Tag Archives: Belmont Stakes
C.V. Whitney
C.V. Whitney (Racing. Born, Roslyn, NY, Feb. 12, 1899; died, Saratoga Springs, NY, Dec. 13, 1992.) Gifted with both wealth and a heritage nearly unique among Americans, Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney became a major force in thoroughbred racing. Whitney was the son of Harry Payne Whitney, the polo star and oil and tobacco heir, and Gertrude […]
Ron Turcotte
Ron Turcotte (Horse racing. Born: Grand Falls, New Brunswick, July 22, 1941.) A brilliant 18-year career as one of the finest jockeys in New York history was not dimmed in its luster by the tragic accident that ended the riding career of Ron Turcotte. During the mid-1970s especially, Turcotte was at the top of his game, […]
Woody Stephens
Woody Stephens (Horse racing. Born, Stanton, KY, Sept. 1, 1913; died, Miami Lakes, FL, Aug. 22, 1998.) Few, if any, figures in thoroughbred racing demonstrated the period of mastery over a Triple Crown event that Woodford Cefis Stephens held over the Belmont Stakes from 1982-86. In that span, Stephens was the trainer of five straight Belmont […]
Willie Shoemaker
Willie Shoemaker (Horse racing. Born, Fabens, TX, Aug. 19, 1931; died, San Marino, CA, Oct. 12, 2003.) William Lee Shoemaker was far and away the world’s winningest horseracing jockey and, in fact, rode for nearly 20 years after he broke the record for wins. Shoemaker surpassed the former world record holder, Johnny Longden (6,032) in 1970, […]
Earl Sande
Earl Sande (Horse racing. Born, Groton, SD, Nov. 13, 1898; died, Jacksonville, OR, Aug. 19, 1968.) During the 1920s, the so-called “Golden Age of American Sports,” each major sport had its leading hero. Babe Ruth (baseball), Jack Dempsey (boxing), Bill Tilden (tennis), Bobby Jones (golf), and Red Grange (football) were among the most famous. But none […]
Max Hirsch
Max Hirsch (Thoroughbred racing. Born, Fredericksburg, TX, July 30, 1880; died, New Hyde Park, NY, Apr. 3, 1969.) Maximillion Hirsch turned in one of the longest careers as a trainer in the history of New York thoroughbred racing, a span of over 60 years from 1908 until he retired due to ill health in 1968. […]
Clem McCarthy
Clem McCarthy (Public address. Born, East Bloomfield, NY, Sept. 9, 1882; died, New York, NY, June 4, 1962.) From his beginning as a public address announcer, Charles F. McCarthy became perhaps the most celebrated radio broadcaster in the history of thoroughbred racing. As the son of a horse dealer who grew too big to be […]
Chris McCarron
Chris McCarron (Racing. Born, Dorchester, MA, Mar. 27, 1955.) After beginning his career in the East, Christopher McCarron based himself in California in 1978, but continued to come East for major races. McCarron was racing’s career purse earnings leader, reaching $100 million in 1988 at age 33 (the youngest to reach that figure). He was […]
Eric Guerin
Eric Guerin (Horse racing. Born, Maringuoin, LA, Oct. 23, 1924; died, Plantation, FL, Mar. 21, 1993.) Though long stigmatized for his failure to win the Triple Crown with Native Dancer, Oliver Eric Guerin was nonetheless a very successful jockey. Guerin rode 2,712 winners and his mounts amassed over $17 million in purse winnings during his 36-year […]
Eddie Delahoussaye
Eddie Delahoussaye (Horse racing. Born, New Iberia, LA, Sept. 21, 1951.) Although based in California starting in 1979, Eddie Delahoussaye numbered two Belmont Stakes winners among his more than 6,384 career victories, Delahoussaye made his first Belmont start aboard Gato Del Sol in 1982 and finished second. His next two Belmont mounts (Risen Star in […]