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Jenya · 10-13-2003, 04:40 PM

Horseracing Legend Willie Shoemaker Dies At The Age Of 72

From: New York Newsday

Sunday October 12, 2003

San Marino, Calif. -- William Shoemaker, among the most well-known, successful and enduring of American jockeys, died in his sleep Sunday at his San Marino, Calif., home. He was 72.

Paddy Gallagher, a friend and trainer who was an assistant to Shoemaker, said doctors told him the man known as Willie and "the Shoe" died of natural causes.

"For a man his size, wearing a size 2 1/2 shoe, he was a giant," said retired Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye.

"He was one of the greatest human beings I have ever had the pleasure of knowing in my life," said retired jockey Chris McCarron, now general manager of Santa Anita Park in suburban Los Angeles. "Forget about his ability to communicate with horses -- his compassion for people was second to none."

Shoemaker was paralyzed in a 1991 automobile accident after which his blood-alcohol level was reported to be twice the legal limit. Using a mouth-controlled wheelchair, he continued to train horses for six years.

"I knew the last couple of years he was having problems," said Delahoussaye, who last spoke with Shoemaker four days ago. "Shoe never let on. He was a quiet guy, he kept a lot of things to himself. He never complained."

He rode thoroughbred horses with a composed and controlled style for 41 years in a record 40,350 races, and he remains the second-leading jockey in history with 8,833 winning mounts. He accumulated them during a career that began in 1949 when, at age 18, he rode his first winner at Golden Gate Fields near San Francisco and ended in early 1990 when 64,573 people gathered at Santa Anita to witness the last race of his career, a fourth-place finish.

Born in Fabens, Texas, Shoemaker moved to Southern California as a teenager, after his parents divorced, and found work as a stable hand.

Encouraged to pursue a riding career because of his slender, 4-foot-11 frame, Shoemaker rode his first professional race in March 1949 and became one of the nation's leading riders while still an apprentice. In 1958, he was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame.

Shoemaker rode four winners of the Kentucky Derby. In 1986, at age 54, he became the oldest jockey ever to win the Run for the Roses, with a ride aboard Ferdinand considered one of the greatest in the history of the sport. He also rode five Belmont Stakes winners and two winners of the Preakness. In 1987, again aboard Ferdinand, he scored his only win in a Breeders' Cup race, capturing the Classic.

His Derby ride aboard Gallant Man in 1957 also was memorable -- for the way he lost. Dueling Iron Liege, ridden by Bill Hartack, Shoemaker mistook the 16th pole for the finish line and momentarily stood up in the irons. Gallant Man lost by a nose. He received a 15-day suspension from the stewards for the rule violation, but Gallant Man's owner, Ralph Lowe, gave Shoemaker $5,000 and a new car. Five weeks later, Shoemaker rode Gallant Man to an eight-length victory in the Belmont Stakes.

He also rode 11 winners of the Santa Anita Handicap, eight Hollywood Gold Cup winners and four of the Jockey Club Gold Cup. His record for wins, set in 1970 when he passed Johnny Longden at 6,032, endured until 1999, when it was surpassed by Laffit Pincay Jr., who retired this year with 9,530 wins. Longden, who won the Triple Crown aboard Count Fleet in 1943 and was the only jockey to ride and train a Kentucky Derby winner, died in February at 96.

After retiring from riding, Shoemaker began a second career as a trainer, which he continued after recovering from the one-car accident that left him a quadriplegic.

He co-authored a 1988 autobiography with the late newspaper columnist Barney Nagler, "Shoemaker: America's Greatest Jockey," and another in 1997, the year he retired from training, titled: "Willie the Shoe." Although he abandoned his formal education at the outset of his riding career, Shoemaker also is credited with writing three mystery novels with racing themes published during the '90s.

He is survived by an ex-wife, Cindy, and a daughter, Amanda, 23. Funeral details were incomplete.

Copyright © 2003, Newsday, Inc.

