Racer 1 & Jockey Bailey Coffman Ready To Run At Stewart Stadium

The Murray State football season begins play Thursday and Jockey Bailey Coffman and favorite thoroughbred, Racer 1, are ready to run when the Racers take on Pikeville under the lights at Roy Stewart Stadium at 6 p.m. in Murray, Kentucky.

The season opener is the first of six home games in which the amazing tradition of having a jockey run a racehorse around the track after a MSU touchdown.

The 2019 jockey is Bailey Coffman, a senior Equine Science Business major from, Jackson, Tennessee. She's the next in a long line of student jockeys that have kept the tradition going.

"It's an indescribable feeling to be the jockey," Coffman said. "My experience with horses is in western style riding, not as a jockey. The tryout process was an experience that I'm glad I went through and it truly is an honor to be the Racer 1 jockey. The first time had the chance to ride him, it was unforgettable, he was smooth and he took care of me because I was nervous. He trusts me and I trust him and we're going to be a great team."

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This season, a new Racer 1 is taking over. Vegas, a former quarter horse competitor is a larger horse than the recent Racer 1, Lobo, who has retired and is living a happy life at the MSU farm. Vegas is the first Racer 1 that was born at MSU.

"Vegas was born and bred here at Murray State, he's seven years old and has been in our program since he hit the ground," said Dr. Shea Porr, the faculty leader of the Racer 1 program. "He has a beautiful mind, his mother was very gentle and his father was a great Stallion, but he was very polite. Vegas has both of their personalities. Vegas is smart and he's laid back."

Since 1985, each horse that has performed at Racer Football has held the name of Racer 1. The first horse to run in 1976 was named Violet Cactus and she was a beautiful gray mare. After her death, she was buried just inside northwest wall at Stewart Stadium. A plaque on the stadium wall tells the story of the first Racer 1.

Racer 1 usually arrives at the stadium inside two hours from kickoff and fans are welcome to come down to field level to get close to meet the jockey and Racer 1 and even take a photo as time allows.

After Murray State's opener Thursday, the Racers are home (Sept. 21) for MSU Family Weekend against Morehead State. Other MSU home games include Eastern Illinois (Oct. 5), Eastern Kentucky (Oct. 19) on homecoming, Tennessee Tech (Nov. 2) and Austin Peay on MSU Hall of Fame Day (Nov. 16). Check GoRacers.com for the complete MSU football schedule.

Murray State University Athletics

Racer 1 & Jockey Bailey Coffman Ready To Run At Stewart Stadium

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