Shoemaker Will Make His Last Ride as Part of Strub Stakes Program Feb. 4

Next Feb. 4, the day Santa Anita runs the Charles H. Strub Stakes, will be when Bill Shoemaker makes his last ride.

Shoemaker, 58 next month, has been riding since 1949, and by bowing out next year he will be able to do what no other jockey has done--ride in six decades.

Shoemaker, who has ridden more than 8,800 winners, announced his impending retirement earlier this year and is on a farewell tour that has taken him to many of the tracks in Europe. Today, he is scheduled to ride at Phoenix Park in Ireland.

On July 21, Hollywood Park will run a special evening program in its farewell salute to Shoemaker, who is returning from Europe earlier that week.

Shoemaker has won the Strub and its forerunner, the Santa Anita Maturity, seven times, his last win in the stake coming aboard Spectacular Bid in 1980.