Horse Racing Chronology

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1668
Mar 25The first horse race in America takes place.Ref: 5
1674
Jun 04Horse racing became a nag to the good people of Massachusetts, because the sport was prohibited in the state.Ref: 4
1734
May 20First Jockey Club forms in South Carolina.Ref: 5
1776
Sep 24St. Leger horse race first run.Ref: 10
1780
May 04Charles Bunbury on Diomed wins first Epsom Derby.Ref: 5
1804
Aug 25Alice Meynell becomes the 1st woman jockey (England).Ref: 5
1806
Jun 05First trotter to break 3 minute mile (Yankee).Ref: 5
1808
Jan 08Messenger, horse that sired many great trotters, dies.Ref: 5
Jan 28Messenger, America’s first trotting horse, was buried on this day.Ref: 4
1809
Apr 18First run of 2,000 guineas horse race at Newmarket England.Ref: 5
1823
May 27American Eclipse won two out of three heats to beat Henry at Union Course in New York. The race was called the most famous horse race of the 19th century.Ref: 4
1831
Dec 10"Spirit of the Times" begins publishing (weekly horse racing sheet).Ref: 5
1838
Jan 01First official horse race in South Australia-Adelaide.Ref: 5
1849
May 05Hambletonian Chester NY, greatest standardbred horse, is born.Ref: 5
1863
Aug 03Saratoga Racetrack (NY) opens.Ref: 5
1864
Aug 022nd Saratoga Racetrack (NY) opens.Ref: 5
1867
Jun 19First Belmont Stakes, Ruthless wins.Ref: 5
1868
Jun 102nd Belmont Stakes, General Duke wins.Ref: 5
1869
Jun 053rd Belmont Stakes, Fenian wins.Ref: 5
Oct 26First American steeplechase horserace (Westchester, NY).Ref: 5
1870
Oct 25Pimlico Race Course opens in Baltimore.Ref: 5
1873
May 23First Preakness: G Barbee aboard Survivor wins in 2:43.Ref: 5
May 27Survivor won the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico race track in Baltimore, MD. It was the first ‘Run for the Black-Eyed Susans’. The race continues as the second jewel in horse racing’s Triple Crown. It comes two weeks after the Kentucky Derby and prior to the Belmont Stakes in New York.Ref: 4
Nov 12Bay District Race Track opens.Ref: 5
1874
Mar 17Kincsem horse that never lost a race, is born.Ref: 5
May 262nd Preakness: William Donohue aboard Culpepper wins in 2:56½.Ref: 5
Jul 23Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons, American racehorse trainer, is born.Ref: 70
1875
May 17Oliver Lewis rode Aristides winning a purse of $2,850 in the first running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. Aristides won the one and a half mile Run for the Roses in a time of 2 minutes, 37-3/4 seconds.Ref: 4
May 283rd Preakness: L Hughes aboard Tom Ochiltree wins in 2:43½.Ref: 5
1876
May 152nd Kentucky Derby: Bobby Swim aboard Vagrant wins in 2:38¼.Ref: 5
May 254th Preakness: G Barbee aboard Shirley wins in 2:44.75.Ref: 5
1877
May 223rd Kentucky Derby: Billy Walker aboard Baden-Baden wins in 2:38.Ref: 5
May 245th Preakness: C Holloway aboard Cloverbrook wins in 2:45½.Ref: 5
1878
May 214th Kentucky Derby: Jimmy Carter aboard Day Star wins in 2:37¼.Ref: 5
May 276th Preakness: C Holloway aboard Duke of Magenta wins in 2:41.75.Ref: 5
1879
May 205th Kentucky Derby: Charlie Shauer aboard Lord Murphy wins in 2:37.Ref: 5
May 247th Preakness: L Hughes aboard Harold wins in 2:40½.Ref: 5
Nov 19National Assoc of Trotting Horse Breeders determines what "is" a trotter.Ref: 5
1880
May 186th Kentucky Derby: George Lewis aboard Fonso wins in 2:37½.Ref: 5
May 288th Preakness: L Hughes aboard Grenada wins in 2:40½.Ref: 5
1881
May 177th Kentucky Derby: Jim McLaughlin aboard Hindoo wins in 2:40.Ref: 5
May 279th Preakness: T Costello aboard Saunterer wins in 2:40½.Ref: 5
1882
May 168th Kentucky Derby: Babe Hurd aboard Apollo wins in 2:40¼.Ref: 5
May 2710th Preakness: T Costello aboard Vanguard wins in 2:44½.Ref: 5
1883
May 239th Kentucky Derby: William Donohue aboard Leonatus wins in 2:43.Ref: 5
May 2611th Preakness: G Barbee aboard Jacobus wins in 2:42½.Ref: 5
1884
May 1610th Kentucky Derby: Isaac Murphy aboard Buchanan wins in 2:40¼.Ref: 5
May 2312th Preakness: S Fisher aboard Knight of Ellerslie wins in 2:39½.Ref: 5
1885
May 1411th Kentucky Derby: Babe Henderson aboard Joe Cotton wins in 2:37¼.Ref: 5
May 2213th Preakness: Jim McLaughlin aboard Tecumseh wins in 2:49.Ref: 5
1886
May 1412th Kentucky Derby: Paul Duffy aboard Ben Ali wins in 2:36½.Ref: 5
May 2114th Preakness: S Fisher aboard Bard wins in 2:45.Ref: 5
1887
Mar 02The American Trotting Association was organized in Detroit, MI.Ref: 4
May 1113th Kentucky Derby: Isaac Lewis aboard Montrose wins in 2:39¼.Ref: 5
May 1315th Preakness: William Donohue aboard Dunboyne wins in 2:39½.Ref: 5
Dec 28Sir John Layton Jarvis, first British race horse trainer knighted.Ref: 5
1888
May 1116th Preakness: F Littlefield aboard Refund wins in 2:49.Ref: 5
May 1414th Kentucky Derby: George Covington aboard MacBeth II wins in 2:38¼.Ref: 5
1889
May 0915th Kentucky Derby: Thomas Kiley aboard Spokane wins in 2:34½.Ref: 5
May 1017th Preakness: W Anderson aboard Buddhist wins in 2:17½Ref: 2
1890
May 1318th Preakness: W Martin aboard Montague wins in 2:36.75.Ref: 5
May 1416th Kentucky Derby: Isaac Murphy aboard Riley wins in 2:45.Ref: 5
1891
May 1317th Kentucky Derby: Isaac Murphy aboard Kingman wins in 2:52¼.Ref: 5
Oct 21A one-mile dirt track opened for harness races at the site of the present-day Tennessee State Fairgrounds in Nashville. The first automobile races was held in 1904, the track was paved and lighted in 1956, and in 1958, NASCAR came to Nashville with the introduction of the NASCAR Winston Cup to be run on a brand-new half-mile oval. The legendary driver Joe Weatherly wins the first Winston Cup.Ref: 3
1892
May 1118th Kentucky Derby: Lonnie Clayton aboard Azra wins in 2:41½.Ref: 5
1893
May 1019th Kentucky Derby: Eddie Kunze aboard Lookout wins in 2:39¼Ref: 2
1894
May 1520th Kentucky Derby: Frank Goodale aboard Chant wins in 2:41.Ref: 5
May 1719th Preakness: Fred Taral aboard Assignee wins in 1:49¼.Ref: 5
