Hall of Famer From the Start

Kent Desormeaux, one of three jockeys -- the others are Steve Cauthen and Chris McCarron -- to win an Eclipse Award as both an apprentice and a journeyman, joined those two in the horseracing Hall of Fame on Monday.

Desormeaux, 34, was inducted along with trainer Shug McGaughey, the late rider Jimmy Winkfield and thoroughbreds Flawlessly, Skip Away and Bowl Of Flowers during ceremonies at the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

A regular on the Southern California circuit since 1990, Desormeaux scored his first victory slightly more than 18 years ago at Evangeline Downs in his native Louisiana and added nearly 300 more victories in less than eight months while still an apprentice.

“My backyard was nothing but a training ground for being a jockey someday,” Desormeaux said during his induction speech. “My mom and dad had a passion for horses. Thank God for Cajun country.”

The nation’s leading rider for three consecutive years (1987-89), Desormeaux, who is currently struggling through a subpar meet at Del Mar, won a record 598 races in 1989. He won the Kentucky Derby with Real Quiet in 1998 and in 2000 with Fusaichi Pegasus.

McGaughey, who has trained such stars as Lure, Storm Flag Flying, Personal Ensign, Easy Goer, Seeking The Gold, Inside Information and Heavenly Prize, offered thanks to many during his speech, including the Phipps family, for whom he has trained for almost 20 years.

“Whether it’s the challenge of developing a racehorse or the thrill of the crowd on race day, we do this because of a passion we have,” said McGaughey, who has won about 240 graded stakes. “Being acknowledged for doing something I love is especially meaningful to me.”

Winkfield, who died in 1974 at 92, won the Kentucky Derby in consecutive years, 1901 and ‘02; he is one of only four jockeys to accomplish that feat. Winkfield won with His Eminence in 1901 and with Alan-a-Dale the following year. He also finished third with Thrive in 1900 and second with Early in 1903.

Represented by his daughter, Lillian Winkfield Casey, on Monday, Winkfield, who also rode successfully in Russia, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Spain, France and England, became only the third African American rider to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. A book written by Ed Hotaling, who presented the plaque to Casey, chronicling Winkfield’s life will be released later this year.

“He was a little man as all jockeys are, but he had a huge heart,” Casey said. “He was a survivor.”

Flawlessly, who began her career in New York for owners Patrice and Louis Wolfson’s Harbor View Farm, flourished under the late Charlie Whittingham after being sent to California. She finished her career with 16 wins in 28 starts and more than $2.57 million in earnings.

The daughter of Affirmed won Hollywood Park’s Matriarch and Del Mar’s Ramona Handicap three consecutive times and was the champion female turf performer in 1992 and 1993.

Skip Away, the horse of the year and best older horse of 1998, the champion older horse of 1997 and the top 3-year-old of 1996, finished with 18 wins in 38 starts and $9,616,360. Carolyn Hine, who owned the horse that was trained by her late husband, Sonny, accepted Skip Away’s plaque Monday. Patrice Wolfson accepted on behalf of Flawlessly.

Bowl Of Flowers, whose award was accepted by trainer Elliott Burch, won 10 of 16 in her career and was a two-time champion.

Owned by Brookmeade Stable, she was the top 2-year-old filly of 1960 and the champion 3-year-old in 1961.