William Lee Shoemaker was an American jockey who lived from 1931 to 2003 and is regarded as one of the greatest in the sport. Standing four feet ten inches and weighing about 91 pounds, he won 8,833 races from 40,350 mounts, a career victory record he held for 29 years until Laffit Pincay Jr surpassed it in 1999. He won eleven Triple Crown races across four decades, four Kentucky Derbies in 1955, 1959, 1965 and 1986, two Preakness Stakes in 1963 and 1967, and five Belmont Stakes in 1957, 1959, 1962, 1967 and 1975, though he never won the Triple Crown itself. At age 54 in 1986 he became the oldest jockey to win the Kentucky Derby, riding the 18 to 1 outsider Ferdinand.
Facts
Career HighlightHeld the world record for the most professional jockey victories for 29 years. 1 Classification
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Source Wikipedia, Bill Shoemaker
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1. Wikipedia, Bill Shoemaker
WikipediaWikipedia article on Bill Shoemaker, lead parenthetical, birth date
August 19, 1931
Wikipedia article on Bill Shoemaker, lead parenthetical, birth year
August 19, 1931
Wikipedia article on Bill Shoemaker, lead parenthetical, death date
October 12, 2003
Wikipedia article on Bill Shoemaker, lead parenthetical, death year
October 12, 2003
Wikipedia article on Bill Shoemaker, lead sentence, nationality
was an American jockey, considered one of the greatest.
Wikipedia article on Bill Shoemaker, second sentence, career record
For 29 years he held the world record for the most professional jockey victories.
Wikipedia, article summary lead
William Lee Shoemaker (August 19, 1931 – October 12, 2003) was an American jockey, considered one of the greatest.
Plays: Horse Racing, Wikipedia article on Bill Shoemaker, lead sentence, sport identification
was an American jockey, considered one of the greatest.
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