The Santa Anita Handicap became the West Coast's most prestigious racing event by consistently bringing out the best people and horses. The race's history has been dotted with gritty campaigners who just don't give up.
While his riding career was winding down by the time the Breeders' Cup launched in 1984, jockey Bill Shoemaker still managed to stamp the event when he delivered a perfectly timed ride aboard Ferdinand in the 1987 Classic.
Powered by victories on Royal Delta in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (gr. I) and Mizdirection in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT), Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith has won the Bill Shoemaker Award.
Bill Barisoff, a jockey agent for decades on the Southern California circuit who had battled cancer for the last several years, died the morning of Aug. 7. He was 67.
The Kentucky Derby Museum will soon open Shoemaker: Start to Finish, which commemorates the life of world renowned jockey Bill Shoemaker.
Garrett Gomez was named the 2007 recipient of the AIG Bill Shoemaker Award, presented to the outstanding jockey in the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Monmouth Park Oct. 26-27, as voted on by the international media covering the event
Jockey Chris McCarron will take his place among three other legendary riders at Santa Anita when a bust of his likeness is unveiled Saturday.
Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day, the all-time leading rider at Churchill Downs, is recovering from surgery performed on his right hip on Wednesday in Vail, Colo. and has already started his schedule of rehabilitation.
Santa Anita Park will honor one of its all-time leading jockeys when it hosts "Chris McCarron Day" on Saturday, April 9, which is also Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) Day.
Laffit Pincay Jr., the all-time leader in victories by a jockey, discounts complaints from some that fellow Hall of Fame rider Russell Baze is undeserving of the record if he breaks it because Baze mostly competes on the Northern California circuit.
By Dan Arrigo -- When I became involved in Thoroughbred racing in the 1950s, it was a sport of numbers. Now, it seems to be more of a business of numbers than a sport, but most racing fans still spend more time looking at the figures on a tote board--or on TVG--than they do admiring colorful silks or counting horse's legs in the post parade.
Hollywood Park, site of Laffit Pincay Jr.'s record victory No. 8,834, has named an award in honor of the Hall of Fame jockey, who retired with a record 9,530 victories in 2003.
One jockey will be honored for overall outstanding performance in this year's Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships and subsequent editions of the event with the Bill Shoemaker Award, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Breeders' Cup announced Oct. 21.
Bill Shoemaker will be honored with a memorial service next Tuesday at Santa Anita. Beyond obituaries, here are some writers' thoughts on his life and work.
By Ray Paulick -- Shoemaker served as a spiritual leader and confidant to a new generation of riders.
A memorial for legendary jockey Bill Shoemaker will be held at Santa Anita Park on Tuesday, October 21, at 4 p.m. The Shoemaker family has invited the public to attend this tribute to the Hall of Fame rider who passed away Sunday morning at his home in nearby San Marino. He was 72 years old.
Racing mourned the passing of legendary jockey Bill Shoemaker, who died in his sleep Sunday morning at his home in San Marino, Calif., at the age of 72.
Laffit Pincay Jr. celebrates his 56th birthday Sunday. With 9,479 victories, more than any rider in history, he has his sights set on a once-unthinkable number goal – 10,000.
Radio pioneer Bill Garr, the first to host a racing show from the stable area, will be honored Friday at Santa Anita.
Jockey Russell Baze became the fourth jockey to ride at least 8,000 winners when he piloted Ourwhistlebritches to victory in the seventh race at Bay Meadows Saturday.
Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day enters Thursday's action just $131,031 behind the recently retired Chris McCarron on horse racing's list of all-time leading jockeys by purse earnings.
With two wins at Churchill Downs on Thursday, jockey Pat Day moved closer to career win number 8,000 -- a level reached by only two other riders in history.
Laffit Pincay, racing's all-time winningest rider, set another record on Tuesday afternoon in New Orleans, La., when he became the first two-time winner of the Big Sport of Turfdom award presented annually by the Turf Publicists of America.
