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Audio Recording Robert Paterno interview conducted by Ellen E. McHale, 2013-02-17

Audio interview with pony person Robert Paterno, in the backstretch of the Tampa Bay Downs racetrack, Part 1.
Interview with pony person Robert Paterno, in the backstretch of the Tampa Bay Downs racetrack. Part 1 of 2-part interview.

More Resources

Audio interview with Robert Paterno, Part 2. Interviewee outlines the daily racetrack schedule.
Part 2 of a 2-part interview interview with Robert Paterno.

[ A group of pony people during a race. They are identifiable by their green shirts. ]
[ A group of pony people waiting for the next race. They are identifiable by their green shirts. ]
[ A group of pony people waiting for the next race at Tampa Bay Downs. They can be identified by their green shirts and helmets. ]
[ A pony person leading a rider in the post parade. The pony person leads the racehorse to the starting gate. ]

Show more resources (6)

[ A pony person leading a rider in the post parade. The pony person takes each racehorse to the starting gate in numerical order. Note the pony people awaiting their turns. ]
[ Pony person Robert Bob Paterno (in green) preparing to lead a horse and rider to the starting gate for the next race at Tampa Bay Downs. ]
[ A Pony Person and her mount and rider on the way to the starting gate. ]
[ Pony people dressed in pink (instead of the usual green) in honor of the Susan G. Komen day at the Tampa Bay Downs Racetrack. ]
[ Grandstand of the Tampa Bay Downs Racetrack. ]
[ Log of Interview. ]

About this Item

Title

  • Robert Paterno interview conducted by Ellen E. McHale, 2013-02-17

Summary

  • An interview with Robert "Bob" Paterno, who works as a "pony person" at the Tampa Bay Downs Racetrack. He talks about the daily routines in the backstretch, and gives his thoughts on training, on horses, and on the racetrack world in general. This interview was recorded in two parts: The first is a general interview. The second is a complete description of a day in the backstretch. He also speaks about "claiming races" and the relationships among trainers.

Names

  • Paterno, Robert, interviewee
  • McHale, Ellen, interviewer
  • Occupational Folklife Project, sponsor

Created / Published

  • 2013-02-17

Headings

  • -  Paterno, Robert,--Interviews
  • -  Age and employment
  • -  Diversity in the workplace
  • -  Employees
  • -  Folklore
  • -  Hazardous occupations
  • -  Horse racing--United States--Employees--Interviews
  • -  Hours of labor
  • -  Jargon (Terminology)
  • -  Job satisfaction
  • -  Oral tradition
  • -  Quality of work life
  • -  Race horses--United States
  • -  Racetracks (Horse racing)--United States
  • -  Self-employed
  • -  Summer employment
  • -  Temporary employment
  • -  Thoroughbred horse--Training
  • -  Work and family
  • -  Work environment
  • -  Work ethic
  • -  Tampa Bay (Fla.)--event place

Genre

  • Digital photographs--Color--2010-2020
  • Interviews (Sound recordings)
  • Interviews
  • Oral histories

Notes

  • -  This interview was recorded in the tack room of Robert Paterno's stabling area. It was conducted during a racing day and so there are junctures when the interview pauses to listen to the race announcer because Paterno was working as a pony person for a race in the late afternoon. The interview takes place directly below a bird cage, so there are bird sounds recorded throughout the interview. In a few instances, Robert Paterno's words have been transcribed in their entirety and put in quotation marks. He uses two proverbial expressions during the interview. He uses several instances of racetrack "language" and defines those words that he uses.
  • -  Recorded at the Tampa Bay Downs Racetrack, Tampa Bay, Florida, February 17, 2013.
  • -  Stable Views--Voices and Stories from the Thoroughbred Racetrack : Archie Green Fellows Project, 2012-2013 (AFC 2012/034: 00485) Archive of Folk Culture, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
  • -  To honor the memory of Archie Green (1917-2009), a fellowship program was established at the American Folklife Center in 2010. Archie Green Fellowships support new research in the contemporary culture and traditions of American workers.
  • -  In English.

