Dedicated to improving the quality of the sport in New England, Bayard Tuckerman, Jr. knew thoroughbred racing from more vantage points than virtually any other horseman.
1973
Biography
Dedicated to improving the quality of the sport in New England, Bayard Tuckerman, Jr. knew thoroughbred racing from more vantage points than virtually any other horseman.
Known as the “Dean of New England Racing,” Tuckerman started riding horses at the age of 11 and was competing in steeplechase races as an amateur beginning in 1910.
From 1910 through 1915, Tuckerman, a graduate of Harvard, won or placed in 54 of 100 jump races. In 1927, he rode a horse he owned, Homestead, in the American Grand National at Belmont Park.
In the early 1930s, Tuckerman raced a string of flat runners and jumpers under the name Essex Stable, then established Little Sunswick Farm, which bred 10 added-money winners. One of them was Lavender Hill, the champion handicap mare of 1954, when she won the Arlington Matron, Diana, and Ladies handicaps.
A petitioner for horse racing in Massachusetts, Tuckerman became the first president of Suffolk Downs upon its opening in 1935. He was elected to The Jockey Club in 1953.
Sons of Irish immigrant horsemen, Alfred P. “Paddy” Smithwick and his younger brother, Hall of Fame trainer D. M. “Mikey” Smithwick, became one of the most successful rider-trainer teams in steeplechase history.
1973
Biography
Sons of Irish immigrant horsemen, Alfred P. “Paddy” Smithwick and his younger brother, Hall of Fame trainer D. M. “Mikey” Smithwick, became one of the most successful rider-trainer teams in steeplechase history.
Paddy Smithwick won 398 jump races, second only to Hall of Famer Joe Aitcheson’s total of 440. Smithwick was North America’s leading steeplechase rider in 1950, 1956, 1957, 1958, and 1962. He won nearly every major jump race in America more than once.
Smithwick won the Meadowbrook Handicap and Georgetown Handicap six times each, the Beverwyck Handicap and International Handicap five times each, the Temple Gwathmey four times, and the American Grand National and New York Turf Writers Cup three times each.
Smithwick considered Hall of Famer Neji to be the greatest horse he ever rode. He piloted the three-time champion to two Grand National wins, including the 1958 edition under a record 173 pounds. Smithwick also rode Hall of Famer Bon Nouvel and standout King Commander.
Forced to retire in 1966 because of injuries sustained in a fall, Smithwick turned to training and saddled two stakes winners.
Achievements
North America’s leading steeplechase rider in wins — 1950, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1962
Other Highlights
Won the Temple Gwathmey — 1948, 1952, 1954, 1957
Won the New York Turf Writers Cup — 1951, 1952, 1958
Won the American Grand National — 1957, 1958, 1964
Brought by Fred Hooper from Panama to ride in the United States in 1966 at the age of 19, Laffit Pincay, Jr. developed into one of thoroughbred racing’s most accomplished and revered figures.
1975
Biography
Brought by Fred Hooper from Panama to ride in the United States in 1966 at the age of 19, Laffit Pincay, Jr. developed into one of thoroughbred racing’s most accomplished and revered figures.
Pincay found immediate success in America, winning with eight of his first 11 mounts while riding at Arlington Park. When he retired in the spring of 2003, Pincay owned the all-time record for wins with 9,530 and was the all-time leader in earnings with $237,120,625. He won five Eclipse Awards, led all North American jockeys in earnings seven times, and was the all-time leading rider at Del Mar, Hollywood Park, and Santa Anita.
A powerful rider with great hands, Pincay won the 1984 Kentucky Derby with Swale, three consecutive editions of the Belmont with Conquistador Cielo (1982), Caveat (1983), and Swale (1984), and seven Breeders’ Cup races. He rode many of the greats of his era, including Hall of Fame members Affirmed, Bayakoa, Cougar II, Desert Vixen, Gamely, Genuine Risk, John Henry, and Susan’s Girl.
Pincay’s success in California was enormous. He set records for career wins at Hollywood Park (3,049), Santa Anita (2,860), and Del Mar (1,011). He won a combined for 637 stakes races at the three tracks. Pincay won 16 riding titles at Hollywood Park, 14 at Santa Anita, and five at Del Mar, as well as titles at Saratoga, Arlington, and Hawthorne. He won nine editions of the Hollywood Gold Cup, seven runnings of the Santa Anita Derby, and five renewals of the Santa Anita Handicap.
