Jimmy Winkfield became only the second jockey to win consecutive editions of the Kentucky Derby, achieving the feat with His Eminence in 1901 and Alan-a-Dale in 1902.
2004
Biography
Jimmy Winkfield became only the second jockey to win consecutive editions of the Kentucky Derby, achieving the feat with His Eminence in 1901 and Alan-a-Dale in 1902.
Born in Chilesburg, Kentucky, in 1882, Winkfield won 161 races in 1901, including the Clark Handicap, Latonia Derby, and Tennessee Derby. In 1904, Winkfield was one of several American jockeys who went abroad to race. During the next 12 years, he became Russia’s champion jockey three times, won the Russian Derby four times, the Russian Oaks five times, the Czar’s Prize three times, and the Warsaw Derby twice. He also rode successfully in Germany.
During the Russian Revolution in 1917, Winkfield helped the racetrack community and 200 horses escape from Odessa on a 1,000-mile journey.
Winkfield later rode in France, where he won the Prix President de la Republic, Grand Prix of Deauville, and Prix Eugene Adam, among others.
When he retired from riding at age 50, records indicated Winkfield had won more than 2,500 races in various countries in a career of more than 30 years. He became a successful trainer in France until war again forced him to flee.
Winkfield briefly trained in the United States before returning to France after World War II. He died at Maisons-Laffitte, near Paris, in 1974.
The United States House of Representatives passed a resolution to honor Winkfield in 2005 and the New York Racing Association named a race in his honor that runs each year at Aqueduct.
Achievements
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1901 Kentucky Derby — His Eminence
Won the 1902 Kentucky Derby — Alan-a-Dale
Other Highlights
Won the Clark Handicap — 1901
Won the Latonia Derby — 1901
Won the New Orleans Derby — 1901
Won the Tennessee Derby — 1901
Thomas M. “Tommy” Walsh was only 15 when he began his riding career in 1956. Born in 1940 in Great Neck, New York, Walsh learned the sport at his father’s riding academy and spent winter holidays at the training center of his uncle, Hall of Fame trainer Michael G. “Mickey” Walsh.
2005
Biography
Thomas M. “Tommy” Walsh was only 15 when he began his riding career in 1956. Born in 1940 in Great Neck, New York, Walsh learned the sport at his father’s riding academy and spent winter holidays at the training center of his uncle, Hall of Fame trainer Michael G. “Mickey” Walsh.
Walsh ranked second in the steeplechase division in wins in 1957 and 1958 and topped the ranks with 31 wins in 1960. He also led all steeplechase riders with 39 victories in 1966. Consistently at the top of his sport, Walsh was either first or second in the standings seven times during his 12-year career.
Walsh partnered with three horses voted steeplechase champion: Bluff, Hall of Famer Bon Nouvel, and Mako. Walsh won the American Grand National five consecutive times and in six of seven years from 1959 through 1965, winning the race with Sun Dog (twice), Independence, Barnaby’s Bluff, Tuscarora, and Mako.
When Walsh won the Temple Gwathmey in 1965 with Bon Nouvel, under 170 pounds, it was one of the rider’s three victories in the event, which then was the culmination of the jumping season. Bon Nouvel romped by 30 lengths in setting a course record at Aqueduct.
Walsh also won the Saratoga Steeplechase Handicap three times, the Harbor Hill Handicap three times, and the New York Turf Writers Cup twice. Other major wins came in the Lovely Night Handicap (twice), Meadowbrook Handicap, Carolina Cup, and New Jersey Hunt Cup.
Overall, Walsh won 271 races, including 253 steeplechase events. He is one of only five riders with more than 250 steeplechase wins.
Walsh became a trainer after his riding career, winning 178 races with purse earnings of $4,464,125 in that capacity. He trained three graded stakes winners. Walsh died in 2019 at the age of 79.
Achievements
North America's leading steeplechase rider in wins — 1960, 1966
Other Highlights
Won the American Grand National Steeplechase — 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965
Won the Saratoga Steeplechase Handicap — 1959, 1963, 1966
Won the Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase — 1962, 1965, 1967
Won the New York Turf Writers Cup — 1959, 1964
Texas native Bill Boland became a riding sensation at the age of 16 when he won the 1950 Kentucky Derby aboard Middleground while still an apprentice. A day earlier, Boland won the Kentucky Oaks on Ari’s Mona. He also won the Belmont Stakes that year with Middleground and again in 1966 on Amberoid.
