Jockeys' Guild
Encyclopedia
The Jockeys' Guild Inc. is an American
trade association
based in Lexington, Kentucky
, representing thoroughbred horse racing and American quarter horse
professional jockey
s. The organization filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in bankruptcy
court in Louisville, Kentucky, on October 12, 2007.
Established in 1940
, the organization's founding members consisted of many of the leading jockeys of the day including Eddie Arcaro
, Ray Workman
, Johnny Longden
, Alfred Robertson, Charley Kurtsinger, Red Pollard and Harry Richards
. The Jockeys' Guild founding board was made up of:
On February 24, 2001, the Thoroughbred Times published an article captioned A debt of remembrance that tells the story of the important work by jockey Tommy Luther that led to the Guild's creation. The story recounted the influence on Luther when he was part of the horrific circumstances North America
n jockeys lived under at the time fellow jockey Earl "Sandy" Graham
was killed while racing at Polo Park Racetrack
in Winnipeg, Manitoba in September 1927.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
trade association
Trade association
A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association or sector association, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry...
based in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
, representing thoroughbred horse racing and American quarter horse
American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name came from its ability to outdistance other breeds of horses in races of a quarter mile or less; some individuals have been clocked at speeds up to 55 mph...
professional jockey
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:...
s. The organization filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
court in Louisville, Kentucky, on October 12, 2007.
Established in 1940
1940 in sports
1940 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.Note — many sporting events did not take place because of World War II-American football:NFL championship* Chicago Bears 73–0 Washington Redskins in the NFL championship game...
, the organization's founding members consisted of many of the leading jockeys of the day including Eddie Arcaro
Eddie Arcaro
George Edward Arcaro , known professionally as Eddie Arcaro, was an American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey who won more American classic races than any other jockey in history and is the only rider to have won the U.S. Triple Crown twice...
, Ray Workman
Raymond Workman
Raymond "Sonny" Workman was an American Champion and Hall of Fame jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. During his fifteen years as a professional rider from 1926 through 1940, he won an exceptional twenty percent of his starts....
, Johnny Longden
Johnny Longden
John Eric Longden was an American Hall of Fame jockey. He was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England but his father wanted to build a better life for his family so in 1909 emigrated to Canada, settling in Taber, Alberta. By 1912 Longden Sr. had saved enough money to send for his wife and young son...
, Alfred Robertson, Charley Kurtsinger, Red Pollard and Harry Richards
Harry C. Richards
Harry Clayton Richards was an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey and the first president of the Jockeys' Guild. Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Arcaro said Richards: "was strong in character and who maintained a steady belief in our organization [Jockeys' Guild]...
. The Jockeys' Guild founding board was made up of:
- Harry C. Richards - President
- Lester Balaski - 1st Vice President
- Eddie Arcaro - 2nd Vice President
- Raymond Workman - 3rd Vice President
- Irving Anderson - Treasurer
On February 24, 2001, the Thoroughbred Times published an article captioned A debt of remembrance that tells the story of the important work by jockey Tommy Luther that led to the Guild's creation. The story recounted the influence on Luther when he was part of the horrific circumstances North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n jockeys lived under at the time fellow jockey Earl "Sandy" Graham
Earl Graham (jockey)
Earl "Sandy" Graham was an American jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing who died as a result of a racing accident.Born in Los Angeles, California, Sandy Graham rode in pre-1940 when jockeys had no union representation and at a time when they were the contracted legal property of a racing stable...
was killed while racing at Polo Park Racetrack
Polo Park Racetrack
The Polo Park Racetrack was a Canadian horse racing facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Considered one of the finest racetracks in Western Canada, it was built by Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee R. James Speers. The six furlong track opened in 1925 under the charter of the Winnipeg Jockey...
in Winnipeg, Manitoba in September 1927.
Presidents
- Harry C. RichardsHarry C. RichardsHarry Clayton Richards was an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey and the first president of the Jockeys' Guild. Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Arcaro said Richards: "was strong in character and who maintained a steady belief in our organization [Jockeys' Guild]...
: 1940-1943 - Sterling Young: 1943-1949
- Eddie ArcaroEddie ArcaroGeorge Edward Arcaro , known professionally as Eddie Arcaro, was an American Thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey who won more American classic races than any other jockey in history and is the only rider to have won the U.S. Triple Crown twice...
: 1949-1962 - Sam BoulmetisSam Boulmetis, Sr.Samuel A. Boulmetis, Sr. is a retired American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey who was inducted in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1973...
: 1962-1967 - William BolandWilliam BolandWilliam N. "Bill" Boland is a retired American Hall of Fame jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing....
: 1967-1969 - Walter BlumWalter BlumWalter "Mousey" Blum is a retired Hall of Fame jockey.A horse racing fan from boyhood, in his teens Blum began working as a racetrack hotwalker. Despite being blind in his right eye from the age of two, in 1953 he embarked on a career as a jockey, riding his first winner on July 29 at Saratoga...
: 1969-1975 - Mike VeneziaMike VeneziaMichael Joseph Venezia was an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey who was killed in a racing accident....
: 1975-1981 - Bill Shoemaker: 1981-1989
- Jerry D. Bailey: 1989-1996
- Gary L. Stevens: 1996-2000
- Pat DayPat DayPatrick Alan "Pat" Day is an American jockey. He is a four-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991...
: 2000-2001 - Tomey Jean Swan: 2001 (Acting)
- L Wayne GertmenianL Wayne GertmenianL Wayne Gertmenian is an Econometricist currently teaching at Pepperdine University's Graziadio School of Business and Management. His "Price, Profit, and Market Economy" class is one of the most popular courses at Pepperdine University.- History :...
: 2001-2005 - Darrell Haire: 2005-2006 (Acting)
- Dwight Manley: 2006-2007
- John R. Velazquez: 2007–present