The son of a Nebraska horse trader, Steve Brooks was riding competitively by the age of 10 and won his first race aboard a thoroughbred at a recognized track at the age of 17.
Although he won stakes in 1943 in the East with standouts such as Princequillo, Eurasian, and Bolingbroke, Brooks gained his early prominence in the Midwest, riding Spy Song for Dixiana Farm and Calumet Farm horses based in Chicago.
1963
Biography
The son of a Nebraska horse trader, Steve Brooks was riding competitively by the age of 10 and won his first race aboard a thoroughbred at a recognized track at the age of 17.
Although he won stakes in 1943 in the East with standouts such as Princequillo, Eurasian, and Bolingbroke, Brooks gained his early prominence in the Midwest, riding Spy Song for Dixiana Farm and Calumet Farm horses based in Chicago.
As regular rider for Calumet, Brooks was North America’s leading jockey in 1949, winning the Kentucky Derby that year with Ponder, lowering the world record for the mile with Hall of Fame member Coaltown, and topping all jockeys in stakes won.
Brooks rode Hall of Famers Two Lea and Citation for Calumet, lowering the mile record to 1:33⅗ with the latter. He was also up on Citation when he became the first horse to earn $1 million in purses. Brooks also rode Hall of Famers Round Table, Bewitch, and Devil Diver.
A strong rider and good finisher, Brooks, in 1963, became the fourth rider to win 4,000 races. He retired with a total of 4,451 wins. Brooks continued to exercise horses into his retirement. He died at the age of 58 from injuries suffered in a fall during a morning workout in 1979.
Achievements
North America's leading rider in earnings — 1949
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1949 Kentucky Derby — Ponder
Other Highlights
Won the Breeders' Futurity Stakes — 1945, 1946, 1947, 1956
Won the Ben Ali Handicap — 1952, 1955, 1960, 1962
Won the Clark Handicap — 1947, 1948, 1950
Won the Travers Stakes — 1943, 1961
Won the American Derby — 1949, 1961
Won the Hollywood Gold Cup — 1951, 1952
Born in 1890 near the Gravesend and Sheepshead Bay tracks in New York City, Joe Notter was doing stable chores by the age of 10, rode his first winner at 13, and at 17 was among the leading riders in North America with 125 wins, including the Alabama on champion Kennyetto, Brighton Handicap on Hall of Famer Peter Pan, Produce on champion Stamina, and the Travers on Frank Gill.
1963
Biography
Born in 1890 near the Gravesend and Sheepshead Bay tracks in New York City, Joe Notter was doing stable chores by the age of 10, rode his first winner at 13, and at 17 was among the leading riders in North America with 125 wins, including the Alabama on champion Kennyetto, Brighton Handicap on Hall of Famer Peter Pan, Produce on champion Stamina, and the Travers on Frank Gill.
In 1908, he ranked third with 249 wins and led all jockeys with purse earnings of $464,322. That year, he won the Belmont Stakes on undefeated Hall of Famer Colin, the Futurity with Hall of Famer Maskette, the Suburban with champion Celt, and Coney Island Jockey Club with Hall of Famer Fair Play.
At 18, he grew too heavy to ride regularly and rode only sparingly from then on, focusing only on important stakes races. In 1910, he won the Lawrence Realization with champion Sweep, and in 1913 he won only four races, but they included the Metropolitan, Suburban, and Brooklyn handicaps with Hall of Famer Whisk Broom II.
In 1915, he piloted Hall of Famer Regret when she became the first filly to win the Kentucky Derby, won the Hopeful with champion Dominant, the Futurity with Thunderer, and four other stakes with champion Borrow.
Notter later became a trainer, winning the 1932 Futurity with Kerry Patch.
Achievements
North America's leading rider in earnings — 1908
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1915 Kentucky Derby — Regret
Won the 1908 Belmont Stakes — Colin
Other Highlights
Won the Hopeful Stakes — 1908, 1914, 1915
Won the Brooklyn Handicap — 1908, 1913
Won the Suburban Handicap — 1908, 1913
Won the Futurity Stakes — 1908, 1915
Won the Alabama Stakes — 1907
Won the Travers Stakes — 1907
Won the Metropolitan Handicap — 1913
J. Dallett “Dolly” Byers was born in Sugartown, Pennsylvania, in 1898 and rode in his first steeplechase race in 1916 on a jumper owned by Joseph E. Widener. Even though he fell and did not finish the contest, Byers went on to become one of the best in his profession, topping all steeplechase jockeys in wins in 1918, 1921, and 1928.
1967
Biography
J. Dallett “Dolly” Byers was born in Sugartown, Pennsylvania, in 1898 and rode in his first steeplechase race in 1916 on a jumper owned by Joseph E. Widener. Even though he fell and did not finish the contest, Byers went on to become one of the best in his profession, topping all steeplechase jockeys in wins in 1918, 1921, and 1928.
