THE SIDELINES : Shoemaker’s Last Ride to Be Feb. 4
Bill Shoemaker’s last professional ride will be Feb. 4. Thoroughbred racing’s all-time most winning jockey will retire that day with a final ride at Santa Anita, the track announced today.
Shoemaker, who has won more than 8,800 races, began a worldwide farewell tour June 4 in Switzerland. The 56-year-old will visit 20 countries in a nine-month period leading to the last mount.
Shoemaker has won four Kentucky Derbys, two Preakness Stakes and five Belmont Stakes. He is a member of racing’s Hall of Fame.
Shoemaker, who has won most of the major races throughout the United States, rode his first race on March 19, 1949. He scored his first career victory in a $100,000 stakes race when he won the Santa Anita Maturity with Great Circle on Feb. 3, 1951.
He tops all jockeys in the history of Santa Anita Park in total number of races won and stakes race victories.
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