Saturday, 23 November 2024

    Bill Shoemaker

    • Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Athletes 2024
    • Embed from Getty Images
    • Sport(s): Horse Raving
    • Statistics: 8,833 Career Wins
      11 Triple Crown Wins
      4 Kentucky Derby Wins (1955, 1959, 1965 & 1986)
      2 Preakness Stakes Wins (1963 & 1967)
      5 Belmont Stakes Wins (1957, 1959, 1962, 1967 & 1975)
      Member of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
    • Standing at 4’ 11” and barely over 90 pounds, Bill Shoemaker may not have had the frame for many sports, but it was perfect for horse racing.

      Shoemaker had his first professional ride in 1949 when he was still a teenager, and he competed until 1990. Winning a crazy to conceive 8,833 races, Shoemaker won eleven Triple Crowns, the first in 1955 and last in 1975.

      In 1970, he became the all-time leader in wins, and it took until 1999 when Laffit Pincay Jr. of Panama broke it. Shoemaker would overall ride in a staggering 40,350 races and is one of the most successful jockeys of all-time.

      We are proud to nominate Bill Shoemaker for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.
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