Eddie Arcaro was known as “The Master”, which indeed tried to convince half a messenger messenger for anyone who tried to make his bid in a moment. But Arcaro deserves this award because it can be argued that, perhaps more than any other jockey, he came closest to master his risky craft.
In a spectacular career that stretched from 1931 to 1962, he won 4,779 of the 24,092 races, which he made at a profit of $ 30.543. He is connected to Bill Hartack for most victories in Kentucky Derby with five. Nobody ever had more success with the Preakness and Belmont Stakes than Arcaro, who is in every half a dozen victories. He has the award to be the only jockey that worked with two triple crown champions, Whirlaway (1941) and Citation (1948).
Ben Jones, who is related to Six with Bob Baffer for most derby victories, once said about Arcaro: “Eddie was something special. He was a real athlete. With his coordination, judgment and power at the end of a race, he was the best.”
Jones saw in Arcaro qualities that went beyond his obvious sportiness and meant just as much. “It was also very good to work,” said Jones. “He would follow orders and made it a real team performance.”
Arcaro was born on February 19, 1916 in Cincinnati as the son of a taxi driver who tried to make a living. He left school at the age of 14 to practice horses and became a jockey a year later. For the first time on January 14, 1932, he reached the circle of the winner in Agua Caliente in Mexico.
His outstanding judgment about pace and uncanny ability to draw the best of his mount led to a rapid escalate in awareness. He was the leading apprentice in Recent Orleans in 1933 and began driving for the respected Calumet Farm in 1934.
Arcaro achieved his first victory in a triple crown race in 1938 and brought the roses of Kentucky Derby home with Lavrin. Soon afterwards he was on his way with whirlaway. The 3-year-old started his successful triple crown requirement by tearing the 1 1/4 mile derby through in 2:01 2/5 seconds.
A cruel turn of Fate United Arcaro with quote. He inherited Albert Snider's mountain, who one day went boating and never came back. It was suspected that Snider was lost at sea. Arcaro gave Sniders widow half of his derby income. He was always concerned about his competitors. He played an essential role in the establishment of the Jockeys' Guild and was as president from 1949 to 1962.
Arcaro is best known for his great handling of Kelso. They gathered 12 of their 14 starts and set up a track record twice and equalized twice.
“I think Kelso was the best horse I've ever driven,” said Arcaro once. “He was the horse of the fifth year in a row (1960-64), and that needs a lot. And he all, every place, on every kind of race track. He was just the best horse. Sprint, go off all day. He could do everything.”
Just like his driver.
Note: This story was originally published and updated in 2017.
Humorous facts
- Nickname “banana nose” from his colleagues.
- Missed a sixth Kentucky derby triumph when he decided on the devil driver, who took sixth place in 1942 because of the winner.
- Served as a pitchman for Buick. It became known for the expression: “If you rate a Buick, you will buy a Buick.”
- Possip a popular Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills for many years.
- Worked as a television commentator and as a representative of the Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas after withdrawing from the race.
