“A Jockey’s World:
Racing in the 87th Annual Carolina Cup”
CAMDEN, S.C. – Graham Watters, an Irish jockey now based in Maryland, competes internationally with his own horse, Make a Stand, affectionately called Stanley. On April 2, 2022, race day begins early as Watters and his wife, Rosie, prepare Stanley for the races, with Rosie braiding the horse’s mane. The jockeys, all long-time friends, chat before the first race, which is scheduled for 1 p.m.
In the first race, Graham and Stanley start off slowly but gain momentum, finishing in fourth place. Post-race, they head to the stables to cool Stanley down with a wet sponge. With six races on the card, Graham is set to ride GhostLighter in the 87th Annual Carolina Cup, donning a green and blue diamond-patterned silk. After a dramatic moment where another jockey falls, Graham finishes fifth. Despite the challenges, he expresses satisfaction with his performance and the overall experience.
Zachery Kelly
My name is Zach, and I’m a senior majoring in Visual Communications with a focus on sports media. I began my photography journey using my mom’s Nikon D3500 at family gatherings, which sparked my passion and led me to work as a second shooter for portraits and weddings. Now, with a Canon EOS 5D MKIV and a range of lenses, I primarily concentrate on sports photography and use Adobe’s suite for editing; you can see my work on Instagram @photosbyzachery.