Achievements
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey — 1971, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1985
North America’s leading rider in earnings — 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1979, 1985
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1984 Kentucky Derby — Swale
Won the 1982 Belmont Stakes — Conquistador Cielo
Won the 1983 Belmont Stakes — Caveat
Won the 1984 Belmont Stakes — Swale
Breeders' Cup Highlights
Won the 1985 Juvenile — Tasso
Won the 1986 Juvenile — Capote
Won the 1986 Classic — Skywalker
Won the 1988 Juvenile — Is It True
Won the 1989 Distaff — Bayakoa
Won the 1990 Distaff — Bayakoa
Won the 1993 Juvenile Fillies — Phone Chatter
Other Highlights
Won the Hollywood Gold Cup — 1970, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1985, 1986, 2001, 2002
Won the Santa Barbara Handicap — 1968, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1993
Won the San Bernardino Handicap — 1967, 1968, 1971, 1974, 1979, 1985, 1989
Won the Santa Anita Derby — 1968, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1985
Won the Los Angeles Handicap — 1968, 1974, 1975, 1980, 1989, 1997
Famous for his driving, come-from-behind finishes, Conn McCreary won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes with Pensive in 1944 and won a second Derby with Count Turf (1951) and a second Preakness with Blue Man (1952).
1975
Biography
Famous for his driving, come-from-behind finishes, Conn McCreary won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes with Pensive in 1944 and won a second Derby with Count Turf (1951) and a second Preakness with Blue Man (1952).
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, the 4-foot-8 McCreary was developed into a jockey by trainer Steve Judge. He began his professional career in 1937 and earned his first win the following year at Arlington Park. At the age of 19, he was the third-leading rider in North America in both wins and earnings.
Several top trainers, including Hall of Famers Ben Jones, Bert Mulholland, Hirsch Jacobs, Horatio Luro, Harry Trotsek, and Woody Stephens, called upon McCreary to ride such top horses as Hall of Famers Twilight Tear, Stymie, and Armed, as well as Sun Again, Stefanita, Platter, Lucky Draw, Paper Tiger, Joe Jones, Princequillo, Miss Grillo, Oil Capitol, Clem, and Marta.
McCreary won the Saratoga Handicap six times, the Diana four times, the Sanford three times, and the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Alabama, Blue Grass, Saratoga Cup, and Acorn twice each. His final major victory was in the 1959 Brooklyn Handicap, defeating Hall of Famer Sword Dancer aboard My Babu.
After retiring from riding with 1,263 wins, McCreary trained stakes winners Irish Rebellion, Mara Lark, and Selari’s Miss.
Achievements
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1944 Kentucky Derby — Pensive
Won the 1951 Kentucky Derby — Count Turf
Won the 1944 Preakness Stakes — Pensive
Won the 1952 Preakness Stakes — Blue Man
Other Highlights
Won the Saratoga Handicap — 1941, 1943, 1945, 1946, 1953, 1956
Won the Diana Handicap — 1946, 1947, 1954, 1956
Won the Sanford Stakes — 1944, 1945, 1954
Won the Alabama Stakes — 1941, 1943
Won the Blue Grass Stakes — 1941, 1949
Won the Saratoga Cup — 1941, 1953
Won the Jockey Club Gold Cup — 1943, 1958
The son and grandson of Panamanian jockeys, Braulio Baeza began his career in his native land at age 15 and won 309 races there in 1959 at the age of 19. The following year, Baeza moved to the United States and quickly became recognized as an elite rider.
1976
Biography
The son and grandson of Panamanian jockeys, Braulio Baeza began his career in his native land at age 15 and won 309 races there in 1959 at the age of 19. The following year, Baeza moved to the United States and quickly became recognized as an elite rider.
Baeza went to Miami in March of 1960 and worked two horses for Fred Hooper, who offered to make Baeza a contract rider. Baeza won on his first mount at Keeneland that year and went on to be the top money-winning rider in North America from 1965 through 1969. He won the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1968 and the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey in 1972 and 1975.
Baeza rode a total of 24 champions during his career, including nine Hall of Famers: Buckpasser, Dr. Fager, Arts and Letters, Susan’s Girl, Ack Ack, Foolish Pleasure, Affectionately, Damascus, and Gallant Bloom.
In 1963, Baeza won the Kentucky Derby aboard Chateaugay, and he won the Belmont in 1961 (Sherluck), 1963 (Chateaugay), and 1969 (Arts and Letters). His 1969 Belmont win denied Majestic Prince’s bid for the Triple Crown.
In 1972, Baeza was aboard Roberto when he dealt Brigadier Gerard his only career defeat at York Racecourse in England. Other major wins for Baeza included five editions of the Hopeful Stakes and Champagne Stakes; four runnings of the Travers, Woodward, and Saratoga Special; and three renewals of the Blue Grass, Jockey Club Gold Cup, and Suburban.
