 Race riding clearly ran in his Mack Garners's family. His father, great grandfather and four brothers were all jockeys. Garner began riding at the age of 14 and a year later was leading jockey in races won and purses earned. He spent much of his career racing on New York tracks where he won two Belmont Stakes, two Jerome Handicaps, two Spinaways, the Travers, and Withers, among others.
Mack Garner considered his Kentucky Derby win on Cavalcade, 20 years into his career, as the happiest day of his life. He also rode Blue Larkspur whose disappointing loss in the Kentucky Derby was followed by wins in the Belmont Stakes, Arlington Classic, and the Withers.
Significant Mounts
| Cavalcade |
Blue Larkspur |
Lady Rotha |
| Star Jasmine |
Jacoby |
Caruso |
| The Nut |
| Psychic Bid |
In Memoriam |
Mack Garner's career came to an untimely end when he was 36. He died of a heart attack after riding four races at River Downs.
During his career, Garner was the nation's leading rider in 1915 and the nation's leading money-winner in 1929. He was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1969.
Blue Larkspur and Garner take the lead in the Belmont
©Keeneland-Cook | 