'Billy The Shoe,' a Santa Anita fixture, made history 40 years ago at the Kentucky Derby
Billy Shoemaker, third on the North American jockey career win list, pulled off his most remarkable win 40 years ago at the Kentucky Derby aboard Ferdinand.
Billie Shoemaker rides Ferdinand to victory during the 112th Kentucky Derby on May 3, 1986. It was Shoemaker's fourth Derby win. (Bettmann Archive via Getty Images) When the late and great Times sports columnist Mike Downey decided years ago to write about jockey Billy Shoemaker , he did so perfectly.
His lead sentence: “Billy Shoemaker was born 2 pounds 6 ounces and it was the only edge he ever needed in life. ” That remains noteworthy now, because when they run this year’s thoroughbred classic at Churchill Downs on May 2, it will mark 40 years since "Billy The Shoe," still the third-winningest rider in the sport’s North American history and perhaps its most memorable, won his fourth and last Derby aboard a 17-1 longshot named Ferdinand. In 1986, Snow Chief was the 3-1 Derby favorite.
He was trained by colorful and often grumpy Mel Stute, who was, like Shoemaker, a fixture at Santa Anita. His jockey was a young Alex Solis, who came from Panama, was still struggling with the English language then and had quickly dazzled the Southern California racing world with his talent. Jockey Bill Shoemaker smiles as he holds a large plaque presented to him at Santa Anita on Jan.
1, 1953, in recognition of winning 484 races. He promptly added to the total by winning the first race of the day. (David F.
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