A Life With Horses, Faith, and the Backstretch

Albert Kelly has spent more than five decades with horses — as a jockey, exercise rider, and lifelong horseman.

In this full conversation, Albert reflects on his early days in racing, the principles passed down by his mentor Eileen Cliggat, the unseen roles that keep the sport moving, and a life-altering accident when a thousand-pound horse fell on him — a moment he describes as nothing short of a miracle.

This is a story about faith, survival, trust between horse and rider, and the people who carry the sport forward long before the gates open.

Recorded at Gulfstream Park.

Voices of the Backstretch is a series dedicated to preserving the human stories behind Thoroughbred racing — told in their own words.