Being a professional jockey is an incredibly arduous calling. It is not a job for the dim of heart, half a tons of racing horse to lead an oval to make an oval and at the same time make decisions at a speed of about 35 miles per hour.
Jockeys are amazing athletes, and the highlight of the sport is the Kentucky Derby, which Woodford Reserve is presented on the first Saturday in May every spring under the Twin Spiers in Churchill Downs. Here are 12 intriguing facts about Jockeys in the first jewel of US fullblood racing crown.
1. Only one jockey has ever won the Kentucky Derby as a jockey and trainer: Hall of Famer Johnny Longden. Longdon was the driver of the Triple Crown Victor Count Fleet from 1943 and trained Kentucky Derby winner Majestic Prince in 1969.
2. Likewise, only one driver won both the Kentucky Derby and the Epsom Derby: Hall of Famer Steve Cauthen. Confirmed and Cauthen the Triple Crown in 1978, and in 1985 he entered the Epsom Derby on board slip anchor and in 1987 with the Epsom Derby on board slip anchor.
3. Speaking of doubles, in 2024 Brian Hernandez Jr. Only the eighth driver who ever swept the Kentucky Oaks for 3-year-old Stutfalen and the Kentucky Derby in the same year when he led Thorpedo Anna to a 4 ¾-long victory on May 3 in the Longines Kentucky Oaks and mystic DAN to a nose victory on 4th May in Kentucky Derby. It was 15 years since Calvin Borel with Rachel Alexandra and Mine swept this bird the oak and derby.
4. Eddie Arcaro And Bill Hartack are the most common jockeys in the history of the race with five wins of Kentucky Derby per piece. Arcaro won with Lavrin (1938), Whirlaway (1941), Hoop JR (1945), Citation (1948) and Hill Gail (1952). Hartack's Derby victory took place on board Iron Lege (1957), Venetian Way (1960), 1962), Northern Dancer (1964) and Majestic Prince (1969). Bill Shoemaker took third place with four wins from Kentucky Derby, followed by eight jockeys with three derby victories, including the lively drivers John Velazquez, Victor Espinoza, Calvin Borel and Kent Desormaaux.
5. Vigorous Hall of Fame Rider Mike Smith is the all-time leader with 28 mounts in the Kentucky Derby, who won Giacomo in 2005 and in 2018 on Triple Crown winner Justify. Another lively Hall of Fame driver, John Velazquez, has second place with Bill Shoemaker with 26 Derby starters. Velazquez 'three victories by Kentucky Derby came with Animal Kingdom (2011), always dreams (2017) and true (2020).
6. The oldest jockey that won the Kentucky Derby Bill ShoemakerThe one who led Ferdinand to victory in 1986 at the age of 54. Mike Smith was 52 years aged when he won Justify in 2018, and won at the age of 48 in 2020 on board the Original, Javier Castellano was 45 years aged when he won a Super Saver -Saver -Sver win in a 43 -year win in a 43 -year win in a DEBOR year in 2023 in 2023 in 2023.
7. The youngest drivers of Kentucky Derby were 15 years aged when they won the race: Alonzo Clayton 1892 on board Azra and James “soup” Perkins on Halma in 1895.
8. Only two teaching drivers won the Kentucky Derby: Ira Hanford on brave venture (1936) and Bill Boland with Middleground (1950).
9. Black Jockeys dominated the early run of the Kentucky Derby and won 15 editions from 1875 to 1902. Eleven various black drivers won the Kentucky Derby, starting with Oliver Lewis in the opening edition in 1875. The others were William “Billy” WalkerPresent George Garret LewisPresent Babe HurdPresent Isaac Murphy (3 victories), Erskine “babe” HendersonPresent Isaac LewisPresent Alonzo “Lonnie” ClaytonPresent James “soup” PerkinsPresent Willie Simms (2 wins) and Jimmy Winkfield (2 victories).
10. Six different women are ridden in the Kentucky Derby Diane Crump In 1970 the first on board Fathom. Patricia “PJ” CookseyPresent Andrea SefeldtPresent Julie KronePresent Rosemary Homesister Jr.And Rosie master I also took part in the first jewel of the triple crown. In her second of three derby starts, Napavnik became the fifth on board Mylute, the best result of this group.
11. The Kentucky Derby won 28 Jockeys with its first starter in the race, including three since the turn of the century: Stewart Elliott (2004, Smarty Jones), Mario Gutierrez (2012, I'll have one more) and Sonny Leon (2022, wealthy strike).
12. Six jockeys won back-to-back editions of the Kentucky Derby. Isaac Murphy Was the first to do the feat in 1890 with Riley and in 1891 with Kingman. Jimmy Winkfield (1901-02), Ron Turcotte (1972-73), Eddie Delahoussaye (1982-83), Calvin Borel (2009-10) and Victor Espinoza (2014-15) also won editions of the Kentucky Derby in a row.