Sep 27Aqueduct Race Track opened in New York on this day.Ref: 5
Nov 17Daily Racing Form founded.Ref: 5
1895
May 0621st Kentucky Derby: Soup Perkins aboard Halma wins in 2:37½.Ref: 5
May 2520th Preakness: Fred Taral aboard Belmar wins in 1:50½.Ref: 5
1896
May 0622nd Kentucky Derby: Willie Simms aboard Ben Brush wins in 2:07.75.Ref: 5
May 27Bay District Race Track closes.Ref: 5
1897
May 0423rd Kentucky Derby: Buttons Garner aboard Typhoon II wins in 2:12.5.Ref: 5
May 0822nd Preakness: T Thorpe aboard Paul Kauvar wins in 1:51¼Ref: 2
May 2931st Belmont Stakes: J Scherrer aboard Scottish Cheiftain wins in 2:23¼.Ref: 5
1898
May 0424th Kentucky Derby: Willie Simms aboard Plaudit wins in 2:09.Ref: 5
May 2632nd Belmont Stakes: F Littlefield aboard Bowling Brook wins in 2:32.Ref: 5
1899
May 0425th Kentucky Derby: Fred Taral aboard Manuel wins in 2:12.Ref: 5
May 2533rd Belmont Stakes: R Clawson aboard Jean Beraud wins in 2:23.Ref: 5
May 3024th Preakness: R Clawson aboard Half Time wins in 1:47.Ref: 5
1900
May 0326th Kentucky Derby: Jimmy Boland aboard Lieut Gibson wins in 2:06¼.Ref: 5
May 2434th Belmont Stakes: Nash Turner aboard Ildrim wins in 2:21¼.Ref: 5
May 2925th Preakness: H Spencer aboard Hindus wins in 1:48.4.Ref: 5
Aug 07‘Sunny’ Jim Fitzsimmons had his first horse race victory as Agnes D won at Brighton Beach Race Track in NY. By the end of his illustrious 50-year career, Fitzsimmons logged more than 2,000 winners.Ref: 4
1901
Apr 2927th Kentucky Derby Jimmy Winkfield on His Eminence wins in 2:07.75.Ref: 5
May 2335th Belmont Stakes: H Spencer aboard Commando wins in 2:21.Ref: 5
May 2826th Preakness: Fred Landry aboard The Parader wins in 1:47.2.Ref: 5
1902
May 0328th Kentucky Derby: Jimmy Winkfield on Alan-a-Dale wins in 2:08.75.Ref: 5
May 2236th Belmont Stakes: John Bullman aboard Mastermam wins in 2:22.6.Ref: 5
May 2727th Preakness: L Jackson aboard Old England wins in 1:45.8.Ref: 5
1903
Apr 27(Long Island) Long Island's Jamaica (Horse) Race Track opens.Ref: 5
May 0229th Kentucky Derby: Hal Booker aboard Judge Himes wins in 2:09.Ref: 5
May 2737th Belmont Stakes: John Bullman aboard Africander wins in 2:21.75.Ref: 5
May 3028th Preakness: W Gannon aboard Flocarline wins in 1:44.8.Ref: 5
Aug 24Lou Dillon became the first American race horse to break the two-minute mile barrier. He trotted to a win at Readville, MA in a time of 1:58.5.Ref: 4
Oct 24First trotter to run a mile under 2 minutes (Lou Dillon 1:58.1).Ref: 5
1904
May 0230th Kentucky Derby: Shorty Prior aboard Elwood wins in 2:08½.Ref: 5
May 2538th Belmont Stakes: George Odom aboard Delhi wins in 2:06.6.Ref: 5
May 2829th Preakness: Eugene Hildebrand aboard Bryn Mawr wins in 1:44.2.Ref: 5
1905
May 04(Long Island) Belmont Park (horse) race track opened on Long Island, NY. Race King and Sysonby finished in a dead heat in the day’s feature race.Ref: 4
May 10Three horses made up the field of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. Agile was the winner in 2:100.75. With only three horses -- win, place and show -- does that mean that everyone in attendance won something?Ref: 4
May 2439th Belmont Stakes: Eugene Hildebrand aboard Tanya wins in 2:08.Ref: 5
May 2730th Preakness: W Davis aboard Cairngore wins in 1:45.8.Ref: 5
1906
May 0232nd Kentucky Derby: Roscoe Troxler aboard Sir Huon wins in 2:08.8.Ref: 5
May 2231st Preakness: Walter Miller aboard Whimsical wins in 1:45.Ref: 5
May 3040th Belmont Stakes: Lucien Lyne aboard Burgomaster wins in 2:20.Ref: 5
1907
May 0633rd Kentucky Derby: Andy Minder aboard Pink Star wins in 2:12.6.Ref: 5
May 2132nd Preakness: G Mountain aboard Don Enrique wins in 1:45.4.Ref: 5
May 3041st Belmont Stakes: G Mountain aboard Peter Pan wins.Ref: 5
1908
May 0534th Kentucky Derby: Arthur Pickens on Stone Street wins in 2:15.2.Ref: 5
May 3042nd Belmont Stakes: Joe Notter aboard Colin wins.Ref: 5
Aug 25Allen Winter wins US first $50,000 trotting race.Ref: 5
1909
May 0335th Kentucky Derby: Vincent Powers on Wintergreen wins in 2:08.2.Ref: 5
May 1234th Preakness: Willie Doyle aboard Effendi wins in 1:39.8.Ref: 5
1910
May 0735th Preakness: R Estep aboard Layminster wins in 1:40.6.Ref: 5
May 1036th Kentucky Derby: Fred Herbert aboard Donau wins in 2:06.4Ref: 2
May 3044th Belmont Stakes: James Butwell aboard Sweep wins in 2:22.Ref: 5
1911
May 1337th Kentucky Derby: George Archibald aboard Meridian wins in 2:05.Ref: 5
May 1736th Preakness: Eddie Dugan aboard Watervale wins in 1:51.Ref: 5
1912
May 1138th Kentucky Derby: Carol H Shilling aboard Worth wins in 2:09.4.Ref: 5
May 1537th Preakness: Clarnence Turner on Colonel Holloway wins in 1:56.6.Ref: 5
Jun 17Talk about long shots: Wishing Ring won at Latonia race track in Kentucky. Most people didn’t even notice because the horse had been a non-performer until then. A $2 wager to win paid an incredible $1,885.50 for a few, very lucky ticket holders.Ref: 4
1913
May 10Donerail won the Kentucky Derby on this day, making a very, very few in attendance very, very happy. Donerail was a 91-to-1 long shot!Ref: 4
May 2038th Preakness: James Butwell aboard Buskin wins in 1:53.4.Ref: 5
1914
May 0940th Kentucky Derby: John McCabe aboard Old Rosebud wins in 2:03.4.Ref: 5
May 2139th Preakness: Andy Schuttinger aboard Holiday wins in 1:53.8.Ref: 5
1915
May 0841st Kentucky Derby: Joe Notter aboard Regret wins in 2:05.4. The horse was the only filly to win the Run for the Roses in Louisville,Ref: 2
May 1740th Preakness: Douglas Hoffman aboard Rhine Maiden wins in 1:58.Ref: 5
1916
May 1342nd Kentucky Derby: Johnny Loftus aboard George Smith wins in 2:04.Ref: 5
May 1641st Preakness: Linus McAtee aboard Damrosch wins in 1:54.8.Ref: 5
Jul 11One of America’s great race horses died. Dan Patch was the celebrated horse that had never lost a race. He first became known for promoting his owner’s feed company in Savage, Minnesota. Interestingly, Mr. Savage died several days after his beloved trotter died.Ref: 4
