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Sports Agents

Want to be a Jockey’s agent?

It has been quite some time since I have posted a title that starts with “Want to be a”…last one was Want to be a Coach’s agent?  Anyway, today I will focus on a sport that is not discussed much on this blog, which is horse racing.  Horse racing, unlike boxing, seems to have enough of a following that it will never die in America. Is there really a need for agents, though?

Apparently there is…but maybe only for the superstars.  Just ask Calvin Borel, jockey for the Kentucky Derby winner, Street Sense.  Last week you did not know him, this week he was dining with President Bush.  Deciding to be a jockey agent can be some risky business, but deciding to be an agent in general is quite risky.  There has got to be a lot less agents going after jockeys than there are agents looking for football players to represent.

Before his big win, Borel was represented by a long-time friend: Jerry Hissam.  It seems like Hissam cannot handle the duty of being the main guy, and Borel may now be looking for a seasoned sports agent to take over the job [Exhausted Calvin Borel thankful to be back riding after Derby win].  There really is no difference between the reason why a football player needs an agent and a jockey needs an agent; both need to remain focused on what got them to their position and need to have the freedom to continue to excel.  Borel is looking to win the Preakness, and possibly the Triple Crown.  If a sports agent will help him avoid the media enough to train Street Sense to pull of the feat, then a sports agent should be signed.  Do I hear percentage on endorsements?

-Darren Heitner 

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

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