At the Gap With Rashard Lewis

At the Breeders’ Cup because: Part owner of GI Breeders’ Cup Classic contender Cigar Street (Street Sense). 

Occupation: Basketball player 

Born: Houston, Texas 

Nickname: Sweet Lou 

How he become involved in racing: [Owner and bloodstock agent] Jake [Ballis] and I grew up together and we played basketball together since we were really young. His dad was involved in racing a long a time ago and about eight years ago, his dad was getting involved in racing again and Jake wanted to know if I wanted to go in a partnership with him. I knew a lot about [racing], but I took about a year to kind of really learn the ins and out of horse racing–and not just racing, but the breeding and everything–and decided to jump into it. The first horse we purchased was Join In The Dance (Sky Mesa) and he ended up making up the Kentucky Derby and since he made the derby, it’s like I’ve had horse fever ever since. 

Favorite racehorse: Zenyatta 

Favorite track: The first track I visited was Saratoga, so I’ll have to go with that, but this is my first time here at Santa Anita and this is amazing. So, I may have a new racetrack. 

Where he can be found on his days off from racing and basketball: I love movies. I like to go to the movies, I’m a movie critic. Sometimes I like to spend my days at the movies. I’m a big football fan, too–big fan of the Houston Texans. 

If he could have dinner with one historical figure who would it be: Obama 

Favorite food: I’m a soul food type of guy 

Favorite movie: Bad Boys 

Favorite Book: The Art of War. Especially playing basketball for so long, coaches always tell you “read this book, read this book.” I’ve had probably 10 coaches tell me to read that book. 

Race-day rituals: In basketball, after the shoot around I always come home and eat and take a nap before I go to the gym. But [no race day rituals] in horse racing yet, Hopefully, if we can win this weekend, whatever we did, I’ll do that again.

Person in the industry who has had the biggest impact on his career: Jake Ballis and Angel Cordero. Angel is a great guy and he helps us a lot. 

Favorite racetrack memory: Tampa Bay Downs when Join In The Dance ran in the Tampa Bay Derby. It looked like we were lock to win it, but we got caught by Musket Man and lost by a nose. That adrenaline rush was when I first got into [racing] and I was really excited about that.