1917
Mar 29Man O'War racehorse (winner of 20 out of 21 races & $249,465), is born.Ref: 5
May 0542nd Preakness: E Haynes aboard Kalitan wins in 1:54.4.Ref: 5
May 12The first imported horse to win the Kentucky Derby was the English-bred colt, Omar Khayyam. He won $49,070 -- the top prize.Ref: 4
1918
May 1144th Kentucky Derby: William Knapp on Exterminator wins in 2:10.8.Ref: 5
May 1543rd Preakness (1st Division): Johnny Loftus aboard War Cloud wins in 1:53.6.Ref:77
May 1544th Preakness (2nd Dividion): Charles Peak aboard Jack Hare Jr wins in 1:53.4.Ref: 5
Jun 1550th running of Belmont Stakes (Johren wins).Ref: 5
1919
May 1045th Kentucky Derby: Johnny Loftus aboard Sir Barton wins in 2:09.8Ref: 2
May 1445th Preakness: Johnny Loftus aboard Sir Barton wins in 1:53.Ref: 5
Jun 06Man O' War wins first victory as a 2-year-old at BelmontRef: 5
Jun 11Sir Barton won the Belmont Stakes, becoming horse racing's first Triple Crown winner.Ref: 70
Aug 13The previously undefeated racehorse, Man o’ War, was upset -- by Upset -- at Saratoga, NY. This turn of events so upset Man o’ War that the horse never lost a race again. Man o’ War proved to be quite the stud, as well. After wining 1,300 races, he sired 379 foals. The stud fee for Man o’ War was $5,000.Ref: 4
Oct 1514 horses begin 300-mile race from Vt to Mass for $1000 prize money.Ref: 5
1920
Feb 22The first dog race track to use an imitation rabbit opened -- in Emeryville, CA.Ref: 39
May 0846th Kentucky Derby: Ted Rice aboard Paul Jones wins in 2:09Ref: 2
May 1846th Preakness: Clarence Kummer aboard Man o' War wins in 1:51.6.Ref: 5
Jul 10One of the greatest horse races in America was run as Man o’ War defeated John P. Grier in the Dwyer Stakes. Man o’ War set a world-record time of 1 minute, 49-1/5 seconds in the 1-1/8 mile event.Ref: 4
Oct 12The leading race horse money winner of the day ran for the last time. Man o’ War beat Sir Barton in Canada’s Kenilworth Park. Man o’ War’s career earnings totaled nearly $250,000.Ref: 4
1921
May 0747th Kentucky Derby: Charles Thompson on Behave Yourself wins 2:04.2.Ref: 5
May 1647th Preakness: F Coltiletti aboard Broomspun wins in 1:54.2.Ref: 5
1922
Mar 24Grand National at Aintree sees only 3 horses out of 32 starters finish.Ref: 5
May 0648th Preakness: L Morris aboard Pillory wins in 1:51.6.Ref: 5
May 1348th Kentucky Derby: Albert Johnson aboard Morvich wins in 2:04.6.Ref: 5
1923
May 0149th Kentucky Derby: Earl Sande aboard Zev wins in 2:05.4.Ref: 5
May 1249th Preakness: Benny Marinelli aboard Vigil wins in 1:53.6.Ref: 5
May 1949th Kentucky Derby: Earl Sande aboard Zev wins in 2:05.4.Ref: 5
1924
May 1250th Preakness: John Merimee aboard Nellie Morse wins in 1:57.2.Ref: 5
May 1750th Kentucky Derby: John Mooney aboard Black Gold wins in 2:05.2.Ref: 5
1925
May 0851st Preakness: Clarence Kummer aboard Coventry wins in 1:59Ref: 2
May 1651st Kentucky Derby: Earl Sande aboard Flying Ebony wins in 2:07.6. It is also the first network radiocast (WHAS) of Kentucky Derby.Ref: 5
1926
May 1052nd Preakness: John Maiben aboard Display wins in 1:59.8Ref: 2
May 1552nd Kentucky Derby: Albert Johnson on Bubbling Over wins in 2:03.8.Ref: 5
Aug 30The first running of the Hambletonian happened in Syracuse, NY. Guy McKinney was the first horse to win first place in the famous race.Ref: 4
1927
May 0953rd Preakness: Whitey Abel aboard Bostonian wins in 2:01.6.Ref: 5
May 1453rd Kentucky Derby: Linus McAtee aboard Whiskery wins in 2:06.Ref: 5
1928
Apr 12Brooklyn Supreme Belgium, stallion, heaviest known horse (1450 kg), is born.Ref: 5
May 1156th Preakness: Raymond Sonny Workman aboard Victorian wins in 2:00.2.Ref: 5
May 1954th Kentucky Derby: Chick Lang aboard Reigh Count wins in 2:10.4.Ref: 5
1929
Mar 2266 horses run in Irish Grand National Sweepstakes.Ref: 5
May 1055th Preakness: Louis Schaefer aboard Dr Freeland wins in 2:01.6Ref: 2
May 1855th Kentucky Derby: Linus McAtee on Clyde Van Dusen wins in 2:10.8.Ref: 5
1930
May 09For the first time, a starting gate was used to start a Triple Crown race. The gate was rolled into place at the Preakness at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, MD. Gallant Fox, the winner, had no problem with the new contraption. Prior to that time, this horse race began from a standing start at the start/finish line with the drop of a flag. Earl Sande wins aboard Gallant Fox wins in 2:00.6.Ref: 4
May 1756th Kentucky Derby: Earl Sande aboard Gallant Fox wins in 2:07.6.Ref: 5
Sep 05Gallant Fox won the Lawrence Realization at Belmont Park in NY and became the leading moneymaker in thoroughbred racing.Ref: 4
Sep 06Gallant Fox won the Lawrence Realization at Belmont Park in New York and became the leading moneymaker in thoroughbred racing.Ref: 4
Oct 18Joseph Sylvester becomes 1st jockey to win 7 races in 1 day.Ref: 5
1931
May 0957th Preakness: George Ellis aboard Mate wins in 1:59.Ref: 5
May 1657th Kentucky Derby: Charley Kurtsinger on Twenty Grand wins in 2:01.8.Ref: 5
May 18Race jockey Eddie Arcaro rode his first race -- at Bainbridge, OH. He finished sixth. Later, Arcaro would become a racing legend, finishing first in over 4,100 races, including four Kentucky Derby wins.Ref: 4
Jul 21Horse racing fans will be happy to learn that the daily double was inaugurated in the US on this day. The Reno Race Track began the new system of wagering on horses that had been popular in Canada for some time.Ref: 4
1932
Jan 14First totalisator (to record racetrack bets) in US installed, Hialeah.Ref: 5
Jan 14Horse racing legend Eddie Arcaro wins his first race riding Eagle Bird.Ref: 4
May 0758th Kentucky Derby: Eugene James aboard Burgoo King wins in 2:05.2.Ref: 5
May 0958th Preakness: Eugene James aboard Burgoo King wins in 1:59.8.Ref: 5
1933
May 0659th Kentucky Derby: Don Meade aboard Brokers Tip wins in 2:06.8.Ref: 5
May 1359th Preakness: Charley Kurtsinger aboard Head Play wins in 2:02.Ref: 5
1934
