Murray State University Athletics
Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics
On The Farm With Racer 1 & Jockey Emily Helmick
9/1/2021 10:39:00 AM | Football, General
Since 1976, Murray State University has been the only school to run a race horse and jockey around the track after a touchdown
The 2021 Murray State Football season marks the 45th consecutive for fans seeing Racer 1 and the student jockey take a trip around the track at Roy Stewart Stadium after the home team scores a touchdown.
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After the strangest of seasons, where the 2020 schedule was played in spring 2021, Murray State's favorite thoroughbred, Racer 1 and jockey, Emily Helmick are back. Racer 1 is a big part of the spectacle and all of the traditions that come with Racer Football.
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For the sixth-straight year, GoRacers.com made an August visit to the Murray State Equine Center to see Racer 1 at his home where he was born in 2012. The 2021-22 school year is the third for the horse named "Vegas" to perform as Racer 1 and he might be the best to ever come through the program. Vegas is a quarter horse and has been an excellent
competitive jumper ion his career. Vegas is the first Racer 1 bred and born at Murray State.
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Emily Helmick, a senior equine science major from St. Charles, Missouri is the 38th student that has served as jockey.
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Dr. Shea Porr is MSU's Animal & Equine Science department head and leads the Racer 1 program.
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The Racer 1 program is sponsored by The Murray Bank and The Place.
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The Racer 1 tradition was started when a horse named "Violet Cactus" first ran the track after a Racer touchdown in 1976. A beautiful gray mare, she was buried just inside the northwest wall at Stewart Stadium after her death. A plaque on the stadium wall tells the story of the first Racer 1. Since 1985, each horse performing at Racer Football has held the name of Racer 1.
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Murray State Football Tickets
Racer Football season tickets can be purchased as well as single game tickets. The order form for season tickets can be found HERE. Please fill it out and either mail to the address on the form or turn it in in-person at the CFSB Center ticket office. Office hours of the ticket office at the arena are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The phone number is 270-809-3000. The Racers open the season at home (Sept. 2) at Roy Stewart Stadium against Mississippi Valley State at 7 p.m.
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About Murray State Athletics
Located in Murray, Kentucky, the athletics department of Murray State University is a NCAA Division I member and plays in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Racers have 15 programs including men's teams for baseball, basketball, cross country, football and golf and women's teams for basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball, as well as a mixed gender rifle team. The Racers are a charter member of the Ohio Valley Conference and are currently one of just three original members from the conference's first season in 1948.
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Past Racer 1 features on GoRacers.com
2016 – Jockey Kelsey Hathaway
https://goracers.com/news/2016/9/8/football-racer-1-tradition-lives-on-at-murray-state2.aspx
2017 – Jockey Ana Thomas
https://goracers.com/news/2017/8/28/football-racer-1-on-the-farm-with-jockey-anna-thomas.aspx
2018 – Jockey Jamie Wolfzorn
https://goracers.com/news/2018/8/27/football-on-the-farm-with-racer-one-jockey-jamie-wolfzorn.aspx
2019 – Jockey Bailey Coffman
https://goracers.com/news/2019/8/28/football-racer-1-jockey-bailey-coffman-ready-to-run-thursday-at-stewart-stadium.aspx
2020 – Jockey Emily Helmick
https://goracers.com/news/2020/8/20/football-on-the-farm-with-racer-1-jockey-emily-helmick.aspx
2021 - Jockey Emily Helmick
https://goracers.com/news/2021/8/31/on-the-farm-with-racer-1-jockey-emily-helmick.aspx
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After the strangest of seasons, where the 2020 schedule was played in spring 2021, Murray State's favorite thoroughbred, Racer 1 and jockey, Emily Helmick are back. Racer 1 is a big part of the spectacle and all of the traditions that come with Racer Football.
Â
For the sixth-straight year, GoRacers.com made an August visit to the Murray State Equine Center to see Racer 1 at his home where he was born in 2012. The 2021-22 school year is the third for the horse named "Vegas" to perform as Racer 1 and he might be the best to ever come through the program. Vegas is a quarter horse and has been an excellent
competitive jumper ion his career. Vegas is the first Racer 1 bred and born at Murray State.Â
Emily Helmick, a senior equine science major from St. Charles, Missouri is the 38th student that has served as jockey.
Â
Dr. Shea Porr is MSU's Animal & Equine Science department head and leads the Racer 1 program.
Â
The Racer 1 program is sponsored by The Murray Bank and The Place.
Â
The Racer 1 tradition was started when a horse named "Violet Cactus" first ran the track after a Racer touchdown in 1976. A beautiful gray mare, she was buried just inside the northwest wall at Stewart Stadium after her death. A plaque on the stadium wall tells the story of the first Racer 1. Since 1985, each horse performing at Racer Football has held the name of Racer 1.
Â
Murray State Football Tickets
Racer Football season tickets can be purchased as well as single game tickets. The order form for season tickets can be found HERE. Please fill it out and either mail to the address on the form or turn it in in-person at the CFSB Center ticket office. Office hours of the ticket office at the arena are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The phone number is 270-809-3000. The Racers open the season at home (Sept. 2) at Roy Stewart Stadium against Mississippi Valley State at 7 p.m.
Â
About Murray State Athletics
Located in Murray, Kentucky, the athletics department of Murray State University is a NCAA Division I member and plays in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Racers have 15 programs including men's teams for baseball, basketball, cross country, football and golf and women's teams for basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball, as well as a mixed gender rifle team. The Racers are a charter member of the Ohio Valley Conference and are currently one of just three original members from the conference's first season in 1948.
Â
Past Racer 1 features on GoRacers.com
2016 – Jockey Kelsey Hathaway
https://goracers.com/news/2016/9/8/football-racer-1-tradition-lives-on-at-murray-state2.aspx
2017 – Jockey Ana Thomas
https://goracers.com/news/2017/8/28/football-racer-1-on-the-farm-with-jockey-anna-thomas.aspx
2018 – Jockey Jamie Wolfzorn
https://goracers.com/news/2018/8/27/football-on-the-farm-with-racer-one-jockey-jamie-wolfzorn.aspx
2019 – Jockey Bailey Coffman
https://goracers.com/news/2019/8/28/football-racer-1-jockey-bailey-coffman-ready-to-run-thursday-at-stewart-stadium.aspx
2020 – Jockey Emily Helmick
https://goracers.com/news/2020/8/20/football-on-the-farm-with-racer-1-jockey-emily-helmick.aspx
2021 - Jockey Emily Helmick
https://goracers.com/news/2021/8/31/on-the-farm-with-racer-1-jockey-emily-helmick.aspx
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