2006
Biography
Texas native Bill Boland became a riding sensation at the age of 16 when he won the 1950 Kentucky Derby aboard Middleground while still an apprentice rider. A day earlier, Boland won the Kentucky Oaks on Ari’s Mona. He also won the Belmont Stakes that year with Middleground and again in 1966 on Amberoid.
Boland was a contract rider for King Ranch and won numerous major races, including the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Whitney Handicap, Massachusetts Handicap (twice), Diana Handicap, Arlington Handicap, Hawthorne Gold Cup (three times), Acorn Stakes, Alabama Stakes, Metropolitan Handicap, San Antonio Handicap, Spinaway Stakes (twice), Dwyer Handicap, Santa Anita Oaks, Man o’ War (twice), Santa Anita Handicap, Suburban Handicap, Wood Memorial, and Woodbine Oaks, among others.
The 1959 recipient of the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, Boland rode Beau Purple to three victories over five-time Horse of the Year and Hall of Famer Kelso in 1962 and 1963. Boland also got the best of Hall of Famer Nashua twice, defeating him with High Gun in the Sysonby Stakes and with Midafternoon in the Metropolitan Mile.
Boland, who later spent some time as a trainer, finished his riding career with 2,049 victories and purse earnings of $14,856,095.
Achievements
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1950 Kentucky Derby — Middleground
Won the 1950 Belmont Stakes — Middleground
Won the 1966 Belmont Stakes — Amberoid
Other Highlights
Won the Hawthorne Gold Cup — 1952, 1956, 1962
Won the Massachusetts Handicap — 1952, 1956
Won the Man o' War Stakes — 1959, 1962
Won the Kentucky Oaks — 1950
Jose Santos had already been North America’s leading rider in earnings four consecutive years (1986 through 1989) when he reached another career milestone by winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes with champion Funny Cide in 2003. His earnings in 1988 of $14,856,214 were a record at the time and led to Santos winning the Eclipse Award.
2007
Biography
Jose Santos had already been North America’s leading rider in earnings four consecutive years (1986 through 1989) when he reached another career milestone by winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes with champion Funny Cide in 2003. His earnings in 1988 of $14,856,214 were a record at the time and led to Santos winning the Eclipse Award.
Santos also led all New York riders in wins three consecutive years and snapped Hall of Famer Angel Cordero’s streak of 11 consecutive riding titles at Saratoga.
A native of Concepcion, Chile, Santos rode in his native country and Columbia before moving to Florida in 1984. At the time of his retirement in 2007, Santos had won 327 graded stakes and 617 overall stakes.
In addition to Funny Cide, Santos was the regular or frequent rider of standouts such as Hall of Famer Manila and champions Meadow Star, Criminal Type, Chief Bearhart, Fleet Indian, Fly So Free, and Rubiano.
Santos won seven Breeders’ Cup races, including the 2002 Classic aboard Volponi at odds of 43-1. He also won the 1999 Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes with Lemon Drop Kid. Santos retired with 4,083 wins and purse earnings of $187,246,727.
Achievements
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey — 1988
North America's leading rider in wins — 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 2003 Kentucky Derby — Funny Cide
Won the 2003 Preakness Stakes Funny Cide
Won the 1999 Belmont Stakes — Lemon Drop KId
Breeders' Cup Highlights
Won the 1986 Turf — Manila
Won the 1987 Juvenile — Success Express
Won the 1989 Mile — Steinlen
Won the 1990 Juvenile — Fly So Free
Won the 1990 Juvenile Fillies — Meadow Star
Won the 1997 Turf — Chief Bearhart
Won the 2002 Classic — Volponi
Ismael “Milo” Valenzuela was born in McNary, Texas, in 1934, the third of 22 children in his family. He was competing in match races before his 10th birthday and won his first official race on April 8, 1951, at Rillito Park in Arizona.
2008
Biography
Ismael “Milo” Valenzuela was born in McNary, Texas, in 1934, the third of 22 children in his family. He was competing in match races before his 10th birthday and won his first official race on April 8, 1951, at Rillito Park in Arizona.
