Laverne Fator
Encyclopedia
Laverne Fator was an American
Hall of Fame
jockey
.
Born in Hailey, Idaho
, Laverne Fator and his brothers Mark and Elmer all became jockeys. The most successful of the three, Laverne Fator's riding career began at small bush tracks in the Western United States
. His first major win came in 1918 at Oriental Park Racetrack
in Havana
, Cuba
. Returning to the United States, he raced on the New York State circuit in a professional career that lasted through 1933. A contract jockey for Rancocas Stable
, in 1925 and 1926 he was the United States Champion Jockey by earnings
.
In the American Classic Races, Laverne Fator rode in the Kentucky Derby
four times, earning his best finish in 1926 when he finished fifth aboard Pompey
. For the 1932 running, prominent stable owner Edward R. Bradley
offered top rider Laverne Fator his choice of the two horses he had entered. Fator chose the colt Brother Joe, leaving Burgoo King
for 19-year-old Eugene James
who won the race. Of his three mounts in the Preakness Stakes
, Fator's best result came aboard Mad Play
when he finished third in 1923.
Laverne Fator died in a fall from a Jamaica (N.Y.) Hospital window while awaiting an operation. The cause of death was said by TIME
magazine to be suicide but it has been reported that he may have been disoriented from his illness and fell accidentally.
On its creation, Laverne Fator was inducted in the United States' National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
in 1955.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
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:...
.
Born in Hailey, Idaho
Hailey, Idaho
Hailey is a city in and the county seat of Blaine County, in the Wood River Valley of the central part of the U.S. state of Idaho. The population was 6,200 at the 2000 census. Hailey is the site of Friedman Memorial Airport , the airport for the resort area of Sun Valley/Ketchum, north. The town...
, Laverne Fator and his brothers Mark and Elmer all became jockeys. The most successful of the three, Laverne Fator's riding career began at small bush tracks in the Western United States
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
. His first major win came in 1918 at 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...
in 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
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...
. Returning to the United States, he raced on the New York State circuit in a professional career that lasted through 1933. A contract jockey for Rancocas Stable
Rancocas Stable
Rancocas Farm was an American thoroughbred horse racing stud farm and racing stable located on Monmouth Road in Springfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, Jobstown, New Jersey....
, in 1925 and 1926 he was the United States Champion Jockey by earnings
United States Champion Jockey by earnings
There is recognition for the United States Champion Jockey by earnings but no formal award is given to the jockey whose mounts earned the most purse money in American Thoroughbred racing. The American Racing Manual shows that since 1910 the following jockeys headed the annual earnings list the most...
.
In the American Classic Races, Laverne Fator rode 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...
four times, earning his best finish in 1926 when he finished fifth aboard Pompey
Pompey (horse)
Pompey was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. He was bred by William Coe and raced under the colors of his Shoshone Stable. Pompey was a son of Sun Briar who also sired U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Sun Beau. His dam was Sweet Briar, a French daughter of Leopold de Rothschild's St...
. For the 1932 running, prominent stable owner Edward R. Bradley
Edward R. Bradley
Colonel Edward Riley Bradley was an American steel mill laborer, gold miner, businessman and philanthropist. As well as a race track proprietor, he was the preeminent owner and breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses in the Southern United States during the first three decades of the 20th Century...
offered top rider Laverne Fator his choice of the two horses he had entered. Fator chose the colt Brother Joe, leaving Burgoo King
Burgoo King
Burgoo King was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the first two legs of the U.S. Triple Crown series but who did not run in final race, the Belmont Stakes....
for 19-year-old Eugene James
Eugene James
Eugene James was an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.Born in Louisville, Kentucky, James was a very promising young jockey who began racing in 1930 at age seventeen. According to TIME magazine, he "made a sensation" in his first season of racing...
who won the race. Of his three mounts 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...
, Fator's best result came aboard Mad Play
Mad Play
Mad Play was an American-bred Thoroughbred stallion racehorse. Bred by August Belmont, Jr., he was sired by the great Fair Play, which made him a half brother to Man o' War, out of another Rock Sand mare, Mad Cap. He was a full brother to 1921 U.S...
when he finished third in 1923.
Laverne Fator died in a fall from a Jamaica (N.Y.) Hospital window while awaiting an operation. The cause of death was said by TIME
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine to be suicide but it has been reported that he may have been disoriented from his illness and fell accidentally.
On its creation, Laverne Fator was inducted in the United States' National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
in 1955.