The Forgotten Story of Shoemaker Accident

Two individuals extremely skilled at what they do--one horseback riding, the other handling the written word--completely missed the point.

Not one word was mentioned in Jim Murray’s July 11 column about the real issue in the Bill Shoemaker accident, alcohol and driving. What was a real blessing was that no one else was injured.

Mr. Shoemaker and Mr. Murray failed to make any mention that Shoemaker was driving under the influence. “The auto got him, all right,” and, “I rode 40,000 horses--and an auto got me,” fills up the printed page, but the real truth is a “few drinks” were the reason Mr. Shoemaker lost control of his Ford Bronco.

Here was an opportunity for both to illustrate the danger of drinking alcohol and then driving, but both failed miserably.

JAMES F. ABBOTT

Fullerton