Top mounts for Byers included Hall of Fame members Jolly Roger and Fairmount, as well as stakes winners Duettiste, Houdini, Barleycorn, Lorenzo, Lizard, Arc Light, and MacCarthy More.
Byers won the Temple Gwathmey five consecutive years (1925 through 1929), including back-to-back victories with Fairmount in 1927 and 1928. He also won five straight editions of the Manly Steeplechase Handicap (1925 through 1929). He previously won the Manly in 1919 and 1920, both years with Duettiste, to give him a total of seven wins in the event. Byers also won the Corinthian five times in (1920 through 1923 and 1925) and the Brook four times (1921, 1924, 1925, 1928).
Overall, Byers won on 149 of his 457 mounts (32.6%). He later became a successful trainer, sending out stakes winners on both the flat and over jumps, including champion sprinter Tea-Maker, plus standouts Lovely Night, Invader, Royal Archer, and Chesapeake.
Achievements
North America’s leading steeplechase rider in wins — 1918, 1921, 1928
Other Highlights
Won the Manly Steeplechase Handicap — 1919, 1920, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929
Won the Corinthian Steeplechase Handicap — 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1925
Won the Temple Gwathmey — 1925, 1926, 1927 1928, 1929
Won the Brook Steeplechase Handicap — 1921, 1924, 1925, 1928
Known to race fans as “The Flying Dutchman,” Charles Kurtsinger was best known for riding War Admiral to a sweep of the Triple Crown in 1937, six years after he won both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes with another Hall of Famer, Twenty Grand. Kurtsinger also won the 1933 Preakness Stakes with Head Play, giving the rider a total of six wins in the Triple Crown events.
1967
Biography
Known to race fans as “The Flying Dutchman,” Charles Kurtsinger was best known for riding War Admiral to a sweep of the Triple Crown in 1937, six years after he won both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes with another Hall of Famer, Twenty Grand. Kurtsinger also won the 1933 Preakness Stakes with Head Play, giving the rider a total of six wins in the Triple Crown events.
A native of Shepherdsville, Kentucky, Kurtsinger was taught how to ride by his father, who was also a jockey, as well as Hall of Fame rider Mack Garner and Roscoe Goose, who won the 1913 Kentucky Derby.
Kurtsinger was aboard Greentree Stable’s Twenty Grand when he beat fellow Hall of Famer Equipoise in the 1930 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes in what was then the fastest mile (1:36) ever raced by a 2-year-old. The following year, Kurtsinger and Twenty Grand teamed up to win the Wood Memorial, Dwyer, Lawrence Realization, and Jockey Club Gold Cup to go with the Derby and Belmont.
With Head Play, in addition to the Preakness, Kurtsinger won the Suburban Handicap and the inaugural San Juan Capistrano Handicap in 1935.
Kurtsinger led all North American riders in earnings in 1931 and again in 1937, when he posted career-best totals in wins (120) and earnings ($384,202). After retiring with 721 wins to his credit, Kurtsinger became a trainer. He died in 1946 at the age of 39 from complications of pneumonia.
Achievements
North America's leading rider in earnings — 1931, 1937
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1931 Kentucky Derby — Twenty Grand
Won the 1937 Kentucky Derby — War Admiral
Won the 1933 Preakness Stakes — Head Play
Won the 1937 Preakness Stakes — War Admiral
Won the 1931 Belmont Stakes — Twenty Grand
Won the 1937 Belmont Stakes — War Admiral
Other Highlights
Won the Jockey Club Gold Cup — 1931, 1934
Wom the Chesapeake Stakes — 1931, 1937
Won the Saratoga Handicap — 1931, 1938
Won the Champagne Stakes — 1932, 1937
Rigan McKinney led both amateur and professional steeplechase riders in wins in 1933, 1934, 1936, and 1938. When he retired in 1940, McKinney had 147 career steeplechase wins, more than any other jockey in history.
1968
Biography
Rigan McKinney led both amateur and professional steeplechase riders in wins in 1933, 1934, 1936, and 1938. When he retired in 1940, McKinney had 147 career steeplechase wins, more than any other jockey in history.
A daring rider undeterred by fear of injury, McKinney rode in horse shows as a teenager and entered steeplechasing in 1929. In 1931, he won the American Grand National in record time aboard Green Cheese. He again won the Grand National in 1938 with Annibal.
McKinney won three editions of both the Saratoga Steeplechase (1933, 1936, 1938) and Chevy Chase Steeplechase (1930, 1936, 1938), and twice won the Harbor Hill (1930, 1936), Manly (1931, 1938), Broad Hollow (1932, 1938), Brook (1933, 1938), Meadow Brook (1933, 1938), and International Steeplechase (1934, 1935).
