Today they ride. Tomorrow they eat.

Today they ride. Tomorrow they eat.

Most thoroughbred jockeys weigh between 110 and 115 pounds. Many struggle to maintain riding weight. A bag of potato chips or a pint of ice cream can easily tip the scales the wrong way.

So how do the riders of Mahoning Valley Race Course approach Thanksgiving, our national day of gluttony?

“I’m eating,” said Jason Lumpkins. “Yes , I worry about pounds, but this is Thanksgiving. Then we have two dark days, anyway.”

“I’m careful, but you have to eat,” said fellow jock, Luis Gonzalez.

Trainer Jeff Radosevich, a retired jockey, is free to dig in.

“I’ll eat good,” he said. “Do I feel sorry for the riders? No. I was careful for 16 years, now it’s their turn.”

EQUINE REWIND

A review of Monday’s races shows no track bias. The surface was fair to speedsters and closers, as well as those who raced on or away from the rail. Tuesday’s races were dominated by speedy types and stalkers. . . The littlest of details can make a big difference. Trainer Maria Pinzon removed Gun Start’s blinkers for Monday’s fifth race. The result? He ended a seven-race losing streak and paid $40.40. The change wasn’t in the program, but was relayed to fans by track announcer John McGary.

OPENING DAY LEFTOVERS

Duty Calls, winner of the third race Monday, has now prevailed in five consecutive starts. He’s a running machine, a winner of 15 of 28 career starts. How about those poor Vegas-style show girls who ventured to the winner’s circle during one of Monday’s wind gusts? Adorned with feathery headdresses, they were all but turned into glitzy kites. Jockey Luis Quinones, hurt in the gate prior to the start of the sixth race, took off his mounts Tuesday and Wednesday, but should be fit enough to ride Saturday.

THE BANKROLL

Open in the fifth race with $10 to win on Upper Arlington. Close in the seventh with another $10 on the nose of Public Secret.Bankroll Update: YSU’s Eric Wolford might not be the only guy leaving town this week. Bet and lost $12 yesterday. Rumor has Vindy brass looking for a bird of a different (winning) feather.

Bob ‘Railbird’ Roberts is a horse racing writer/former racing publicity man, who has covered racing for nearly 50 years.