had applied and provided her with the application, which she submitted 30 minutes before the deadline.

“I ended up trying out and I was the last tryout,” Presley said. “It was the longest tryout, it took like three hours. I think I was just talking, I blapped a lot, but it was a good conversation where I was making them laugh.”

After being selected as the Racer One jockey, Presley has dedicated an average of 15 hours a week to work with Vegas, an amount of time that does not include time spent at games and events.

“Madison is truly an outstanding young woman, both as a person and as our Racer One jockey,” said Sue Robinson, coordinator of riding and Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) coach. “She always has an encouraging smile, words of support and her pom poms. Her bubbly personality is contagious to all that are around her.”

This year marks Vegas’s sixth year as Racer One, placing him in his prime. Presley described Vegas as an opinionated horse.

“He has a personality, that’s how I put it,” Presley said. “He can be a little nippy and pushy because he loves attention, but that’s why he loves his job.”

Despite loving the attention, Presley said Vegas does not like working in the arena.

“He actually is like a deadhead and is so lazy compared to being out around people,” Presley said. “So whenever he knows he’s going to be worked in the arena, he runs.”

The duo made a special impression during the University’s first home football game, where Presley slid off Vegas during the initial pre-game run. The incident was caused by the girth on the saddle not being double-checked prior to the pre-run.

“It really wasn’t anyone’s fault,” Presley said. “We came around the turn, going pretty fast and I couldn’t get (my) weight shifted to the outside and it just slipped.”

When horses are amped up, they hold in air, making them appear rounder and, therefore, tighter. Presley explained the slipping happened because when the duo made the turn, Vegas took a big exhale, making the girth loose enough for the saddle to slip. Fortunately, Presley came out of the event with only a few bruises and a long scrape from her tumble.

“Madison is one of the best teammates I could’ve asked for,” said Kyla Wash, hunt seat equestrian team captain. “I am so glad that I got to meet her freshman year and see how she’s grown as both a rider and an individual. I’m incredibly thankful to be able to call her both a teammate and one of my best friends.”

The role of the Racer One jockey extends from December 2023 to December 2024 Presley is on schedule to graduate in fall 2025, leaving her up to reapply for the position for another year as the jockey, something she said she is considering.