Shoemaker, Bill
Shoemaker, Bill
(William Lee Shoemaker), 1931–2003, American jockey, b. Fabens, Tex. A schoolboy wrestler and Golden Gloves boxer, he became a jockey and won his first race at age 18. The former all-time leader in career victories (8,833; surpassed in 1999 by Laffit PincayPincay, Laffit Alejandro, Jr., 1946–, Panamanian jockey, b. Panama City. He began racing in Panama and came to the United States in 1965. Known as a strong finisher, Pincay was one of the top all-time money-winning jockeys and was inducted into racing's hall of fame at
..... Click the link for more information. , Jr.), he was one of the greatest American jockeys, with 11 victories in Triple Crown races. He also was the first jockey to win over $100 million. He retired in 1990 to become a trainer, working until 1997 despite being paralyzed in a 1991 automobile accident.