Shoemaker Will Take His First-Ever Ride at Pomona Track Today

Ron Hansen trails Bill Shoemaker in riding wins by an estimated 7,500. At the Los Angeles County Fair at Pomona, however, the score is Hansen 94, Shoemaker 0.

The one-sidedness exists at Pomona because Hansen has been the riding champion there for the last three years, and Shoemaker, despite career mounts of more than 37,500, has never boarded a horse at the fair.

Today, the 54-year-old Shoemaker tries to close the Hansen gap. Shoemaker, with career wins of 8,486, has his first Pomona mount in the 10th race and also rides Stan’s Bower in the 11th, second division of the Foothill Stakes, part of an opening-day card for an 18-day meeting that runs through Sept. 29.

First post is 12:30 p.m. for a 12-race program that includes one race for Appaloosas, two for quarter horses and nine for thoroughbreds. Arabian horses also will run.

While Shoemaker makes his Pomona debut, Hansen will not be watching. The 25-year-old Canadian, who began his career in 1978, has mounts in all nine thoroughbred races, including Whiskey Bartender and Conniption Fit in the split Foothill.