10-13-2003, 04:40 PM	#1
Jenya Supervisor Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: Canmore, Alberta Posts: 3,359	Horseracing Legend Willie Shoemaker Dies Horseracing Legend Willie Shoemaker Dies At The Age Of 72 From: New York Newsday Sunday October 12, 2003 San Marino, Calif. -- William Shoemaker, among the most well-known, successful and enduring of American jockeys, died in his sleep Sunday at his San Marino, Calif., home. He was 72. Paddy Gallagher, a friend and trainer who was an assistant to Shoemaker, said doctors told him the man known as Willie and "the Shoe" died of natural causes. "For a man his size, wearing a size 2 1/2 shoe, he was a giant," said retired Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye. "He was one of the greatest human beings I have ever had the pleasure of knowing in my life," said retired jockey Chris McCarron, now general manager of Santa Anita Park in suburban Los Angeles. "Forget about his ability to communicate with horses -- his compassion for people was second to none." Shoemaker was paralyzed in a 1991 automobile accident after which his blood-alcohol level was reported to be twice the legal limit. Using a mouth-controlled wheelchair, he continued to train horses for six years. "I knew the last couple of years he was having problems," said Delahoussaye, who last spoke with Shoemaker four days ago. "Shoe never let on. He was a quiet guy, he kept a lot of things to himself. He never complained." He rode thoroughbred horses with a composed and controlled style for 41 years in a record 40,350 races, and he remains the second-leading jockey in history with 8,833 winning mounts. He accumulated them during a career that began in 1949 when, at age 18, he rode his first winner at Golden Gate Fields near San Francisco and ended in early 1990 when 64,573 people gathered at Santa Anita to witness the last race of his career, a fourth-place finish. Born in Fabens, Texas, Shoemaker moved to Southern California as a teenager, after his parents divorced, and found work as a stable hand. Encouraged to pursue a riding career because of his slender, 4-foot-11 frame, Shoemaker rode his first professional race in March 1949 and became one of the nation's leading riders while still an apprentice. In 1958, he was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame. Shoemaker rode four winners of the Kentucky Derby. In 1986, at age 54, he became the oldest jockey ever to win the Run for the Roses, with a ride aboard Ferdinand considered one of the greatest in the history of the sport. He also rode five Belmont Stakes winners and two winners of the Preakness. In 1987, again aboard Ferdinand, he scored his only win in a Breeders' Cup race, capturing the Classic. His Derby ride aboard Gallant Man in 1957 also was memorable -- for the way he lost. Dueling Iron Liege, ridden by Bill Hartack, Shoemaker mistook the 16th pole for the finish line and momentarily stood up in the irons. Gallant Man lost by a nose. He received a 15-day suspension from the stewards for the rule violation, but Gallant Man's owner, Ralph Lowe, gave Shoemaker $5,000 and a new car. Five weeks later, Shoemaker rode Gallant Man to an eight-length victory in the Belmont Stakes. He also rode 11 winners of the Santa Anita Handicap, eight Hollywood Gold Cup winners and four of the Jockey Club Gold Cup. His record for wins, set in 1970 when he passed Johnny Longden at 6,032, endured until 1999, when it was surpassed by Laffit Pincay Jr., who retired this year with 9,530 wins. Longden, who won the Triple Crown aboard Count Fleet in 1943 and was the only jockey to ride and train a Kentucky Derby winner, died in February at 96. After retiring from riding, Shoemaker began a second career as a trainer, which he continued after recovering from the one-car accident that left him a quadriplegic. He co-authored a 1988 autobiography with the late newspaper columnist Barney Nagler, "Shoemaker: America's Greatest Jockey," and another in 1997, the year he retired from training, titled: "Willie the Shoe." Although he abandoned his formal education at the outset of his riding career, Shoemaker also is credited with writing three mystery novels with racing themes published during the '90s. He is survived by an ex-wife, Cindy, and a daughter, Amanda, 23. Funeral details were incomplete. Copyright © 2003, Newsday, Inc.