May 0560th Kentucky Derby: Mack Garner aboard Cavalcade wins in 2:04.Ref: 5
May 1260th Preakness: Robert Jones aboard High Quest wins in 1:58.2.Ref: 5
Nov 03The first race track in CA opened under a new parimutuel betting law. Bay Meadows, in San Mateo, is still a favorite of pony players in the Bay Area.Ref: 4
1935
Mar 12Parimutuel betting became a reality as horse race bets were legalized in the State of Nebraska. There are still U.S. states where horse racing, betting or other forms of legalized gambling still ‘nag’ legislatures, despite the fact that other states have been participating in these activities for decades.Ref: 4
May 0461st Kentucky Derby: Willie Saunders aboard Omaha wins in 2:05.Ref: 5
May 1161st Preakness: Willie Saunders aboard Omaha wins in 1:58.4.Ref: 5
1936
Jan 16First photo finish camera installed at Hialeah Race track in Hialeah FL.Ref: 5
May 0262nd Kentucky Derby: Ira Hanford aboard Bold Venture wins in 2:03.6.Ref: 5
May 08Jockey Ralph Neves unexpectedly revived after being declared dead after a fall; His wife fainted when he returned to the trackRef: 2
May 1662nd Preakness: George Woolf aboard Bold Venture wins in 1:59.Ref: 5
1937
May 0863rd Kentucky Derby: Charley Kurtsinger on War Admiral wins 2:03.2Ref: 2
May 1563rd Preakness: Charley Kurtsinger aboard War Admiral wins in 1:58.4.Ref: 5
1938
Mar 25First US bred horse (Battleship) to win Grand National Steeplechase.Ref: 5
May 0764th Kentucky Derby: Eddie Arcaro aboard Lawrin wins in 2:04.8.Ref: 5
May 1464th Preakness: Maurice Peters aboard Dauber wins in 1:59.8.Ref: 5
Jun 10Hollywood Park race track opened for thoroughbreds and, later, harness racing. The track is still in operation in Inglewood, CA.Ref: 4
Nov 01Seabiscuit beats War Admiral in a match race at Pimlico.Ref: 5
1939
May 0665th Kentucky Derby: James Stout aboard Johnstown wins in 2:03.4.Ref: 5
May 08Clay Puett invented a device that is still a common sight at thoroughbred race tracks around the world. The electric starting gate was used for the first time to start races at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, CA. The push of a button from a judges’ stand at trackside automatically opened the gates. It was set on wheels so that it could be pulled off the race course quickly. A bell sounds... and “They’re off!”Ref: 4
May 1365th Preakness: George Seabo aboard Challedon wins in 1:59.8.Ref: 5
1940
May 0466th Kentucky Derby: Carroll Bierman aboard Gallahadion wins in 2:05.Ref: 5
May 1166th Preakness: Fred A Smith aboard Bimelech wins in 1:58.6.Ref: 5
1941
Jan 18One of the greatest race horses of his time, Epinard, was stolen during the German occupation of France.Ref: 4
May 03Jockey Eddie Arcaro rode Whirl-A-Way to the winner’s circle in the Kentucky Derby. He was on his way to winning racing’s Triple Crown (the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, KY, the Preakness in Baltimore, MD and the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in NY).Ref: 4
May 1067th Preakness: Eddie Arcaro aboard Whirlaway wins in 1:58.8Ref: 2
Jun 07Whirlaway wins the Belmont Stakes & the triple crown.Ref: 5
1942
Mar 19Thoroughbred Racing Association of US formed in Chicago.Ref: 5
May 0268th Kentucky Derby: Wayne D Wright aboard Shut Out wins in 2:04.4.Ref: 5
May 0968th Preakness: Basil James aboard Alsab wins in 1:57.Ref: 5
Jul 18First legal NJ horse race in 50 years; Garden State Park track opens.Ref: 5
1943
May 0169th Kentucky Derby: Johnny Longden aboard Count Fleet wins in 2:04.Ref: 5
May 0869th Preakness: Johnny Longden aboard Count Fleet wins in 1:57.4Ref: 2
Aug 11Benjamin F. White became the first four-time winner of the Hambletonian. White rode Solo Song to the win in a field of 11 racehorses.Ref: 4
1944
Feb 29The Office of Defense Transportation, for the second year, restricted attendance at the Kentucky Derby to residents of the Louisville area to prevent a railroad traffic burden during wartime.Ref: 4
May 0670th Kentucky Derby: Conn McCreary aboard Pensive wins in 2:04.2.Ref: 5
May 1370th Preakness: Conn McCreary aboard Pensive wins in 1:59.2.Ref: 5
Dec 21Horse racing was banned in the United States until after World War II.Ref: 4
1945
Feb 05Big Racket becomes fastest race horse at 69.6 kph (440 yards/20.8 seconds).Ref: 5
May 29Martin Pipe horse trainer, is born.Ref: 5
1946
May 0472nd Kentucky Derby: Warren Mehrtens aboard Assault wins in 2:06.6.Ref: 5
May 1172nd Preakness: Warren Mehrtens aboard Assault wins in 2:01.4.Ref: 5
Jun 01Assault wins Belmont Stakes & Triple Crown.Ref: 5
1947
May 0373rd Kentucky Derby: Eric Guerin aboard Jet Pilot wins in 2:06.8.Ref: 5
May 1073rd Preakness: Doug Dodson aboard Faultless wins in 1:59Ref: 2
May 18The great thoroughbred race horse Seabiscuit died at the age of 14.Ref: 4
May 3179th Belmont Stakes: Ruperto Donoso aboard Phalanx wins in 2:29.6.Ref: 5
Nov 01The famous racehorse, Man o’ War, died. His funeral was attended by over 2,500 people. Man o’ War was so famous that, while a stud in retirement, his guest book listed over 2,000,000 names!Ref: 4
1948
Apr 23Johnny Longden became the first race jockey to ride 3,000 career winners as he set the mark at Bay Meadows in San Mateo, CA.Ref: 4
May 0174th Kentucky Derby: Eddie Arcaro aboard Citation wins in 2:05.4; this is Arcaro's 4th win.Ref: 5
May 1574th Preakness: Eddie Arcaro aboard Citation wins in 2:02.4.Ref: 5
Jun 12Eddie Arcaro becomes first jockey to win the triple crown twice.Ref: 5
1949
Feb 05Huaso sets official world equestrian high-jump record, 2.47 m, Chicago.Ref: 5
Apr 20Willie Shoemaker won his first race as a jockey aboard Shafter V at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, CA, not far from San Francisco.Ref: 4
May 0775th Kentucky Derby: Steve Brooks aboard Ponder wins in 2:04.2.Ref: 5
May 1475th Preakness: Ted Atkinson aboard Capot wins in 1:56.Ref: 5
1950
Apr 26Last horse race at Havre de Grace Track in MD, is run.Ref: 5