Baeza won 3,140 races in the United States and 873 in Panama for a lifetime total of 4,013. He retired during the Saratoga meet in 1976 because making weight became too difficult.
Braulio Baeza was inducted into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in 1976.
Achievements
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey — 1972, 1975
North America's leading rider in earnings — 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1975
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1963 Kentucky Derby — Chateaugay
Won the 1961 Belmont Stakes — Sherluck
Won the 1963 Belmont Stakes — Chateaugay
Won the 1969 Belmont Stakes — Arts and Letters
Other Highlights
Won the Hopeful Stakes — 1964, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1974
Won the Champagne Stakes — 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1975
Won the Saratoga Special Stakes — 1963, 1965, 1967, 1968
Won the Woodward Stakes — 1965, 1966, 1969, 1972
Won the Travers Stakes — 1966, 1969, 1972, 1975
Won the Blue Grass Stakes — 1961, 1963, 1976
Won the Jockey Club Gold Cup — 1965, 1966, 1969
Won the Suburban Handicap — 1967, 1968, 1973
The leading rider in North America in 1893 and 1894, Willie Simms won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes twice each and the Preakness once.
1977
Biography
The leading rider in North America in 1893 and 1894, Willie Simms won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes twice each and the Preakness once.
Born in Augusta, Georgia, in 1870, Simms began riding at East Coast tracks in 1887. He rode for many of the most prominent owners, including Hall of Fame members August Belmont I and James R. Keene, as well as Mike and Phil Dwyer, Richard Coker, and Pierre Lorillard.
Simms won 182 races in 1893 and 228 from 688 mounts (33.1 percent) in 1894. He won consecutive editions of the Belmont in those years with Comanche and Hall of Fame member Henry of Navarre, respectively. He won the Derby in 1896 on Hall of Famer Ben Brush and 1898 with Plaudit. In 1898, he also won the Preakness with Sly Fox.
Simms won many of the most prestigious races of his era, including the Suburban Handicap, Champagne Stakes, and Jerome Handicap. He won the Second Special four times; the Tidal Stakes and First Special three times each; and the Withers Stakes, Lawrence Realization, Brooklyn Derby, Spinaway Stakes, and Brighton Handicap twice each.
Based on available records, Simms won 1,173 races from 4,701 mounts (24.9 percent). He also rode briefly in England, where he is credited with introducing the American style of riding with short stirrups, later popularized by Hall of Famers Tod Sloan, Johnny Reiff, and Danny Maher.
Achievements
North America's leading rider in wins — 1893, 1894
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1896 Kentucky Derby — Ben Brush
Won the 1898 Kentucky Derby — Plaudit
Won the 1898 Preakness Stakes — Sly Fox
Won the 1893 Belmont Stakes — Comanche
Won the 1894 Belmont Stakes — Henry of Navarre
One of the first Latin jockeys to enjoy success in America, Manny Ycaza was one of racing’s great trailblazers. A favorite of railbirds, a scourge of race stewards, and an inspiration to great Panamanian jockeys such as Braulio Baeza, Laffit Pincay, Jr., Jorge Velasquez, and Jacinto Vasquez who followed his path to compete in the United States, Ycaza was a fiery competitor on the track and a gentleman in his personal life.
1977
Biography
One of the first Latin jockeys to enjoy success in America, Manny Ycaza was one of racing’s great trailblazers. A favorite of railbirds, a scourge of race stewards, and an inspiration to great Panamanian jockeys such as Braulio Baeza, Laffit Pincay, Jr., Jorge Velasquez, and Jacinto Vasquez who followed his path to compete in the United States, Ycaza was a fiery competitor on the track and a gentleman in his personal life.
The son of a bus driver, Ycaza began riding ponies at the age of 6 and was riding professionally in Panama at age 14. He then spent some time competing in Mexico before coming to the United States in 1956. Riding for the famous Cain Hoy Stable, Ycaza won the 1959 D.C. International aboard Bald Eagle, then came back with the same horse the following year to become the only back-to-back winner in the history of the prestigious race.
Hired by prominent Canadian owner/breeder E. P. Taylor to ride for his Windfields Farm in the 1963 Queen’s Plate, Ycaza won Canada’s most prestigious race aboard the colt Canebora. A year later, he rode Quadrangle to victory in the 1964 Belmont Stakes to thwart the Triple Crown bid of Northern Dancer. In 1968, Ycaza rode Dark Mirage to the first ever Filly Triple Crown, winning the Acorn Stakes, Mother Goose Stakes, and the Coaching Club American Oaks.