Within a period of a half-dozen years, Valenzuela received two major opportunities to take over as the rider of star horses, and in both cases he came through victoriously. In the spring of 1958, Valenzuela was chosen to ride Calumet Farm’s Kentucky Derby contender Tim Tam when the regular rider was injured a week before the race. Valenzuela won not only the Derby, but also the Preakness on the future Hall of Famer.
Then, in 1962, Valenzuela was tapped by Hall of Fame trainer Carl Hanford to ride two-time Horse of the Year Kelso. With Valenzuela aboard, Kelso lengthened his reign to an unprecedented five consecutive Horse of the Year titles en route to the Hall of Fame. Valenzuela won 19 stakes on the great gelding, including three Jockey Club Gold Cups.
In 1968, Valenzuela teamed with Calumet again to win both the Derby and Preakness a second time, on Forward Pass.
Along with his four victories in Triple Crown races and three wins in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Valenzuela won the Woodward Stakes three times, the Whitney Handicap, San Juan Capistrano Handicap, and San Gabriel Handicap twice each, and single editions of the Coaching Club American Oaks, San Antonio Handicap, Brooklyn Handicap, Toboggan Handicap, Canadian International Stakes, Blue Grass Stakes, and Santa Anita Derby.
Valenzuela won 2,545 races in his career and had purse earnings totaling $20,122,760. He won the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1963.
Achievements
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1958 Kentucky Derby — Tim Tam
Won the 1968 Kentucky Derby — Forward Pass
Won the 1958 Preakness Stakes — Tim Tam
Won the 1968 Preakness Stakes — Forward Pass
Other Highlights
Won the Woodward Stakes — 1956, 1962, 1963
Won the Jockey Club Gold Cup — 1962, 1963, 1964
Won the San Juan Capistrano Handicap — 1958, 1963
Won the San Gabriel Handicap — 1962, 1963
Won the Whitney Handicap — 1963, 1965
Edgar Prado was born into a racing family in Lima, Peru in 1967. His father was an exercise rider and some of his brothers became jockeys and trainers. After graduating from jockey school, Prado rode his first winner in Peru in 1983 and was the leading rider there before moving to the United States in 1986.
2008
Biography
Edgar Prado was born into a racing family in Lima, Peru in 1967. His father was an exercise rider and some of his brothers became jockeys and trainers. After graduating from jockey school, Prado rode his first winner in Peru in 1983 and was the leading rider there before moving to the United States in 1986.
When he arrived in America, Prado first rode in Florida and then Massachusetts before settling in Maryland, where he was the state’s leading jockey six times (1991 through 1993 and 1997 through 1999).
A racing accident that sent jockey Richard Migliore to the hospital in 1999 enabled Prado to establish his credentials as a world-class rider. When Migliore was injured in a spill at Belmont Park that spring, trainer John Kimmel secured Prado’s services as Migliore’s replacement in New York. At Saratoga that summer, Prado finished second in the jockey standings, making it clear he had the talent to rank among the sport’s elite.
Prado was the nation’s leading rider in victories three times (1997, 1998, 1999) and in 1997 became only the fourth jockey ever to win as many as 500 races in one year (535).
Among Prado’s achievements are a victory in the Kentucky Derby, two wins in the Belmont Stakes, five Breeders’ Cup wins and career earnings of more than $272 million. He rode Barbaro, Sarava, Birdstone, Round Pond, Silver Train, Folklore, Lemon Drop Kid, Saint Liam, Lost in the Fog, Runhappy, and Funny Cide, among others. He is also the author of “My Guy Barbaro,” a memoir about his relationship with the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner.
Both of Prado’s victories in the Belmont Stakes denied a Triple Crown bid. In 2002, he guided Sarava to victory at 70-1 odds, denying War Emblem the Triple Crown. Two years later, Prado thwarted the Triple Crown hopes of Smarty Jones when he won the Belmont with 36-1 Birdstone.
Prado won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey in 2006, the same year he won the Mike Venezia Memorial Award. He also won the Fourstardave Award for Special Achievement at Saratoga in 2002 and 2005. Prado won the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 2003. He won 11 riding titles in New York.
Prado announced his retirement in June 2023. At the time he ranked No. 8 all time 7,119 wins and No. 9 with purse earnings of $272,008,849. He concluded his 37-year career with 759 stakes wins, including 343 graded events.
