Knowra Bill Shoemaker Bill Shoemaker Bill Shoemaker (1931–2003) was an American jockey who won 11 Triple Crown races, including four Kentucky Derbies, and became one of thoroughbred racing’s most successful riders.
Kentucky Derby : An annual Grade I thoroughbred race for three-year-olds held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Shoemaker won the Derby four times, including aboard Ferdinand in 1986.
Bill Hartack : An American jockey who won five Kentucky Derbies between 1957 and 1969. Hartack was Shoemaker's leading rival for wins and public attention in their era.
Jockey : A professional rider who competes on horseback in races, typically under regulated weight limits. Shoemaker's achievements came through the specialized demands of professional race riding.
United States Racing Hall of Fame : An American institution that honors outstanding Thoroughbred racehorses, jockeys, trainers, and contributors. Shoemaker's induction recognized his place among the sport's leading figures.
Ferdinand : An American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1986 Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic. Shoemaker rode Ferdinand to his final Kentucky Derby victory at age 54.
Eddie Arcaro : An American jockey who won two Triple Crowns and five Kentucky Derbies. Arcaro was the earlier benchmark Shoemaker surpassed in career victories.
Saddle seat : A riding position in which a jockey stays low and forward over a racehorse's neck. Shoemaker's compact, balanced position helped reduce interference with a horse's stride.
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing : A series of three American Thoroughbred races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. Shoemaker's 11 wins across the series span all three races.
Swaps : An American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1955 Kentucky Derby and Horse of the Year honors. Shoemaker rode Swaps to victory in the 1955 Derby, one of his signature wins.
Charlie Whittingham : An American Thoroughbred trainer whose horses won major races from the 1940s through the 1990s. Whittingham trained Ferdinand, the horse Shoemaker rode to his last Derby win.
Show all 20