Jack Westrope

Biography

Montana native Jack Westrope rose to stardom in the irons as a teenager, leading all North American jockeys in wins with 301 at age 15 in 1933. He won 25 percent of his races that year, the highest rate for any national leader in victories since 1909.

In 1934, on Christmas Day, Westrope earned the distinction of winning the first race ever contested at Santa Anita Park, a seven-furlong handicap with an $800 purse aboard a 5-year-old mare named Las Palmas.

Westrope's major victories included the Santa Anita Derby with champion Stagehand (1938); the San Juan Capistrano and Suburban handicaps with Cravat (1939); the Delaware Oaks with Handcuff (1938) and champion Parlo (1954); the Gallant Fox and Massachusetts handicaps with Royal Vale (1953); the Hollywood Gold Cup with Big Pebble (1941); the Hollywood Derby with Shining One (1939), Honeymoon (1946), and Valquest (1950); the Inglewood Handicap with Sir Jeffrey (1941), With Pleasure (1948), and Miche (1950); the Vanity Handicap with champion Painted Veil (1941), Be Faithful (1946), and Honeymoon (1947); and the Alabama Stakes with Handcuff (1938).

Westrope was fatally injured when Well Away threw him into the rail during the 1958 Hollywood Oaks. At the time of his death, Westrope ranked eighth all time among North American jockeys with 2,467 wins and 10th in earnings with $8,226,677. 

Achievements

North America's leading rider in wins — 1933

Other Highlights

Won the Hollywood Derby — 1939, 1946, 1950
Won the Vanity Handicap — 1941, 1946, 1950
Won the Delaware Oaks — 1938, 1954
Won the Alabama Stakes — 1938
Won the Santa Anita Derby — 1938
Won the Hollywood Derby — 1939
Won the Suburban Handicap — 1939
Won the Hollywood Gold Cup — 1941