May 0676th Kentucky Derby: William Boland on Middleground wins in 2:01.6.Ref: 5
May 2076th Preakness: Eddie Arcaro aboard Hill Prince wins in 1:59.2.Ref: 5
Dec 31Willie Shoemaker and Joe Culmone, both 19 years of age, became the first jockeys to ride 388 winners in a single year.Ref: 4
1951
Feb 03Largest purse to date in horse racing, $144,323, won by Great Circle.Ref: 5
May 0577th Kentucky Derby: Conn McCreary aboard Count Turf wins in 2:02.6.Ref: 5
May 1977th Preakness: Eddie Arcaro aboard Bold wins in 1:56.4.Ref: 5
Jul 14Citation became the winningest thoroughbred in horse racing as he won the Hollywood Gold Cup at Hollywood Park. Citation earned a total of $1,085,760 in his career.Ref: 4
Jul 19Famous thoroughbred race horse Citation retired from racing.Ref: 4
Nov 27The first black horse-racing jockey was licensed in Florida. He was Hosea Richardson and was sixteen years old at the time.Ref: 4
1952
May 0378th Kentucky Derby: Eddie Arcaro aboard Hill Gail wins in 2:01.6.Ref: 5
May 15Johnny Longden becomes 2nd jockey to ride 4,000 winners.Ref: 5
May 1778th Preakness: Conn McCreary aboard Blue Man wins in 1:57.4.Ref: 5
Jun 24Eddie Arcaro set a thoroughbred racing record for American jockeys by winning his 3,000th horse race.Ref: 4
1953
May 0279th Kentucky Derby: Hank Moreno aboard Dark Star wins in 2:02. Dark Star defeated the heavily favored Native Dancer to win the 79th Kentucky Derby. A $2 wager to win on this dark horse would have put some change in your pocket. Dark Star was a 25-1 long shot.Ref: 4
May 2379th Preakness: Eric Guerin aboard Native Dancer wins in 1:57.8.Ref: 5
Dec 31Willie Shoemaker broke his own record as he won his 485th race of the year. Willie got his horse’s nose out in front at Santa Anita racetrack in Southern CA.Ref: 4
1954
May 0180th Kentucky Derby: Raymond York aboard Determine wins in 2:03.Ref: 5
May 2280th Preakness: Johnny Adams aboard Hasty Road wins in 1:57.4.Ref: 5
Aug 10Sir Gordon Richards retires as a jockey with record 4,870 wins.Ref: 5
Aug 22Native Dancer, with career earnings of $785,240, was retired from horse racing. A foot ailment put the famous horse -- fourth on the all-time thoroughbred winner’s list -- out to pasture.Ref: 4
1955
May 01Jockey Willie Shoemaker rode the legendary Swaps to a win in the Kentucky Derby in Louisville. The Run for the Roses was worth $108,400. (Swap’s colt, Chateaugay, would win the.Derby with the exact same time as his daddy’s: 2 minutes, 1-4/5 seconds.) This was Shoemaker’s first Derby win. He would win again in 1959 aboard Tommy Lee and in 1965 on Lucky Debonair.Ref: 4
May 0781st Kentucky Derby: Bill Shoemaker aboard Swaps wins in 2:01.8.Ref: 5
May 2881st Preakness: Eddie Arcaro aboard Nashua wins in 1:54.6.Ref: 5
Jun 11Eddie Arcaro ties record of 6 Belmont Stakes wins.Ref: 5
Aug 31Nashua defeated Swaps in a match-up of the thoroughbred horses at Arlington Park in Chicago, IL.Ref: 4
Nov 12E Arcaro, E Sande & G Woolf first inductees in Jockey hall of fame.Ref: 5
1956
May 0582nd Kentucky Derby: David Erb aboard Needles wins in 2:03.4.Ref: 5
May 1982nd Preakness: Bill Hartack aboard Fabius wins in 1:58.4.Ref: 5
Jun 23The thoroughbred Swaps ran the 1-1/16 mile track at Hollywood Park, Inglewood, CA, in a blistering 1 minute, 39 seconds, setting a world record for thoroughbred race horses.Ref: 4
Oct 01Johnny Heckmann rides 7 winners at Chicago Hawthorne Horse track.Ref: 5
1957
Feb 22Jockey Ted Atkinson, 3,500th win.Ref: 5
Feb 28Johnny Longden rode winner number 5,000 in his career at Santa Anita race track.Ref: 4
May 0483rd Kentucky Derby: Bill Hartack aboard Iron Liege wins in 2:02.2.Ref: 5
May 1883rd Preakness: Eddie Arcaro aboard Bold Ruler wins in 1:56.2.Ref: 5
1958
Feb 20Racing jockey Eddie Arcaro got win number 4,000, as he rode the winner at Santa Anita race track in Southern California.Ref: 4
Mar 08Silky Sullivan comes from 40 lengths back to win by 3 at Santa Anita.Ref: 5
May 0384th Kentucky Derby: Ismael Valenzuela aboard Tim Tam wins in 2:05.Ref: 5
May 1784th Preakness: Ismael Valenzuela aboard Tim Tam wins in 1:57.2.Ref: 5
Dec 31Willie Shoemaker first jockey to win national riding championship 4X.Ref: 5
1959
May 0285th Kentucky Derby: Bill Shoemaker aboard Tomy Lee wins in 2:02.2.Ref: 5
May 1685th Preakness: William Harmatz aboard Royal Orbit wins in 1:57.Ref: 5
1960
May 0786th Kentucky Derby: Bill Hartack on Venetian Way wins in 2:02.4.Ref: 5
May 14Bally Ache, the winner of the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, MD, was sold for $1,250,000.Ref: 4
May 2186th Preakness: Bobby Ussery aboard Bally Ache wins in 1:57.6.Ref: 5
1961
May 0687th Kentucky Derby: John Sellers aboard Carry Back wins in 2:04.Ref: 5
May 2087th Preakness: Johnny Sellers aboard Carry Back wins in 1:57.6.Ref: 5
1962
Apr 03Race jockey Eddie Arcaro retired with a career record of 15,327 victories for total winnings of $12,265,455. Arcaro was the first jockey to win 3,000 races and the first to ride five Kentucky Derby winners. In the Derby, Arcaro rode these mounts to the Winner’s Circle: Lawrin, Whirl-a-Way, Hoop Jr., Citation and Hill Gail.Ref: 4
May 0588th Kentucky Derby: Bill Hartack aboard Decidedly wins in 2:00.4.Ref: 5
May 1988th Preakness: John Rotz aboard Greek Money wins in 1:56.2.Ref: 5
Jul 07Race jockey Bill Hartack won race number 3,000. He was riding Big Steve at Arlington Park in Chicago,Ref: 4
1963
Apr 08Steve Brooks became only the fifth race jockey to ride 4,000 career winners.Ref: 4
May 0489th Kentucky Derby: Braulio Baeza aboard Chateaugay wins in 2:01.8.Ref: 5
May 1889th Preakness: Bill Shoemaker aboard Candy Spots wins in 1:56.2.Ref: 5
1964
Jan 24Willie Shoemaker topped Eddie Arcaro’s career earnings record by riding four winners at Santa Anita race track in California. Shoemaker’s total earnings reached $30,040,005.Ref: 4
May 0290th Kentucky Derby: Bill Hartack aboard Northern Dancer wins in 2:00.Ref: 5