Achievements
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey — 2006
North America's leading rider in wins — 1997, 1998, 1999
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 2006 Kentucky Derby — Barbaro
Won the 2002 Belmont Stakes — Sarava
Won the 2004 Belmont Stakes — Birdstone
Breeders' Cup Highlights
Won the 2005 Sprint — Silver Train
Won the 2005 Juvenile Fillies — Folklore
Won the 2006 Distaff — Round Pond
Won the 2010 Filly and Mare Turf — Shared Account
Won the 2015 Sprint — Runhappy
Jockey Profile | Edgar S. Prado | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information
Ohio native Eddie Maple started riding horses at age 12 and won his first thoroughbred race at 17 aboard Swami in 1966 at Charles Town. He began his career in his home state and West Virginia, then moved on to New Jersey before establishing himself in New York in 1971.
2009
Biography
Ohio native Eddie Maple started riding horses at age 12 and won his first thoroughbred race at 17 aboard Swami in 1966 at Charles Town. He began his career in his home state and West Virginia, then moved on to New Jersey before establishing himself in New York in 1971.
Maple won the Belmont Stakes twice, rode to three upset victories of Forego on different horses, and piloted Secretariat to victory in the last race of that champion’s career. In statistics since 1976, he had 217 graded stakes winners and 363 wins in all stakes. He led jockey standings for meetings at Saratoga and Aqueduct.
Maple rode many horses for Hall of Famer Woody Stephens, including Horse of the Year Conquistador Cielo, on whom he scored in one of the three Metropolitan Handicaps the rider won. He also won the Belmont Stakes for Stephens on Crème Fraiche, having won the classic as well on Temperence Hill. Maple’s three wins over Forego came in the Metropolitan on Arbees Boy and two Suburban Handicaps on Foolish Pleasure and Quiet Little Table. Maple was aboard Secretariat for his victory in the 1973 Canadian International.
In 1983, Maple won the Champagne, Futurity, and others, on 2-year-old stablemates Devil’s Bag and Swale for Stephens, and four years later was regular rider of 2-year-old champion Forty Niner for Stephens.
Maple’s other major winning mounts included Sabin, Awad, De La Rose, Optimistic Gal, Miss Oceana, Alydar, Dehere, Sky Beauty, Missy’s Mirage, Yonder, Nastique, Gone West, Conquistarose, Cox’s Ridge, I’m Sweets, Carr de Naskra, Optimistic Gal, Stephan’s Odyssey, Herat, White Star Line, Script Ohio, Miss Oceana, Eastern Fleet, Number, Caveat, Willow Hour, Believe It, Mrs. Warren, Slew o’ Gold, Majesty’s Prince, Icecapade, and For the Moment.
In 1991, Maple moved to Italy, where he won that country’s One Thousand Guineas on Arranva.
In addition to multiple victories in the Belmont, Suburban, and Met Mile, Maple won the Saranac Handicap seven times, the Hempstead and the Saratoga Special five times each, the Dwyer, Carter, and Remsen four times each and the Futurity, Super Derby, Breeders’ Futurity, Manhattan, and Delaware Handicap three times each. Maple had back-to-back wins in the Travers Stakes and also two victories in the Alabama, Champagne, Wood Memorial, Ladies, Canadian International, Oaklawn Handicap, Arlington-Washington Lassie and Matron.
Other races he won included the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Arlington Million, Apple Blossom, Florida Derby, Young America, Withers, Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, Hollywood Futurity, Hollywood Derby, Sword Dancer, Matchmaker, Louisiana Downs Handicap, Black Helen, Man o’ War, Monmouth Oaks, and Hopeful.
Maple was voted the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award for 1995 and the Mike Venezia Memorial Award in 1998.
Achievements
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1980 Belmont Stakes — Temperence Hill
Won the 1985 Belmont Stakes — Crème Fraiche
Other Highlights
Won the Saranac Handicap — 1972, 1975, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1992
Won the Saratoga Special — 1971, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1993
Won the Metropolitan Handicap — 1974, 1978, 1982
Won the Manhattan Handicap — 1975, 1980, 1995
Won the Travers Stakes — 1980, 1981
Don Pierce rose from humble racing roots to become one of the big money riders of the 1960s and 1970s. A native of Clebit, Oklahoma, Pierce began his career with a victory at New Mexico’s Ruidoso Downs in 1954 and went on to become one of the most accomplished jockeys on the Southern California circuit. Furthermore, he enjoyed success at numerous tracks throughout the United States and internationally.
