Behind The Scenes: The Unsung Heroes Of Race Day

Four Voices Reveal Racing's Most Demanding Lifestyle

They rise before dawn, build bonds with thousand-pound athletes, and carry the weight of months of preparations on their shoulders, yet their names rarely make headlines.

The mobile phone alarm pierces the 4:00am darkness. Across Dubai, whilst the city dreams, a different world awakens. In stables from Red Stables to Zabeel, experienced riders are already pulling on boots, checking work lists, and preparing for another physically demanding day.

This is the daily routine that defines racing's backbone. The stable staff whose hands-on work transforms promising animals into champions. These professionals operate in a realm where patience and intuition matter as much as physical strength.

Ten Furlongs Magazine spoke exclusively with four stable staff members. Bitten Wego Smith from Red Stables, who adopted her own racehorse; Anderson from Zabeel Stables, who rides Laurel River; Iago and Zeeshan from Zabeel, who are partners of Tuz and Walk Of Stars; and Jessy Cabot, travelling head lad for Facteur Cheval. Their stories reveal the personal experiences required when your office is a stable.

When Dubai Sleeps, Racing's Army Awakens

The working day begins at 4:00am across Dubai's stables. "We start work at 4:00am, and the first thing I do is check the work list, and then I get on with tacking up the horses," says Iago and Zeeshan. Anderson Paiva starts at the same hour." Normally, the mornings at the stable start really early, like 4.00am, and we're already getting on the first horse."

At Red Stables, Bitten Wego Smith follows a slightly different schedule. "We normally pull out about 5:30 to 6:00am, depending on how many horses we have." She drives for 20 to 25 minutes to arrive early. "I like to be awake when I start working. It's a physical job, so you need to be awake and alert." Her first task? "The first thing I do is feed the stable cats, so they give us some peace and quiet."

Jessy Cabot's race day preparation differs as a travelling head lad. "Most often on race day, I arrive around
6.00am to give breakfast and make sure the horse has had a good night. I allow him for one hour, and then, after having been brushing him, this is the time to have a good walk."

Polo Mints, Patience, And Reading Personalities

Understanding individual horses proves essential. "Indeed, every horse has a different personality, and within a week or ten days, I can learn and understand my horse, and based on that, I make adjustments," says Iago and Zeeshan. Anderson agrees. "Every horse is different, right? So, we need to adapt ourselves to them, to see how they act and how they react to everything."

Smith employs gentle tactics. "I like to treat my horses with a relaxed and calm hand. But it depends on the horse's age and sex. If you have a little cheeky 2YO colt, you can't be cuddling him too much.
But with a filly, you need to be a little bit gentler." Her pocket always contains polo mints. "If they come, they get a polo mint, and then I build a bond from there."

Cabot emphasises learning through travel. "We get to know them by travelling with them, and they are all different. We know how they are going to behave, and if there are any changes to the routine, then we need to spot what's wrong."

Spotting problems requires vigilance. "While riding out, I can sense my horse is not sound or he is stressed, and that tells me that something is not right, and then immediately I tell the boss,"explains Iago.

Smith watches multiple indicators. "When we ride mostly the same horses every day, you get to know them inside and out. If a horse is suddenly reluctant to go out on the track, that's a sign." Cabot notes that timing matters. "Before the race, this rarely happens, but most importantly, problems need to be spotted after the race, like lameness or even if the horse is tying up."

Physical Demands And Unconventional Therapy

Maintaining fitness takes different forms. "We, as jockeys, are athletes, so we need physical preparation. I myself do gym and exercise to keep my body fit and my weight down," says Anderson. Zeeshan and Iago agree. "I always set a target according to my work responsibilities, and based on that, I make a determined effort to fit physically and mentally. I also do a bit of jogging."

Smith prefers alternatives. "Personally, I'm not a gym fan. I prefer swimming and walking. You can train all you want in the gym, but there's nothing that simulates riding."

Cabot faces unique challenges. "The most challenging part as travelling head lad is to drive for many hours and be ready to take care of the horses once they arrive at the destination."

Dubai's summer tests everyone. "When we start them up at the end of July, August, and September, you must remind yourself because you're thinking, 'Why am I doing this in this heat?' says Smith. She found an unconventional solution by adopting an ex-racehorse. "He was going to go to the sales, and it's a special horse. I couldn't let him go." The 6OO-kilogram gelding became a therapy horse. "When I finish work, if I've had a tough day, I drive up to him and take him out in the desert. I go for a nice, long canter, and I forget about everything."

When Months Of Work Meet Minutes Of Truth

Race days test nerves differently. "Race days are always filled with excitement, expectations, and of course, pressure. The bigger the race, the bigger the pressure," says Zeeshan. "When my horse wins, there's nothing like it; it's a tremendous feeling." Anderson stays composed. "I don't come with a lot of pressure for the race, and I'm usually really cool."

Cabot acknowledges the weight. "Obviously, this is a huge responsibility to take care of valuable horses running in prestigious races, and even though pressure is on, it is very important to stay focused."

Victory brings incomparable moments. "My biggest win has to be when Tuz won the Golden Shaheen in 2024, and also when Walk Of Stars won the Maktoum Challenge Round Two in 2025. On both occasions, I was on top of the world," recalls Iago and Zeeshan.

Cabot's highlight came internationally. "My first big international trip was for the first edition of the Bahrain International Trophy with Royal Julius. I have had all the various caps as I was his rider and travelling lad. We have won that race, and that was memorable."

At Red Stables, First Classs provided redemption. "I've never seen a horse gallop that fast for that long. It was four furlongs, five to go, and he's in front. I'm like, 'He's never going to last that long.' And he just kept going," recalls Smith. "You can see the second horse, its ears are flat back, covered in sweat. And this one, he has his ears pricked, and there's not a sweat on him.''

Sales, Retirements, And Heartbreaking Goodbyes

Emotional bonds make farewells difficult. "It's always sad and disappointing whenever I lose a horse that I've been riding over a period of time, either to injury, or being sold, or retired. It does take some time to get over it," admits Zeeshan.

Cabot maintains perspective. "Unfortunately, this is part of the game and horses' careers don't last very long, but I have been lucky enough to deal with horses like Facteur Cheval competing at the highest level for many years." He finds solace in post-race moments. "When everything is over, and the pressure is off, it's great to take care of the horse once he has finished his race. Everything is calming down, and this is the time for celebrations."

Smith finds sales the hardest. "When they go to the sales, I find it hard because you never know what happens to them after that. Especially here, not all the stables are five-star. Some of them end up standing under just a shade in the middle of the desert."

Quality retirements bring relief. First Classs, owned by Deborah Mihaloff, earned proper rest. "He's been sent down to the South of France for three months in his own big pasture. The horse deserves it," says Smith.

Dubai: Where Excellence Meets Efficiency

Dubai's facilities impress all four. "Dubai has the biggest facilities, I think some of the best in the world. All the facilities are really great," says Anderson. Iago and Zeeshan echo this. "Dubai racing is special and unique indeed. The quality of horses that we have here in Dubai is one of the best, and the training facility is fantastic."

For Smith, Dubai is home. "I've stayed only in Dubai. So, it's home for me. I would not function in the real world anymore." The efficiency amazes her. "My husband needed a new iPad. I looked it up and got a new iPad delivered in 39 minutes. Where in the world would that happen?"

Yet perspective remains essential. "The summers are really harsh. But if you get up at four o'clock in the morning, you have to enjoy your job. There are more downs than ups normally in racing, so when you get the good ups, you enjoy them," she reflects.
That philosophy sustains racing's foundation. The dedicated professionals who transform potential into performance, one early morning at a time.