[Deathwatch] Bill Shoemaker, jockey, 72

[Deathwatch Central <cdw@slick.org>]

Thanks to the many readers that sent this in... I had the weekend off
:) - Ed.

Hall of Fame Jockey Bill Shoemaker Dies
Mon Oct 13, 2:30 AM ET

By BETH HARRIS, AP Sports Writer

SAN MARINO, Calif. - Bill Shoemaker was so small at birth, he wasn't
expected to live through the night. He grew into one of the 20th
century's greatest athletes, riding four Kentucky Derby winners among
his 8,833 victories.

The Hall of Fame jockey died in his sleep Sunday at his home in
suburban Los Angeles, according to longtime friend and trainer Paddy
Gallagher. Gallagher, an assistant during Shoemaker's training career,
said he was told Shoemaker died of natural causes. He was 72.

He had been paralyzed from the neck down since a car accident in 1991.

Shoemaker was 2 pounds when he was born Aug. 19, 1931, and he was kept
in a shoebox near a fire to stay warm. He grew to be 4-foot-11 and 95
pounds, and never had to battle to keep his weight down like most
jockeys.

"For a man his size, wearing a size 2 1/2 shoe, he was a giant,"
retired Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye said.

Shoemaker rode much of his 41-year career on Southern California's
ultra-competitive circuit. His victory total is the second-highest in
racing history and he was the first jockey to reach $100 million in
career earnings in 1985.

In 1986, at age 54, he became the oldest jockey to win the Kentucky
Derby when he guided Ferdinand along a small opening on the rail in a
ride considered one of the greatest ever.

That victory came 21 years after his previous Derby win, aboard Lucky
Debonair in 1965. He also won America's most famous race in 1959 with
Tomy Lee and 1955 with Swaps.

Perhaps his most well-known Derby ride was one he lost, in 1957.

Dueling toward the finish line at Churchill Downs were Gallant Man,
ridden by Shoemaker, and Iron Liege, ridden by Bill Hartack.

At the sixteenth pole, Shoemaker stood up, mistaking it for the finish
line. He sat back down immediately but Gallant Man lost by a nose. He
received a 15-day suspension from the stewards for the rule violation.

The night before, Gallant Man's owner, Ralph Lowe, told Shoemaker he
had a dream about a jockey on one of his horses misjudging the finish
line. Shoemaker insisted it wouldn't happen to him. Afterward, Lowe
found no fault and gave Shoemaker $5,000 and a new car.

Five weeks later, Shoemaker rode Gallant Man to an eight-length victory
in the Belmont Stakes ? a race he won five times. He also won two
Preakness Stakes and rode Ferdinand to a victory over Alysheba in the
1987 Breeders' Cup Classic to capture Horse of the Year honors.

Shoemaker's riding style of sitting almost still on a horse was
emulated by generations of jockeys. His former wife, Cindy, said
watching him ride was "like listening to a pretty song or reading
poetry."

"He was one of the greatest human beings I have ever had the pleasure
of knowing in my life," said retired jockey Chris McCarron, now general
manager of Santa Anita. "Forget about his ability to communicate with
horses. His compassion for people was second to none."

It was the second major death in horse racing this year. Johnny
Longden, who won the Triple Crown aboard Count Fleet in 1943 and was
the only jockey to ride and train a Kentucky Derby winner, died in
February at 96.

Shoemaker broke Longden's record of 6,032 victories in 1970 and held it
until Laffit Pincay Jr. broke Shoemaker's mark of 8,833 in 1999.

Shoemaker spent the last 12 years as a quadriplegic who needed
round-the-clock assistance. He operated his wheelchair by turning his
head and breathing into a tube.

"I knew the last couple of years he was having problems," said
Delahoussaye, who last spoke with Shoemaker four days ago. "Shoe never
let on. He was a quiet guy, he kept a lot of things to himself. He
never complained."

Shoemaker broke his neck when he veered off the highway in his Ford
Bronco in suburban Los Angeles, tumbled down an embankment and rolled.
He had been drinking after playing golf and police said his
blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit. He sued Ford and won a
multimillion-dollar settlement.

Pincay, who was forced to retire after breaking his neck in March,
called Shoemaker last week and told him about a trip Pincay had taken
to New York to help find a cure for paralysis.

"I told him how close they were to finding a cure and he was very
excited and sounded happy about it," Pincay said. "I know he wasn't
happy in that wheelchair, but he never complained."

His last race was Feb. 3, 1990, after a yearlong tour of racetracks in
North America to exhibit his skill to fans who had never seen him. A
crowd of 64,573 showed up at Santa Anita to see him and his mount,
Patchy Groundfog, finish fourth in a nationally televised race.

All told, Shoemaker rode in a record 40,350 races.

He boxed and wrestled in high school but decided to become a jockey
because of his size. He dropped out of school to ride for $75 a month
plus room and board at a California horse ranch.

He won his first race April 20, 1949; his final victory came nearly 41
years later, on Jan. 20, 1990.

After retirement, Shoemaker was emphatic when asked if he missed
riding.

"No, I went 40 years," he said. "That's long enough. It's time to do
something else."

After retiring as a jockey, he worked as a trainer from 1990-97. He won
90 races and nearly $3.7 million.

He is survived by his former wife and only child, 23-year-old Amanda.

Funeral arrangements were pending.