McKinney rode several standouts during his career, including Rioter, Chenango, Beacon Hill, Amagansett, and Ossabaw.
After retiring as a rider, McKinney trained steeplechase stakes winners Navigate, Drift, The Heir, Quiet, Hot, Banner Waves, and Sundowner.
Achievements
North America's leading steeplechase rider in wins — 1933, 1934, 1936, 1938
Other Highlights
Won the Chevy Chase Steeplechase Handicap — 1930, 1936, 1938
Won the Saratoga Steeplechase Handicap — 1933, 1936, 1938
Won the American Grand National — 1931, 1938
Won the Broad Hollow Steeplechase Handicap — 1932, 1933
Won the International Steeplechase Handicap — 1934, 1935
Jimmy Stout won his first race in 1931 and started to emerge on the national scene when he rode 111 winners in 1935 and caught the eye of Hall of Fame trainer James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons, who decided to purchase his contract.
1968
Biography
Jimmy Stout won his first race in 1931 and started to emerge on the national scene when he rode 111 winners in 1935 and caught the eye of Hall of Fame trainer James “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons, who decided to purchase his contract.
In 1936, Stout ranked third in North America with purse earnings of $254,452. That year, Stout rode Hall of Famer and Horse of the Year Granville to victory in the Belmont Stakes. Stout won the Belmont again in 1938 with Pasteurized and earned his third win in the race in 1939 with Hall of Famer Johnstown. Stout also took the Kentucky Derby that year with Johnstown, putting the colt on the lead and never looking back en route to an eight-length victory.
Stout won the Carter Handicap four times, the Saratoga Cup and Gazelle Handicap three times each, and the Travers Stakes, Alabama Stakes, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Brooklyn Handicap, Manhattan Handicap, Wood Memorial, and Lawrence Realization twice each.
Stout retired in 1954 with 2,056 wins.
Achievements
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1939 Kentucky Derby — Johnstown
Won the 1936 Belmont Stakes — Granville
Won the 1938 Belmont Stakes — Pasteurized
Won the 1939 Belmont Stakes — Johnstown
Other Highlights
Won the Carter Handicap — 1939, 1944, 1945, 1954
Won the Saratoga Cup — 1936, 1939, 1940
Won the Jockey Club Gold Cup — 1936, 1940
Won the Travers Stakes — 1936, 1940
Won the Brooklyn Handicap — 1940, 1941
George Herbert “Pete” Bostwick was America’s top amateur steeplechase rider each year from 1928 through 1932, and again in 1941.
1968
Biography
George Herbert “Pete” Bostwick was America’s top amateur steeplechase rider each year from 1928 through 1932, and again in 1941.
The 5-foot-4, 110-pound Bostwick was versatile enough as a rider to win both over jumps and on the flat in the same day at Belmont Park on two occasions in 1932.
An eight-goal player on six polo teams that won U.S. Open Championships, Bostwick won the Meadow Brook and International Steeplechase Handicap four times each, the Glendale, Corinthian, and Brook twice each, and single editions of the Temple Gwathmey, Bushwick, and Harbor Hill, among others.
Bostwick went on to a distinguished career as a trainer, conditioning Hall of Fame members Oedipus and Neji, as well as champions Ancestor and Barnabys Bluff. He was the first steeplechase trainer to earn $1 million in purses.
Achievements
North America’s leading amateur steeplechase rider — 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1941
North America’s leading steeplechase trainer in earnings — 1940, 1951, 1955
Other Highlights
Won the Brook Handicap (as trainer) — 1950, 1951, 1954, 1955
Won the American Grand National (as trainer) — 1951, 1957, 1958, 1962
Won the Temple Gwathem (as trainer) — 1955, 1957
Chicago native Willie Knapp was only 13 years old and weighed a reported 56 pounds when he won his first race in 1901 at Lakeside Park in Indiana. Successful riding in the Midwest, Knapp moved to New York in 1905 and became a successful freelancer; one of his first notable victories in New York was the 1906 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga aboard Hall of Famer Peter Pan.
1969
Biography
Chicago native Willie Knapp was only 13 years old and weighed a reported 56 pounds when he won his first race in 1901 at Lakeside Park in Indiana. Successful riding in the Midwest, Knapp moved to New York in 1905 and became a successful freelancer; one of his first notable victories in New York was the 1906 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga aboard Hall of Famer Peter Pan.
