DVD: It was my first summer at Del Mar and I was
really excited. I had read all the stories about how
fun Del Mar is. And I was so lucky that I got to
room with Mike Smith in a really nice house down
there right by the beach. We had a late night and
I was just learning how to drink at that time and
I kind of overdid it. I couldn't wake up the next
morning. As soon as I did wake up, I saw that the
sun was really bright and I said, 'Oh, no.' I looked
at my phone and there were a bunch of missed
calls from Tom. My heart just sank. I knew I was
in trouble. I went to the barn. I figured it would
be better to talk to him face to face than calling
him because he doesn't like that, you calling him.
I took my ass-chewing and he said if you want to
keep riding for me, get your stuff and move
it into the tack room or else you're
fired. I had paid about $7,000
to stay in this nice room all
summer, but I wanted to
keep my job with him.
TDN: You came up under Tom Proctor and he mentored
you and helped start your career. But he's also a no-
nonsense guy. Tell us about the time he made you sleep
in a tack room and why.
Van Dyke with Proctor
