Clarence J. A. Turner
Encyclopedia
Clarence Jesse Arthur Turner (November 25, 1893 - April 12, 1957) was an American jockey
in Thoroughbred horse racing
.
Born in rural Indiana
, Clarence Turner began his riding career in his teens. He competed at tracks on the American east coat
but when racing shut down in New York State during 1911 and 1912 as a result of a legislated ban on parimutuel betting
, he rode at Havana
, Cuba's
Oriental Park Racetrack
and at Old Woodbine Race Course
in Toronto
, Canada
. While competing in Canada he rode for major stable owners such as Harry Giddings, Sr. and Commander J. K. L. Ross
.
In the early 1920s, Clarence Turner was a contract rider for Joseph E. Widener
and a few years later rode Stromboli to several of his important wins for owner August Belmont, Jr.
In the pre-Triple Crown era, Turner had three mounts in the Kentucky Derby
with his best result a third-place finish in 1925 aboard Son of John. He had six rides in the Preakness Stakes
, winning the 1912 edition with Frank J. Nolan's Colonel Holloway
. The following year he almost won his second straight Preakness when he finished second by a neck to winner, Buskin.
During his career, Turner had six wins on a single racecard, a record for that era shared with racing greats, Earl Sande
and Alfred Robertson.
Clarence Turner died in 1957 in Miami, Florida
.
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
in Thoroughbred horse racing
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
.
Born in rural Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, Clarence Turner began his riding career in his teens. He competed at tracks on the American east coat
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
but when racing shut down in New York State during 1911 and 1912 as a result of a legislated ban on parimutuel betting
Parimutuel betting
Parimutuel betting is a betting system in which all bets of a particular type are placed together in a pool; taxes and the "house-take" or "vig" is removed, and payoff odds are calculated by sharing the pool among all winning bets...
, he rode at Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba's
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
Oriental Park Racetrack
Oriental Park Racetrack
Oriental Park Racetrack in Marianao, Havana, Cuba was a thoroughbred horse racing facility operated during the winter months by the Havana-American Jockey Club of Cuba...
and at Old Woodbine Race Course
Greenwood Raceway
Greenwood Raceway is a defunct horse racing facility in Toronto.Inaugurated in 1874 as Woodbine Race Course at the foot of Woodbine Avenue and Lake Ontario, it was owned and operated by two gentlemen named Pardee and Howell. Within a few years financial problems resulted in the property reverting...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. While competing in Canada he rode for major stable owners such as Harry Giddings, Sr. and Commander J. K. L. Ross
J. K. L. Ross
John Kenneth Leveson Ross CBE was a Canadian businessman, sportsman, Thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder, and philanthropist. He is best remembered for winning the first United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in 1919 with his Hall of Fame colt, Sir Barton.- Early life :J.K.L...
.
In the early 1920s, Clarence Turner was a contract rider for Joseph E. Widener
Joseph E. Widener
Joseph Early Widener was a wealthy American art collector who was a founding benefactor of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C...
and a few years later rode Stromboli to several of his important wins for owner August Belmont, Jr.
August Belmont, Jr.
August Belmont, Jr. was an American financier, the builder of New York's Belmont Park racetrack, and a major owner/breeder of thoroughbred racehorses.-Early life:...
In the pre-Triple Crown era, Turner had three mounts in the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
with his best result a third-place finish in 1925 aboard Son of John. He had six rides in the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
, winning the 1912 edition with Frank J. Nolan's Colonel Holloway
Colonel Holloway
Colonel Holloway was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1912 Preakness Stakes.He was bred by Catesby Woodford of Runnymede Farm in Paris, Kentucky and raced by Frank J. Nolan's Beverwyck Stable. Trained by Dave Woodford, for his Preakness win, Colonel Holloway was ridden...
. The following year he almost won his second straight Preakness when he finished second by a neck to winner, Buskin.
During his career, Turner had six wins on a single racecard, a record for that era shared with racing greats, Earl Sande
Earl Sande
Earl H. Sande was an American Hall of Fame jockey and thoroughbred horse trainer.Born in Groton, South Dakota, Earl Sande started out as a bronco buster in the early 1900s but then became a successful American quarter horse rider before switching to thoroughbred horse racing in 1918...
and Alfred Robertson.
Clarence Turner died in 1957 in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
.