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
Competition Category FAQs
What mistake cost Bill Shoemaker the 1957 Kentucky Derby?
He stood up in the stirrups too soon on Gallant Man after misjudging the finish line.
Riding Gallant Man in the 1957 Kentucky Derby, Shoemaker stood up in the stirrups too soon because he had misjudged the finish line. The error made Gallant Man briefly lose his stride and slowed his rush for the wire, and the colt finished second to Iron Liege, ridden by Bill Hartack. It is remembered as one of the most noted rides of his career, which later included a Derby win aboard Ferdinand in 1986.
Connections
Plays
Source Wikipedia, Bill Shoemaker
In the Other Atlases
Nationality
Also in Geography Atlas: the nationality of this subject.
Source Wikipedia, Bill ShoemakerLead sentence 1tier 2Quote, Lead sentence 1
William Lee Shoemaker (August 19, 1931 – October 12, 2003) was an American jockey, considered one of the greatest.
Sources
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.
Introduction
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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