Willie Shoemaker
Jockey
Willie Shoemaker won his first horse race when he was 17. He went on to become the most successful jockey in history, winning the Kentucky Derby four times, the Belmont Stakes five times and the Preakness twice. In 1986, at the age of 54, he became the oldest jockey to win the Kentucky Derby. He retired as a jockey in 1990. Despite an auto accident in 1991 that left him partially paralyzed, Shoemaker worked as a horse trainer until his retirement in 1997.Famous racehorses on Who2 include Secretariat, Seabiscuit and Phar Lap.
Four Good Links
Willie Shoemaker
Short profile of history's most successful jockey
Interview with Willie Shoemaker
Shoemaker discusses his paralysis as a result of an auto accident
Red Smith on Willie Shoemaker
ESPN excerpts some commentary on Willie's career
Blood Horse
Online racing 'zine for ardent fans
Vital Stats
Birth
Birthplace
Death
12 October 2003
(natural causes, age 72)
Best Known As
Four-time Kentucky Derby winner who later was paralyzed