Fearless and aggressive — sometimes to a fault — Ycaza was among the most penalized riders of his era. In a 1962 feature on “the Latin invasion” in horse racing, Sports Illustrated reported that “in the last six years stewards have suspended him for fouls for more than one full year (376 racing days).”
Major wins for Ycaza include the Travers Stakes (twice), American Derby, Jerome Handicap, Kentucky Oaks (four times), Suburban Handicap (twice), Withers Stakes (twice), Alabama Stakes, Arlington Handicap, Aqueduct Handicap, Bernard Baruch (three times), Metropolitan Handicap, Champagne Stakes (three times), Belmont Futurity (twice), Saratoga Special (twice), Blue Grass Stakes, Florida Derby, Tremont Stakes (twice), Beldame Stakes, Hopeful Stakes, Santa Anita Oaks, Dwyer Stakes, Man o’ War Stakes, Strub Stakes, Diana Handicap, Brooklyn Handicap, and Sanford Stakes, among others.
Ycaza spent much of his career in New York, finding particular success at Saratoga Race Course, where he won 41 races in 1959, breaking the single-meet record that had stood for 38 years.
Ycaza, who won the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1964, went down in a spill at Hialeah Park in Florida in 1970, which him to retire the following year. Around that time, he received a call from Brig. Gen. Omar Torrijos Herrera, Panama’s dictatorial leader, to serve as consul general in New York City. Ycaza held the position for about a year.
In 1977, Ycaza became the first Latin rider inducted into the Hall of Fame. He came back to ride in 1983 but retired shortly thereafter for good with 2,367 wins and earnings of $19,936,276.
Achievements
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1964 Belmont Stakes — Quadrangle
Other Highlights
Won the Kentucky Oaks — 1959, 1960, 1963, 1968
Won the Washington D.C., International — 1959, 1960, 1967
Won the Champagne Stakes — 1961, 1962, 1968
Won the Travers Stakes — 1959, 1964
An instant star in the irons, Ivan Parke was North America’s leading rider as an apprentice in 1923, winning 173 races from 718 mounts. With seven-race cards at Latonia in Kentucky, he once won 10 races in two days. In 1924, he again led in races won, 205 from 844 mounts, while also topping the leaderboard in purse earnings with $290,395 while under contract with Hall of Fame member Harry Payne Whitney.
1978
Biography
An instant star in the irons, Ivan Parke was North America’s leading rider as an apprentice in 1923, winning 173 races from 718 mounts. With seven-race cards at Latonia in Kentucky, he once won 10 races in two days. In 1924, he again led in races won, 205 from 844 mounts, while also topping the leaderboard in purse earnings with $290,395 while under contract with Hall of Fame member Harry Payne Whitney.
Among Parke’s most notable victories was the inaugural Wood Memorial Stakes aboard Backbone in1925. He also rode the winner in the first race ever at Hialeah in 1923. Parke won the Ashford Oaks, Bowie Handicap, Breeders’ Futurity, Capitol Handicap, Pimlico Cup Handicap, Thanksgiving Handicap, and Washington Handicap, among others.
Increasing weight forced Parke to retire in his third season at the age of 19. He returned briefly as a steeplechase rider for Greentree Stable in 1930 and 1931, winning nine races over jumps from 43 mounts. Overall, Parke won 419 races as a jockey.
One of five brothers from Idaho who became successful in the sport, Parke transitioned to a training career in 1935. He went on to saddle 27 stakes winners, including Hoop Jr., with whom he won the 1945 Kentucky Derby. Parke also bred and trained top sprinter Olympia, winner of the 1949 Wood Memorial, and conditioned champion 2-year-old Jewel’s Reward for Elizabeth Arden Graham’s Maine Chance Farm.
Achievements
North America's leading rider in earnings — 1923, 1924
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1945 Kentucky Derby (trainer) — Hoop Jr.
Winner of the 1973 Triple Crown aboard Meadow Stable’s Hall of Famer Secretariat, Ron Turcotte rode the two-time Horse of the Year to all but one of his stakes wins. Secretariat’s other victories with Turcotte aboard included the Sanford, Hopeful, Belmont Futurity, Laurel Futurity, Garden State, Bay Shore, Gotham, Arlington Invitational, Marlboro Cup, and Man o’ War. Turcotte was also the primary rider for Meadow Stable champion and Hall of Fame member Riva Ridge, winning the 1972 Kentucky Derby and Belmont with him.
