Does the jockey really make a difference in deciding whether a horse wins or loses? It’s a question we hear all the time from people new to horse racing and learning to bet on races held during the biggest days in the sport. There are few days on the calendar bigger than Nov. 6. That’s when 10 jockeys will line up aboard their horses in the starting gate at Del Mar racetrack in pursuit of Breeders’ Cup glory.

A return to California for the Breeders’ Cup means a return to seeing international raiders who are hoping to take advantage of the firm Del Mar turf Nov. 5-6.