Orlando's Comments on Seabiscuit

I was searching the internet to find some statistics on Orlando's career and ran into his comments to the author of Seabiscuit. Here is what he said back in 2002.... Laura, A good friend of mine handed me your book a couple of days ago and said " this woman knows what shes talking about!" I was a Jockey for fourteen years and recognized many names mentioned in your book. I was surprised to read that many of the stories in your book had been told to me by a great friend and x jockey named Gene Pederson AKA (Lefty Gene). The stories were told to me in 1988 while I was living with Gene whom was the jockey room custodian. Most of the colorful stories were told while Stake pictures from the same colorful era you wrote about hung in Gene's living room. I wish you would have had the opportunity to speak to Lefty, Now lovingly known by all northern California Jockeys as Pops. He has long since retired from all work and although has many health problems has a recolection of the past that puts you into that place long forgotten by most. I am enclosing my e-mail address and hope that you will contact me. I would love to get you two together and am quite certain you will enjoy speaking with Gene. He was great friends with Johny Longdon, George Wolf And to many others to mention. If I can be of any assistance in the future please do not hesitate to contact me. I enjoyed your book immensely. Regards Orlando L. Garrido <orlandogarrido@uswest.com> New River, AZ USA - Friday, July 05, 2002 at 12:14:57 (EDT)