May 1690th Preakness: Bill Hartack aboard Northern Dancer wins in 1:56.8.Ref: 5
1965
Feb 04U C Greyhound champion trotter (horse), dies at 33.Ref: 5
May 0191st Kentucky Derby: Bill Shoemaker on Lucky Debonair wins in 2:01.2.Ref: 5
May 1591st Preakness: Ron Turcotte aboard Tom Rolfe wins in 1:56.2.Ref: 5
1966
Mar 105 time Horse of the Year, Kelso, retires.Ref: 5
Mar 11Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons, American racehorse trainer, dies at age 91.Ref: 70
Mar 12Jockey Johnny Longden retires after 40 years (6,032 wins).Ref: 5
May 0792nd Kentucky Derby: Donald Brumfield aboard Kauai King wins in 2:02.Ref: 5
May 2192nd Preakness: Don Brumfield aboard Kauai King wins in 1:55.4.Ref: 5
1967
May 0693rd Kentucky Derby: Bobby Ussery on Proud Clarion wins in 2:00.6.Ref: 5
May 2093rd Preakness: Bill Shoemaker aboard Damascus wins in 1:55.2.Ref: 5
Sep 04The richest horse race in American history was run. The All-American Futurity, a race for quarter horses, was held in New Mexico. Laico Bird wins $225,000 of the $486,593 purse.Ref: 4
Nov 16Retired harness racehorse Native Dancer dies after stomach surgery in Philadelphia.Ref: 4
1968
May 0494th Kentucky Derby: Ismael Valenzuela aboard Forward Pass wins in 2:02½. Dancer's Image crosses the finish line first, but is disqualified due to drugs.Ref: 5
May 1894th Preakness: Ismael Valenzuela aboard Forward Pass wins in 1:56.8.Ref: 5
Sep 14Cardigan Bay was retired at the age of 12. The famous horse was the first harness racer to earn $1,000,000 in career winnings.Ref: 4
1969
Jan 28Barbara Jo Rubin becomes first woman jockey to win in North America.Ref: 5
Feb 07Diane Crump becomes first woman jockey at a major US racetrack (Hialeah FL).Ref: 39
Feb 11Diana Crump becomes first US woman jockey to ride against men, Hialelah.Ref: 5
Feb 22Barbara Jo Rubin became the first woman to win a U.S. thoroughbred horse race. She was riding Cohesian at Charlestown Race Course in West Virginia.Ref: 4
Mar 14Less than one month after winning her first horse race, Barbara Jo Rubin became the first woman jockey to win at Aqueduct Race Course in New York. She rode Brave Galaxy to victory and into the winner’s circle.Ref: 4
May 0395th Kentucky Derby: Bill Hartack on Majestic Prince wins in 2:01.8.Ref: 5
May 1795th Preakness: Bill Hartack aboard Majestic Prince wins in 1:55.6.Ref: 5
1970
Mar 30Secretariat, who went on to win the Triple Crown of horse racing in 1973, was foaled.Ref: 4
May 0296th Kentucky Derby: Mike Manganello on Dust Commander wins 2:03.4.Ref: 5
May 02The ‘First Lady of Horse Racing’ (first to ride at a major track, first to win a major feature), Diane Crump, rode Fathom and made history as the first woman jockey to ride in the Kentucky Derby. She finished in 12th place.Ref: 4
May 1696th Preakness: Eddie Belmonte aboard Personality wins in 1:56.2.Ref: 5
1971
May 0197th Kentucky Derby: Gustavo Avila on Canonero II wins in 2:03.2.Ref: 5
May 1597th Preakness: Gustavo Avila aboard Canonero II wins in 1:54.Ref: 5
1972
Mar 30Secretariat, who went on to win the Triple Crown of horse racing in 1973, was foaled.Ref: 4
Apr 28The courts awarded the Kentucky Derby prize money to 2nd place winner because the winner was given drugs before the race.Ref: 5
May 0698th Kentucky Derby: Ron Turcotte aboard Riva Ridge wins in 2:01.8.Ref: 5
May 2098th Preakness: Eldon Nelson aboard Bee Bee Bee wins in 1:55.6.Ref: 5
1973
Feb 26Triple Crown horse Secretariat bought for a record $5.7m.Ref: 5
Mar 01Robyn Smith becomes first female jockey to win a major race.Ref: 5
May 0599th Kentucky Derby: Ron Turcotte aboard Secretariat wins in 1:59.4.Ref: 5
May 19Secretariat won the second jewel of horse racing's Triple Crown by capturing the 99th Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, MD. The famed horse later went on to win the Belmont Stakes in NY to earn the Triple Crown with jockey Ron Turcotte as the rider.Ref: 4
Jun 09"Secretariat" became horse racing's first Triple Crown winner in 25 years by winning the Belmont Stakes.Ref: 4
Jun 11Secretariat became horse racing's first Triple Crown winner in 25 years by winning the Belmont Stakes.Ref: 70
Jul 04Riva Ridge won the Brooklyn Handicap in a world-record time of 1:52.3/5 in the 1-3/16-mile event. Riva Ridge became thoroughbred racing’s 12th, million-dollar race horse.Ref: 4
Jul 27Walter Blum becomes 6th jockey to ride 4,000 winners.Ref: 5
Jul 27Secretariat broke two records while practicing at Saratoga Springs, NY. The legendary horse covered a mile in a speedy 1 minute, 34 seconds and ran a 1-1/8 mile distance in 1 minute, 47-4/5 seconds.Ref: 4
Jul 28Kerry O’Brien of Australia retired at the age of 27. O’Brien was the reigning steeplechase recordholder at the time.Ref: 4
Sep 01Horse-racing jockey Braulio Baeza won two races at Belmont Park, NY. Baeza then boarded an airplane and flew to Liberty Bell race track in Philadelphia to ride Determined King to victory in the Kindergarten Stakes.Ref: 4
Sep 06NY Times reports almost all Superfectas run at Yonkers, Roosevelt & Monticello from Jan-Mar of 1973 were fixed.Ref: 5
Sep 12Horse race jockey Bill Shoemaker rode his 100th winner -- in a $100,000 stakes race. Shoemaker was aboard Such a Rush in the Del Mar Futurity at Del Mar, CA.Ref: 4
Sep 122 bettors win the largest US Daily Double ($19,909.60 in Detroit).Ref: 5
Sep 15Secretariat won the Marlboro Cup and set a world record for the 1-1/8 mile event. The legendary thoroughbred won in 1 minute, 45-2/3 seconds and earned $250,000.Ref: 4
Oct 27Riva Ridge, the racehorse that won 17 of 30 starts and earned a total of $1,111,497, came in dead last in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park in New York -- and was immediately retired.Ref: 4
Oct 28Secretariat raced into history by winning the Canadian International Stakes in Toronto. It was the last race won ... and run ... by the magnificent thoroughbred.Ref: 4