1979
Biography
Winner of the 1973 Triple Crown aboard Meadow Stable’s Hall of Famer Secretariat, Ron Turcotte rode the two-time Horse of the Year to all but one of his stakes wins. Secretariat’s other victories with Turcotte aboard included the Sanford, Hopeful, Belmont Futurity, Laurel Futurity, Garden State, Bay Shore, Gotham, Arlington Invitational, Marlboro Cup, and Man o’ War. Turcotte was also the primary rider for Meadow Stable champion and Hall of Fame member Riva Ridge, winning the 1972 Kentucky Derby and Belmont with him.
Born in Canada in 1941, Turcotte dropped out of school at age 14 to help support his family by working as a lumberjack. He eventually made his way to the racetrack, beginning his association with the sport in Toronto as a hot walker for E. P. Taylor’s Windfields Farm in 1959.
Turcotte piloted his first winner at Fort Erie in 1962 and went on to ride Hall of Famers Damascus, Northern Dancer, Fort Marcy, Arts and Letters, Shuvee, Dahlia, and Dark Mirage in addition to the Meadow standouts. He won his first Triple Crown race with Tom Rolfe in the 1965 Preakness.
When Turcotte won the 1973 Derby with Secretariat, he became the first jockey since Jimmy Winkfield in 1902 to win back-to-back runnings of the race. Turcotte was North America’s leading stakes-winning jockey in 1972 and 1973. He was honored with the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1973.
Other major races won by Turcotte include the Canadian International Stakes (twice), Kentucky Oaks, Suburban Handicap, Bernard Baruch Handicap, Tremont Stakes, Beldame Stakes, Diana Handicap (three times), Hawthorne Gold Cup (twice), Jockey Club Gold Cup, Withers Stakes, Alabama Stakes, Flash Stakes, Belmont Futurity (twice), Champagne Stakes, Gotham Stakes (twice), Laurel Futurity (twice), Blue Grass Stakes, Coaching Club American Oaks, Florida Derby, Hopeful Stakes, Hollywood Derby, Manhattan Handicap, Sanford Stakes, Wood Memorial, Brooklyn Handicap, Man o’ War Stakes (twice), Matron Stakes, Travers Stakes, Dwyer Stakes, Santa Anita Handicap, and Schuylerville Stakes, among others.
Overall, Turcotte won 3,032 races during his 18-year career.
Achievements
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1972 Kentucky Derby — Riva Ridge
Won the 1973 Kentucky Derby — Secretariat
Won the 1965 Preakness Stakes — Tom Rolfe
Won the 1973 Preakness Stakes — Secretariat
Won the 1972 Belmont Stakes — Riva Ridge
Won the 1973 Belmont Stakes — Secretariat
Robert Nelson “Bobby” Ussery got his career off to a fast start by winning with his first mount, Reticule, in the 1951 Thanksgiving Day Handicap at Fair Grounds. By the end of the decade, Ussery had several major victories, including the Travers Stakes, Whitney Handicap, Alabama Stakes, and the Queen’s Plate to his credit.
1980
Biography
Robert Nelson “Bobby” Ussery got his career off to a fast start by winning with his first mount, Reticule, in the 1951 Thanksgiving Day Handicap at Fair Grounds. By the end of the decade, Ussery had several major victories, including the Travers Stakes, Whitney Handicap, Alabama Stakes, and the Queen’s Plate to his credit.
Ussery was a top rider in Florida throughout the 1950s, then moved to New York, where in 1959 he rode a record 215 winners. In 1960, Ussery was the top North American rider in stakes purses won. He rode juvenile champion colt Hail to Reason that year and won the Preakness, Flamingo, and Florida Derby on Bally Ache.
Ussery ranked among the top 10 North American riders in earnings nine times during his career and was among the top 10 in wins six times. In 1967, he won the Kentucky Derby aboard Proud Clarion. Ussery also crossed the finish line first in the 1968 Derby, but his mount, Dancer’s Image, was later disqualified.
Notable wins for Ussery included the Manhattan Handicap, Whitney Handicap, Alabama Stakes, Travers Stakes, Hopeful Stakes, Mother Goose Stakes, Coaching Club American Oaks, Brooklyn Handicap (twice), Wood Memorial (twice), Saratoga Special, Carter Handicap, Canadian International, and Queen’s Plate, among others.
Ussery became the 10th North American rider to surpass 3,000 career wins and ranked fifth all time in earnings at the time of his retirement in 1974.
Achievements
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1967 Kentucky Derby — Proud Clarion
Won the 1960 Preakness Stakes — Bally Ache
Other Highlights
Won the Brooklyn Handicap — 1963, 1971
Won the Wood Memorial Stakes — 1965, 1968
Won the Whitney Handicap — 1957
Won the Alabama Stakes — 1958
Won the Travers Stakes — 1958
Won the Queen's Plate — 1959
