Kirt Jacobs is the host and producer of MoxieTalk, a talk show that gives an intimate look into the courage, character and defining moments of today's most inspiring individuals.
Riley Mott is a young Thoroughbred racehorse trainer & son of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott—yes, that Bill Mott, trainer of Cigar and multiple Kentucky Derby/Belmont/Breeders' Cup winners.
Riley grew up in his father's shadow, worked as Bill's assistant, then launched his own public stable in late 2022.
The headline version: Riley is no longer just "Bill Mott's son." He is becoming a serious trainer in his own right.
His first winner came with only his third starter, when Unifying won at Churchill Downs on Nov. 10, 2022.
By October 2025, America's Best Racing listed him with 97 wins from 610 starters and more than $7 million in purses, with a stable of about 60 horses.
As of the 2026 Derby trail, Riley's profile jumped big-time: he trained Albus and Incredibolt, giving him his first Kentucky Derby starters in the 2026 Kentucky Derby.
That also created a rare father-son Derby storyline, with Bill and Riley both training horses in the same Run for the Roses — reportedly the first such father-son Derby matchup since 1964.
He also has a Kentucky connection: Riley graduated from the University of Kentucky with an economics degree and often spent time at Keeneland during college.
Riley Mott is a next-generation horseman from one of racing's great training families — Bill Mott's son, former assistant, UK grad, and now an emerging Grade 1/Kentucky Derby-level trainer building his own name.
7 Oct 2026
MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs #505: Bill Mott
Bill Mott is 1 of the greatest American Thoroughbred horse trainers of the modern era — a Hall of Famer, multiple Eclipse Award winner, and the trainer of some truly elite racehorses.
He was born July 29, 1953, in Mobridge, South Dakota, and got started absurdly young: one of his early wins came at age 16 with a horse named Kosmic Tour.
He later worked under Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg, then opened his own public stable in 1978.
Why he's a big deal:
1. Hall of Fame trainer:
Mott was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 1998, becoming 1 of the youngest trainers ever voted in.
2. Trainer of Cigar
His most famous horse historically is probably Cigar, one of the all-time greats, who won 16 consecutive races in the 1990s & became a racing icon.
3. Kentucky Derby winner — twice
Mott trained Country House, the official winner of the 2019 Kentucky Derby, after Maximum Security was disqualified. He then won the Derby again in 2025 with Sovereignty, this time in clean, emphatic fashion.
4. Triple Crown race wins
His Triple Crown wins include the Kentucky Derby with Country House and Sovereignty, plus the Belmont Stakes with Drosselmeyer and Sovereignty.
5. Breeders' Cup success
He has trained numerous Breeders' Cup winners and is especially respected for developing older horses and keeping elite horses sound over time.
In plain English:
Bill Mott is the quiet master craftsman of American racing — not a carnival-barker personality, not a hype machine, just a deeply respected horseman whose horses often get better with patience, distance, and maturity.
Very "old-school excellence," which makes sense, given that Riley Mott carries a serious racing pedigree!
21 Sept 2026
MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs #504: Brad H. Cox
Brad H. Cox is one of the leading American Thoroughbred racehorse trainers, based in Kentucky & strongly associated with Churchill Downs.
A Louisville native, he grew up near Churchill Downs & worked his way up from the racetrack and backstretch, including time with trainers Burk Kessinger & Jimmy Baker, and later as an assistant to Dallas Stewart.
His national profile exploded in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Cox is a 2-time Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Trainer, winning the honor for 2020 & 2021.
His most famous horses include:
*Mandalou: the official winner of the 2021 KY. Derby, after Medina Spirit was disqualified. Cox became the first Louisville-born trainer credited with a Kentucky Derby win.
*Monomoy Girl: Champion filly; won the 2018 KY. Oaks & Breeders' Cup Distaff, giving Cox major breakthrough wins.
*Essential Quality : Champion racehorse; won the 2021 Belmont Stakes.
*Knicks Go: Won the 2021 Breeders' Cup Classic and was Horse of the Year caliber; one of Cox's signature older dirt horses.
*Shedaresthedevil: Won the 2020 Kentucky Oaks, giving Cox another major filly classic.
As of the current 2026 racing coverage, Cox remains among the top North American trainers. America's Best Racing's 2026 leaderboard showed him ranked No. 1 by earnings at the time, with listed 2026 earnings of $11,089,862, overall earnings of $235,225,430, and a 26% overall win rate.
The straightforward read: Brad Cox is not just "a good trainer"; he is 1 of the elite American trainers of the modern era, especially on dirt, in major Kentucky races, and in Breeders' Cup-level competition. His only odd footnote is the Kentucky Derby: he is officially a Derby-winning trainer through Mandaloun, but that victory came by disqualification months after the race, not by standing in the winner's circle on Derby Day.
Who has been a guest on MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Jay Cobb
Alli Truttmann
Chris Tucker
Seth Rollins
Becky Lynch
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5,994,351
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6 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 79 / 100
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Quality
94
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
68
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Kirt Jacobs host the show. Published by Kirt Jacobs.
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