2010
Biography
Don Pierce rose from humble racing roots to become one of the big money riders of the 1960s and 1970s. A native of Clebit, Oklahoma, Pierce began his career with a victory at New Mexico’s Ruidoso Downs in 1954 and went on to become one of the most accomplished jockeys on the Southern California circuit. Furthermore, he enjoyed success at numerous tracks throughout the United States and internationally.
Pierce rode for such elite trainers as Mesh Tenney, William Molter, Charlie Whittingham, and Robert Wheeler. In 1973, he led all North American jockeys with 32 stakes wins. Pierce was a force in Southern California, winning the state’s signature race for older horses, the Santa Anita Handicap, four times. Pierce also won five consecutive runnings of the Los Angeles Handicap (1969 through 1973) as well as five runnings of the Santa Anita Oaks. He won the Del Mar Debutante and Hollywood Oaks four times each and the Del Mar Derby, Del Mar Oaks, Santa Monica Handicap, Santa Ana Handicap, and Santa Margarita Handicap three times apiece.
Pierce also enjoyed plenty of success in New York. He won a riding title at Belmont Park and captured several of Saratoga’s most prestigious races, including the Hopeful and Jim Dandy.
Among Pierce’s top mounts were Flying Paster, Hill Rise, Quack, Taisez Vous, La Zanzara, Triple Bend, Kennedy Road, Modus Vivendi, Forceten, Minstrel Miss, and Princessnessian, with whom he defeated males in the 1968 Hollywood Gold Cup to cap a five-winner day.
Pierce was presented the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1967. After 30 years in the saddle, Pierce retired with 3,546 wins — 351 of them stakes — from 28,740 mounts, with purse earnings of $39,018,422.
Achievements
Won the Santa Anita Oaks — 1960, 1965, 1966, 1970, 1983
Won the Hollywood Oaks — 1966, 1969, 1973, 1978, 1980
Won the Los Angeles Handicap — 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973
Won the Santa Anita Handicap — 1960, 1962, 1965, 1972
Won the Santa Anita Derby — 1964, 1979
Competing in the ancient era when African-American jockeys ruled the sport of thoroughbred racing during the late 19th century, Shelby “Pike” Barnes was widely recognized by turf experts to be among the elite in his profession.
2011
Biography
Competing in the ancient era when African-American jockeys ruled the sport of thoroughbred racing during the late 19th century, Shelby “Pike” Barnes was widely recognized by turf experts to be among the elite in his profession.
Born in Beaver Dam, Kentucky, in 1871, Barnes became a star as a teenager. In 1888, he led all North American riders with 206 wins, becoming the first jockey to top 200 wins in a year. His 1888 campaign is even more remarkable considering his closest pursuer, George Covington, rode just 95 winners. Adding further context to Barnes’ exceptional year were the comparative win totals of future Hall of Fame jockeys Jimmy McLaughlin (72), Edward “Snapper” Garrison (71), and Isaac Murphy (37). Barnes also had the highest win percentage that year, booting home the winner on 32.9 percent of his mounts.
Barnes secured his status as an elite rider with his star-making performance in the inaugural Futurity Stakes in 1888. Staged by the Coney Island Jockey Club at Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn, New York, the Futurity was the richest sporting event to date in America, paying an unheard-of $41,675. Aboard the favorite Proctor Knott, Barnes battled Hall of Famer Salvator and Hall of Fame jockey Anthony Hamilton in the six-furlong sprint for 2-year-olds. Barnes and Proctor Knott dug in during the stretch and secured a half-length victory in one of the most notable races of the 19thcentury.
Barnes repeated as North America’s leading jockey in 1889 with 170 wins (25.7 percent) from 661 mounts. That year, Barnes won the Travers Stakes aboard Long Dance and the Champagne Stakes with June Day.
In 1890, Barnes piloted Burlington to victories in the Belmont Stakes and the Brooklyn Derby. That summer, he also captured the Alabama Stakes with champion Sinaloa II. He added another major score in 1891 when he rode the standout Tenny to victory in the Brooklyn Derby.
