- Arts & Entertainment
- Sports
- Politics & The World
- Business
- Crime
- Technology, Science & Education
- Philosophy, Spirituality & Religion
Images
Biography
During his last year of horse racing, in 1989, Willie Shoemaker was honored with farewell appearances at the greatest race tracks in the world, from the United States to Asia to Paris. 44 years previously, Shoemaker won his first race, in only his third start, at Golden Gate Fields Race Track near San Francisco, California. Shoemaker's career was astonishing, spanning four decades and including a record-setting 40,350 races, 8,833 wins and $123 million in purses, $10 million of which was his share. The five-foot tall jockey won the Belmont Stakes five times, the Kentucky Derby four times, and the Preakness twice. A champion jockey, Shoemaker combined his ability, and his longevity with a kindness that made him a horse racing legend.
Unfortunately, Shoemaker's retirement was tragically interrupted on April 8, 1991, barely a year after his last race. After a day of golf, a few beers and clubhouse poker, he was driving alone on a stretch of California Highway 30 near...
User Contributed Updates
- Created Willie Shoemaker - Google News
- Posted 762 days ago by kevo
- Created Biography
- Posted 852 days ago by gsholdice
- Add channel Sports
- Posted 869 days ago by gsholdice