Medium

  • 1 manuscript : pdf, text file
  • 1 sound file (WAV) (0:53:43) : digital, sound
  • 10 photographs : digital, JPG, color

Source Collection

  • Stable Views--Voices and Stories from the Thoroughbred Racetrack : Archie Green Fellows Project, 2012-2013 AFC 2012/034: 00485

Repository

Digital Id

  • http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/afc2012034.afc2012034_00485_sr01
  • afc2012034.afc2012034_00485_sr02
  • afc2012034.afc2012034_00485_ph01
  • afc2012034.afc2012034_00485_ph02
  • afc2012034.afc2012034_00485_ph03
  • afc2012034.afc2012034_00485_ph04
  • afc2012034.afc2012034_00485_ph05
  • afc2012034.afc2012034_00485_ph06
  • afc2012034.afc2012034_00485_ph07
  • afc2012034.afc2012034_00485_ph08
  • afc2012034.afc2012034_00485_ph09
  • afc2012034.afc2012034_00485_ph10
  • afc2012034.afc2012034_00485_ms02

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2017655461

Rights Advisory

  • Duplication of collection materials may be governed by copyright and other restrictions.

Access Advisory

Online Format

  • image
  • audio
  • pdf

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is not aware of any U.S. copyright protection (see Title 17, U.S.C.) or any other restrictions in the material in this collection, except as noted below. Users should keep in mind that the Library of Congress is providing access to these materials strictly for educational and research purposes. The written permission of the copyright owners and/or other holders of rights (such as publicity and/or privacy rights) is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use of protected items beyond that allowed by fair use or other statutory exemptions. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permissions ultimately rests with persons desiring to use the item. See our Legal Notices and Privacy and Publicity Rights for additional information and restrictions.

The individuals documented by the Occupational Folklife Project retain copyright and related rights to the use of their recorded and written testimonies and memories.  They have granted the Library of Congress permission to provide access to their interviews and related materials for purposes that are consistent with the agency’s educational mission, such as publication and transmission, in whole or in part, on the Web. Project participants’ written permission is required for any commercial, profit-making distribution, reproduction, or other use beyond that allowed by fair use or other statutory exemptions. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permissions ultimately rests with persons desiring to use the item.

The American Folklife Center and the Occupational Folklife Project fieldworkers who carry out these projects feel a strong ethical responsibility to the people they have visited and who have consented to have their lives documented for the historical record. The Center asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here. Researchers are also reminded that privacy and publicity rights may pertain to certain uses of this material.

Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these collection materials should contact the Folklife Reading Room for assistance. 

Credit line

Agricultural Aviation: Crop Dusters in Rural America: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2020-2021 (AFC 2020/007), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Baton Rouge Small Businesses and Trades: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2014-2015 (AFC 2014/023), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Beyond the Breakwater: Gulf of Alaska Small-Boat Fishermen: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2021-2022 (AFC 2021/007), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

The "Big Top" Show Goes On: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2011-2012 (AFC 2012/003), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Boeing Aircraft Factory Workers: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2012-2013 (AFC 2012/036), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Cement Workers in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2020-2021 (AFC 2020/008), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Commercial Bookbinders: Occupational Folklife Project, 2017-2018 (AFC 2017/021), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Cultural Traditions of Ironworkers in America's Upper Midwest: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2011-2012 (AFC 2011/062), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Dairy Farm Workers in New York's North Country: Archie Green Fellows project, 2012-2013 (AFC 2012/033), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Doctoring: The Occupational Folklore of Physicians: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2019-2020 (AFC 2019/030), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Domestic Workers United: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2015-2016 (AFC 2015/027), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Ethnic Grocers in the Urban Midwest: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2014-2015 (AFC 2013/016), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Finding Roots: Asian American Farmers in Contemporary America: Occupational Folklife Project, 2020-2021 (AFC 2020/014), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Fixing, Mending, Making New: North Carolina's Repair Professionals: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2020-2021 (AFC 2020/009), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Fresh Produce Workers in Arizona: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2015-2016 (AFC 2015/028), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Funeral Services Workers in the Carolinas: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2016-2017 (AFC 2016/037), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Grass-Roots Agriculture in Vermont: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2014-2015 (AFC 2014/022), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