Dec 15Sandy Hawley became the first jockey in history to win 500 races in a single year. With this victory in the third race at Laurel racetrack on Charlie Jr., he broke the legendary Bill Shoemaker’s 20-year-old record. Hawley recorded his 6,000th career victory in 1992 aboard Summer Commander at Greenwood racetrack.Ref: 4
1974
May 04100th Kentucky Derby: Angel Cordero Jr aboard Cannonade wins in 2:04.Ref: 5
May 18100th Preakness: Miguel Rivera aboard Current Little wins in 1:54.6.Ref: 5
May 22Ruffian begins her racing career as a filly & dies 14 months later.Ref: 5
1975
May 03101st Kentucky Derby: Jacinto Vasquez on Foolish Pleasure wins 2:02.Ref: 5
May 17101st Preakness: Darrel McHargue aboard Master Derby wins in 1:56.4.Ref: 5
1976
Mar 14Jockey Bill Shoemaker wins his 7,000th race.Ref: 5
May 01102nd Kentucky Derby: Angel Cordero Jr on Bold Forbes wins in 2:01.6.Ref: 5
May 12Sixteen-year-old, racing-jockey Steve Cauthen rode in his first race. He finished far back in the pack at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. However, Cauthen got his first winner just five days later.Ref: 4
May 15102nd Preakness: John Lively aboard Elocutionist wins in 1:55.Ref: 5
May 17Race jockey Steve Cauthen began an enviable win streak. Cauthen, age 16, rode his first winner at River Downs, KY.Ref: 4
Sep 01NJ Meadowlands racetrack opens.Ref: 5
1977
May 07103rd Kentucky Derby: Jean Cruguet on Seattle Slew wins in 2:02.2.Ref: 5
May 21103rd Preakness: Jean Cruguet aboard Seattle Slew (undefeated) wins in 1:54.4.Ref: 5
Jun 11Seattle Slew wins Belmont Stakes & Triple Crown.Ref: 5
Dec 10In only his second year of riding, Steve Cauthen became the first jockey to win $6-million in a single season. Cauthen was dubbed ‘The Six Million Dollar Man’, and ‘Stevie Wonder’ by his admirers and was named 1977 Sportsman of the Year by "Sports Illustrated", the Associated Press, "ABC’s Wide World of Sports" and "The Sporting News".Ref: 4
1978
Jan 25Tango Duke dies in Australia at 42; oldest known thoroughbred horse.Ref: 5
Mar 31Red Rum wins 3rd consecutive Grand National & retiresRef: 5
May 06104th Kentucky Derby: Steve Cauthen aboard Affirmed wins in 2:01.2.Ref: 5
May 20104th Preakness: Steve Cauthen aboard Affirmed wins in 1:54.4.Ref: 5
Jun 10Affirmed won horse racing's Triple Crown by taking the Belmont Stakes.Ref: 70
1979
May 05105th Kentucky Derby: Ron Franklin on Spectacular Bid wins in 2:02.4.Ref: 5
May 19105th Preakness: Ron Franklin aboard Spectacular Bid wins in 1:54.2.Ref: 5
Jun 06200th running of horse's Derby in England.Ref: 5
Jun 09Coastal wins the Belmont Stakes.Ref: 5
1980
May 03106th Kentucky Derby: Jacinto Vasquez on Genuine Risk wins in 2:02.Ref: 5
May 17106th Preakness: Angel Cordero Jr aboard Codex wins in 1:54.2.Ref: 5
Jun 07Temperance Hill wins Belmont Stakes (50:1 long shot).Ref: 5
Jun 24Affirmed wins $500,000 Hollywood Cup, first horse to win $2 million.Ref: 5
Sep 20Spectacular Bid runs in Belmont alone as 3 horses drop out.Ref: 5
1981
Apr 24Bill Shoemaker wins his 8,000th race, 2000 more than any other jockey.Ref: 5
May 02107th Kentucky Derby: Jorge Velasquez on Pleasant Colony wins in 2:02.Ref: 5
May 16107th Preakness: Jorge Velasquez aboard Pleasant Colony wins in 1:54.6.Ref: 5
1982
May 01108th Kentucky Derby: Ed Delahoussaye on Gato Del Sol wins in 2:02.4.Ref: 5
May 15108th Preakness: 16-year-old Jack Kaenel aboard Aloma's Ruler wins in 1:55.4.Ref: 5
Jun 05Conquistador Cielo wins Belmont Stakes by 14 lengths.Ref: 5
1983
Feb 08Champion thoroughbred Shergar kidnapped in Ireland; never found Lloyds of London pays $10.6 million insurance.Ref: 5
Mar 05Chris Collinsworth of the Cincinnati Bengals raced a thoroughbred horse named Mr. Henry at the Latonia Racetrace in Florence KY and won. (XDG, p 4A, 3/5/2001) 
May 07109th Kentucky Derby: Ed Delahoussaye on Sunny's Halo wins in 2:02.2.Ref: 5
May 21109th Preakness: Donald Miller Jr on Deputed Testamony wins in 1:55.4.Ref: 5
1984
May 05110th Kentucky Derby: Laffit Pincay Jr aboard Swale wins in 2:02.4.Ref: 5
May 19110th Preakness: Angel Cordero Jr aboard Gate Dancer wins in 1:53.6.Ref: 5
Jun 09Swale wins the Belmont Stakes (8 days later Swale dies).Ref: 5
Jun 17Swale Kentucky Derby winner, collapses & dies.Ref: 5
Aug 16Largest harness racing purse ($2,161,000-Nihilator wins $1,080,500).Ref: 5
Aug 26John Henry, a nine-year-old gelding, came from behind to win the $600,000 Arlington Million race in suburban Chicago, IL. The lifetime earnings of the famous horse reached $5,482,797.Ref: 4
Sep 02Jockey Larry Snyder rides Tennessee Rite to a nine-length win in the the Prelude Stakes for $50,000 at Louisiana Downs. It was Snyder’s 5,000th career victory and came 24 years -- to the day -- after his first win in 1960.Ref: 4
Oct 13John Henry becomes first thoroughbred to win $6 million.Ref: 5
1985
Feb 17Laffit Pincay, Jr. rode his 6,000th career winner at Santa Anita Race Track in Arcadia, CA. He became the third jockey to reach that coveted mark (behind Willie Shoemaker and Johnny Longden).Ref: 4
Mar 03Willie Shoemaker becomes first jockey to win $100 million.Ref: 5
May 04111th Kentucky Derby: Angel Cordero Jr on Spend A Buck posted the third fastest winning time in the Kentucky Derby by running the 1-1/4 mile track at Churchill Downs in 2 minutes and 1/8 second. Only Secretariat (1973) and Northern Dancer (1964) had been faster.Ref: 4
May 18111th Preakness: Pat Day aboard Tank's Prospect wins in 1:53.4.Ref: 5
May 27Spend-A-Buck won the Jersey Derby by a neck and earned a record $2.6 million. The thoroughbred won an extra $2 million dollars for sweeping the Jersey Derby, the Garden State Stakes, the Cherry Hill Mile and the Kentucky Derby. Career earnings for the horse were $3,009,509.Ref: 4
Jun 05Steve Cauthen rode Slip Anchor to the winner’s circle. He was the first American jockey in 79 years to win the Epsom Derby, Great Britain’s premier flat racing event.Ref: 4