In 1917, he piloted 9-year-old Borrow to an upset victory in the Brooklyn Handicap, a renewal that featured Hall of Famers Regret, Roamer, and Old Rosebud, as well as standouts Omar Khayyam and Stromboli. That year, he was also the regular rider for 2-year-old champion Sun Briar; winterbook favorite for the Kentucky Derby, Sun Briar did not train well for the race and Knapp rode Sun Briar’s stablemate, 30-1 longshot Exterminator, to an upset victory in the 1918 Derby.
Knapp’s most notable upset took place in the 1919 Sanford Memorial Stakes, when he rode a horse named Upset to defeat Hall of Famer Man o’ War by a half-length. After the 1919 season, Knapp was denied a license to ride by The Jockey Club. No reason for the decision was ever made public.
Later as a trainer, Knapp saddled his old Derby winner, the Hall of Famer Exterminator, for five stakes victories: the Merchants and Citizens Handicap, Pimlico Cup, Toronto Autumn Cup, Autumn Gold Cup, and Saratoga Cup. Knapp also trained stakes winners Upset Lad, Risque, Valenciennes, Pairbypair, Seven Veils, and Three Rings before retiring in 1960.
Knapp won a total of 649 races as a jockey.
Achievements
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1918 Kentucky Derby — Exterminator
Other Highlights
Won the Hopeful Stakes — 1906, 1917
Won the Brooklyn Handicap — 1917
Won the Manhattan Handicap — 1918
Won the Travers Stakes — 1918
Won the Sanford Memorial Stakes — 1919
Riding professionally from the age of 14 until he died of a heart attack at age 36, Iowa native Mack Garner was one of the best of his generation.
1969
Biography
Riding professionally from the age of 14 until he died of a heart attack at age 36, Iowa native Mack Garner was one of the best of his generation.
North America’s leading rider in both wins (151) and earnings ($96,628) in 1915, Garner again topped the earnings leaderboard in 1929 ($314,975), the year he won the Belmont Stakes with Hall of Famer Blue Larkspur. Garner won the Belmont again in 1933 with Hurryoff, and won the Kentucky Derby the following year with Hall of Famer Cavalcade.
The great-grandson of a jockey, grandson of a jockey, son of a jockey, and brother to four jockeys, Garner enjoyed success from the beginning of his career. In 1915, only his second year in the irons, he won the Travers Stakes with Lady Rotha, the Latonia Cup with Star Jasmine, and the Spinaway Stakes with Jacoby.
Garner rode in four races, winning one, at River Downs on Oct. 28, 1936. That night, he had a heart attack and died. Garner won a total of 1,346 races.
Achievements
North America's leading rider in earnings — 1915, 1929
North America's leading rider in wins — 1915
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1934 Kentucky Derby — Cavalcade
Won the 1929 Belmont Stakes — Blue Larkspur
Won the 1933 Belmont Stakes — Hurryoff
Other Highlights
Won the Spinaway Stakes — 1915, 1921
Won the Sanford Stakes — 1921, 1934
Won the Arlington Classic — 1929, 1934
Win the Test Stakes — 1931, 1932
Won the Travers Stakes — 1915
Won the Suburban Handicap — 1916
Won the Hopful Stakes — 1934
Samuel Purdy gained fame as a jockey in the early years of the 19th century, but his lasting glory was his role in one of racing’s most historic events, American Eclipse’s famous victory over Sir Henry at New York’s Union Course on Long Island in 1823.
1970
Biography
Samuel Purdy gained fame as a jockey in the early years of the 19th century, but his lasting glory was his role in one of racing’s most historic events, American Eclipse’s famous victory over Sir Henry at New York’s Union Course on Long Island in 1823.
Raised on a farm in New York’s Westchester County, Purdy became an accomplished rider in both the North and South. Although not formally educated, Purdy proved proficient at a variety of tasks, including architectural design. He became a notable businessman in New York City, designing and building homes, and served on the boards of several banks and insurance companies.
On May 27, 1823, an estimated crowd of 60,000 gathered at the Union Course on Long Island for the first great intersectional match between Hall of Fame member American Eclipse, owned by Cornelius Van Ranst of New York, and Sir Henry, owned by Lemuel Long of North Carolina. It was winner take all, $20,000 a side, at four-mile heats.
Sir Henry, ridden by John Walden, won the first heat in record time, finishing a length ahead of American Eclipse, ridden by William Crafts. American Eclipse had never lost a heat previously, prompting Van Ranst to summon Purdy from the crowd to take the mount. Purdy had ridden American Eclipse in all the horse’s previous contests, but prior to the match race, Van Ranst decided to go with the younger Crafts.
Purdy, who was 49 years old at the time, accepted the challenge, won the second heat with American Eclipse, and then rode him to victory in the third and deciding heat. Rep. John Randolph, of Roanoke, Virginia, later praised Purdy on the floor of the United States House of Representatives as “the most skillful of jockeys to the latest posterity.”