The Green Book--Documenting African American entrepreneurs: Archie Green Fellows project, 2018-2019 (AFC 2018/029), Archie Green Fellows Project American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Hairdresser and Beauty Shop Culture in America: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2011-2012 (AFC 2012/035), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Homeless Shelter Workers in the Upper Midwest: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2016-2017 (AFC 2016/034), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Hope for Recovery: Peer Support Workers in Kentucky: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2020-2021 (AFC 2020/010), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Illuminating History: Union Electricians in New York City: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2016-2017 (AFC 2016/035), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Immigrant Women Artists in Oklahoma: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2020-2021 (AFC 2020/011), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Independent Professional Wrestlers in Central Appalachia: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2019-2020 (AFC 2019/029), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Kitchen Workers in Central Ohio: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2017-2018 (AFC 2017/020), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Midwives, doulas, and birth workers in North Carolina: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2019-2020 (AFC 2019/027), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Multigenerational African-Descended Farmers of the Midwest: Surviving Erasure: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2019-2021 (AFC 2019/028), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Nursing America's Veterans: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2020-2021 (AFC 2020/012), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Personal Home Health Care Aides in Michigan: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2017-2018 (AFC 2017/018), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Production Potters of the Midwest: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2018-2019 (AFC 2018/030), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Psychiatric nurses in Wisconsin: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2018-2019 (AFC 2018/032), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Ranger Lore: The Occupational Folklore of Park Rangers: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2013-2015 (AFC 2013/014), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

The Ransomville Speedway: Dirt Track Racing in Western New York: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2020-2021 (AFC 2020/013), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Recent Immigrant Workers in Iowa's Meatpacking Industry: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2015-2016 (AFC 2015/026), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Stable Views: Voices and Stories from the Thoroughbred Racetrack: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2011-2012 (AFC 2012/034), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Taking Care--Documenting the Occupational Culture of Home Care Workers: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2014-2015 (AFC 2014/021), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress)

Teaching in Wisconsin Classrooms: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2013-2015 (AFC 2013/017), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Tobacco Workers of the Connecticut River Valley: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2014-2015 (AFC 2014/020), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Training the Troops: Military Role-Players of Fort Polk, Louisiana: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2017-2018 (AFC 2017/019), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Trash Talk: Workers in Vermont's Waste Management Industry: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2018-2019 (AFC 2018/031), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Washington State Workers: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2012-2013 (AFC 2012/032), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Western Folklife Center Occupational Folklore Project: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2011-2012 (AFC 2011/064), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Winery Workers in Virginia: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2017-2018 (AFC 2017/017), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Women Architects: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2019-2020 (AFC 2019/031), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Working the Port of Houston: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2011-2012 (AFC 2012/006), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Working the Waterfront, New Bedford, Massachusetts: Archie Green Fellows Project, 2016-2017 (AFC 2016/036), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Paterno, Robert, Interviewee, Ellen McHale, and Sponsor Occupational Folklife Project. Robert Paterno interview conducted by Ellen E. McHale, -02-17. -02-17, 2013. Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017655461/.

APA citation style:

Paterno, R., McHale, E. & Occupational Folklife Project, S. (2013) Robert Paterno interview conducted by Ellen E. McHale, -02-17. -02-17. [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2017655461/.

MLA citation style:

Paterno, Robert, Interviewee, Ellen McHale, and Sponsor Occupational Folklife Project. Robert Paterno interview conducted by Ellen E. McHale, -02-17. -02-17, 2013. Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2017655461/>.