Pat Day is built to be a horse racing jockey. He weighs 100 pounds and stands 4-feet-11-inches tall, but has as big a heart as any athlete in any sport. Five times Day has ridden his horse to victory at the Preakness Stakes--one of horse racing's Triple Crown--and four times he has won the Eclipse Award, given annually to the best jockey in the United States. Six times he has won more races in a year than any other jockey, and he stands fifth on the all-time win list. Day has achieved all of these accomplishments after overcoming alcohol and drug addictions that almost ended his career and his life.

Growing up

Cowboy dream

Pat Alan Day was born October 13, 1953, in Brush, Colorado. His father was an auto repairman, and the family lived in several towns in Colorado. Day credits his father with his love of horses. "I...