About Bill Shoemaker
William Lee Shoemaker (August 19, 1931 – October 12, 2003), known as Bill Shoemaker, Willie Shoemaker, and The Shoe, was an American jockey and trainer. He won 8,833 races, a world record at the time of his retirement, and held the career wins record until it was broken by Laffit Pincay Jr. in 1999. Shoemaker rode from 1949 to 1990 and won 11 races in the U.S. Triple Crown series, 1,009 stakes races, and more than $123 million in purses. He won the Kentucky Derby four times, the Preakness Stakes twice, and the Belmont Stakes five times. His major mounts included Swaps, Gallant Man, Damascus, Ack Ack, Forego, John Henry, Spectacular Bid, and Ferdinand. Shoemaker was known for balance, patience, light hands, and a quiet riding style that helped horses relax in a race. In 1986, at age 54, he became the oldest jockey to win the Kentucky Derby when he rode Ferdinand to victory. The following year, he rode Ferdinand to a nose victory over Alysheba in the 1987 Breeders' Cup Classic. Shoemaker won eleven Triple Crown races during his career, spanning four different decades, but the Crown itself eluded him. For 29 years he held the world record for the most professional jockey victories.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.