Jun 08Jockey Eddie Maple rode Belmont StakesCreme Fraiche to victory in the Belmont Stakes, marking the fourth consecutive winner for trainer Woody Stephens. The win marked the highest number of successive Belmont wins since R.W. Walden captured his fifth Belmont Stakes win in 1882.Ref: 4
Jun 23Laffit Pncay Jr becomes the 2nd jockey to win $100 million.Ref: 5
Jul 21Race horse John Henry retired. The thoroughbred was originally purchased for $1,100. The 1984 Horse of the Year had career winnings of $6.5 million. John Henry won 39 of 83 races and was 10 years old when he retired.Ref: 4
Jul 23$13.1 million paid for racehorse yearling son of Najinsky II and My Charmer.Ref: 10
Aug 03"Nihilator" set harness pacing mile (1:49.6) in East Rutherford, NJ.Ref: 5
Aug 31"Prakas" sets trotting mile record of 1:53.4 at Du Quoin, Ill.Ref: 5
1986
Mar 02First million-dollar purse for a handicap race won at Santa Anita.Ref: 5
May 03Horse racing legend Bill Shoemaker became the oldest jockey to win the the 112th Kentucky Derby. ‘The Shoe’ was atop Ferdinand for the win. Shoemaker was 54 years old. It had been 32 years since Shoemaker’s first Derby victory back in 1955.Ref: 4
May 17112th Preakness: Alex Solis aboard Snow Chief wins in 1:54.8.Ref: 5
1987
Jan 06Lady's Secret becomes Horse of the Year by winning the Eclipse Award. (XDG, p 4A, 1/6/2001)Ref: 83
May 02113th Kentucky Derby: Chris McCarron aboard Alysheba wins in 2:03.4.Ref: 5
May 16113th Preakness: Chris McCarron aboard Alysheba wins in 1:55.8.Ref: 5
Jul 28Angel Cordero Jr becomes the 4th jockey to win 6,000 races.Ref: 5
Aug 21"Mack Lobell" set harness racing's trotting mil (1:52)Ref: 5
Oct 31First jockey to win 9 races in 1 day (Chris Antley at Belmont).Ref: 5
1988
Mar 06Julie Krone becomes winningest female jockey (1205 victories).Ref: 5
Apr 02Simply Majestic sets horseracing's 1-1/8 mile record at 1:45Ref: 5
May 07114th Kentucky Derby: Gary Stevens on Winning Colors wins in 2:02.2.Ref: 5
May 21114th Preakness: Eddie Delahoussaye aboard Risen Star wins in 1:56.2.Ref: 5
Oct 13Mike Venezia jockey, dies in 5th-race fall at Belmont Race Track, NY.Ref: 5
1989
Feb 08Jockey Chris Antley begins record of 64 consecutive winning days.Ref: 5
May 01Jockey Chris Antley ends record of 64 consecutive winning days.Ref: 5
May 06115th Kentucky Derby: Pat Valenzuela on Sunday Silence wins in 2:05.Ref: 5
May 20115th Preakness: Pat Valenzuela aboard Sunday Silence wins in 1:53.8.Ref: 5
Aug 035th jockey to win 6,000 races (Jorge Valesquez).Ref: 5
Oct 04Secretariat (Racehorse)Ref: 10
Dec 31Jockey Kent Desormeaux sets record with 598 wins in a year.Ref: 5
1990
Feb 03Jockey Willie Shoemaker (58) races for the 40,352nd and last time. He finished fourth at the Santa Anita Racetrack aboard 7-10 favorite "Patchy Groundfog". Shoemaker won 1100 stakes and 8,833 wins (a world record that stood until Laffit Pincay Jr. topped it in 1999) in 40,350 races. In 42 years, Shoemaker won 11 Triple Crown races, including four Kentucky Derbies, five Belmont Stakes, and three Preakness Stakes; 1,009 stakes races; and 10 national money titles. He earned more than $123 million in purses, about $10 million of which went into his pocket. (Shoemaker’s life took a tragic turn on April 8, 1991, when he was left paralyzed from the neck down after an auto accident.)Ref: 4
May 05116th Kentucky Derby: Craig Perret aboard Unbridled wins in 2:02.Ref: 5
May 19116th Preakness: Pat Day aboard Summer Squall wins in 1:53.6.Ref: 5
Jun 09Go and Go wins the 122nd Belmont Stakes.Ref: 5
1991
Apr 08Jockey Willie Shoemaker was left paralyzed in an automobile accident.Ref: 5
May 04117th Kentucky Derby: Chris Antley aboard Strike the Gold wins in 2:03.Ref: 5
May 18117th Preakness: Jerry Bailey aboard Hansel wins in 1:54.Ref: 5
Jun 08Preakness winner "Hansel" won the Belmont Stakes.Ref: 6
Jun 09Hansel wins the Belmont Stakes.Ref: 5
1992
May 02118th Kentucky Derby: Pat Day aboard Lil E Tee wins in 2:03.Ref: 5
May 07Jockey Angel Cordero retires after winning over 7,000 horse races.Ref: 5
May 16118th Preakness: Chris McCarron aboard Pine Bluff wins in 1:55.6.Ref: 5
1993
May 01119th Kentucky Derby: Jerry Bailey aboard Sea Hero wins in 2:02.4.Ref: 5
May 15119th Preakness: Mike Smith aboard Prairie Bayou wins in 1:56.6.Ref: 5
1994
May 07120th Kentucky Derby: Chris McCarron on Go For Gin wins in 2:03.6.Ref: 5
May 21120th Preakness: Pat Day aboard Tabasco Cat wins in 1:56.4.Ref: 5
1995
May 06121st Kentucky Derby: Gary Stevens on longshot Thunder Gulch wins in 2:01.2.Ref: 5
May 20121st Preakness: Pat Day aboard Timber Coutry wins in 1:54.4.Ref: 5
1996
May 04"Grindstone" wins the 122nd Kentucky Derby, giving trainer D. Wayne Lukas an incredible sixth straight victory in a Triple Crown race.Ref: 5
May 18122nd Preakness: Pat Day aboard Louis Quatorze wins in 1:53.2.Ref: 5
Jun 08"Editor's Note" won the Belmont Stakes.Ref: 6
1997
May 03123rd Kentucky Derby: Gary Stevens aboard Silver Charm wins in 2:02.3.Ref: 5
May 17123rd Preakness: Gary Stevens aboard Silver Charm wins in 1:54.Ref: 5
1998
May 02124th Kentucky Derby: Kent Desormeaux aboard Real Quiet wins in 2:02.4Ref: 5
May 16124th Preakness: Kent Desormeaux on Real Quiet wins in 1:54.8Ref: 5
1999
May 01125th Kentucky Derby: Chris Antley aboard Charismatic wins in 2:03.2Ref: 5
May 15125th Preakness: Chris Antley on Charismatic wins in 1:55.2Ref: 5
2000
May 02Jockey Julie Krone became the first female elected to thoroughbred racing's hall of fame.Ref: 6
May 06"Fusaichi Pegasus" became the first favorite to win the Kentucky Derby since "Spectacular Bid" in 1979.Ref: 6
2004
Apr 29US District Judge John Heyburn II rules that the 130-year-old Kentucky Horseracing Authority's rule against jockeys wearing advertising on their uniforms violates the First Amendment right of free speech. Jockeys may now wear advertising. (XDG, p 2B, 4/30/2004)Ref: 83
Last Update: October 27th, 2005
© 2000-2005   Kenneth Fussichen