Barnes rode for several of the top owners of his day, including James Ben Ali Haggin, Marcus Daly, and Elias J. “Lucky” Baldwin. Other major victories for Barnes included the First Special (1891), Flash Stakes (1888), Great Western Stakes (1888), Hyde Park Stakes (1888), Latonia Derby (1888), Latonia Oaks (1889), Kenner Stakes (1889), Second Special (1890), Sheridan Stakes (1890), St. Leger Stakes (1888), and the United States Hotel Stakes (1890).
Barnes began to fade from the scene after 1891 and died at age 37 in Columbus, Ohio, in 1908. In a letter to the National Museum of Racing, historian Fred Burlew ranked Barnes as one of the top five African-American jockeys in the history of the sport.
Achievements
North America's leading rider in wins — 1888, 1889
Triple Crown Highlights
Won the 1890 Belmont Stakes — Burlington
Other Highlights
First jockey to win 200 races in a year — 1889
Won the Brooklyn Derby — 1890, 1891
Won the Futurity Stakes — 1888
Won the Travers Stakes — 1889
Won the Alabama Stakes — 1890
Born in 1866 in Charleston, South Carolina, Anthony Hamilton was only 15 when he began to make his mark as a jockey. Known as “The Black Demon,” Hamilton was a natural in the irons, a complete rider with a rare balance of strength and finesse, as well as the innate ability of knowing when to be aggressive and when to be patient throughout the course of a race.
2012
Biography
Born in 1866 in Charleston, South Carolina, Anthony Hamilton was only 15 when he began to make his mark as a jockey. Known as “The Black Demon,” Hamilton was a natural in the irons, a complete rider with a rare balance of strength and finesse, as well as the innate ability of knowing when to be aggressive and when to be patient throughout the course of a race.
Hamilton’s first notable victory was in 1881 when he piloted Sligo to victory in the Phoenix Handicap. Throughout the next 15 years, Hamilton won many of the most prestigious races in America, including all three of the major New York handicaps — the Brooklyn twice, as well as the Suburban and Manhattan. Hamilton is the only black rider to win all three of New York’s major handicaps.
In 1890, Hamilton won the third edition of the Futurity with the champion Potomac. The race was the richest event to date on the American turf with a purse of $67,675. Hamilton enjoyed a remarkable year in 1890, leading all riders in win percentage at 31.2. The following year, Hamilton increased his win percentage to a staggering 33.8 and had 154 victories, which ranked second in the national standings.
Hamilton’s success in the major American races of his era was phenomenal. His prominent victories included the 1887 American Derby, back-to-back editions of the Monmouth Oaks in 1889 and 1890, the inaugural Gazelle Handicap in 1887, as well as the 1890 Gazelle, the 1891 Lawrence Realization Stakes, the 1888 St. Louis Derby, the inaugural Toboggan Handicap in 1890, the Monmouth Handicap in 1889 and 1892, the 1886 Nursery Stakes, the 1892 Great Trial Stakes, and five runnings of the Twin City Handicap, among others.
Many of the top owners in the sport sought out the services of Hamilton. He rode in the colors of Pierre Lorillard, Billy Lakeland, Mike Dwyer, J. R. Keene, and the Belmont family. Hamilton’s most famous mounts included Hall of Famers Firenze and Salvator, as well as the retrospective champions Potomac and Lamplighter.
Following his outstanding career in America, Hamilton enjoyed considerable success riding overseas. He won the Metropolitan Stakes of Vienna, Austria, and the Karoli Memorial in Budapest, Hungary, as well as the Ruler Stakes, the first leg of the Polish Triple Crown. Hamilton briefly rode in Russia during 1904, but his career came to an end there when he was thrown from a horse.
Hamilton then moved to France, where he died in 1904. Racing historian Fred Burlew, the son of a Hall of Fame trainer, ranked Hamilton third on his list of the 10 greatest African-American jockeys of all time behind only Hall of Famers Isaac Murphy and Willie Simms.
Achievements
Won the Twin City Handicap — 1886, 1888, 1889, 1892, 1894
Won the Monmouth Handicap — 1889, 1892
Won the Brooklyn Handicap — 1889, 1895
