Nash Turner
Encyclopedia
Nash Turner was an American Hall of Fame
jockey
who competed in Thoroughbred horse racing
in the United States and France
.
A native of Texas
, Nash Turner began his professional riding career in 1895 and by 1900 was one of the top ten jockeys in the United States. Although he is best remembered as the jockey of the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame
filly, Imp
, Nash Turner rode Ildrim
to victory in the 1905 Belmont Stakes
and captured the first two runnings of the Saratoga Special.
for whom he had won numerous races in the United States including the Belmont Stakes. Once there, Turner chose to make it his permanent home.
In 1905, Nash Turner had his best year as a jockey in France when he won two of the French Classic Races
. In May 1905, for owner Michel Ephrussi
, Turner won the Prix du Jockey Club
with Finasseur
and followed this up with another win on the colt in France's most important race at the time, the Grand Prix de Paris
. The following year he won his third Classic race, capturing the Prix de Diane
aboard the filly Flying Star. He finished the year as the 11th-leading rider in France.
Nash Turner's last year of riding was in 1914 after which he turned to training horses for himself and others. He died in France in 1937.
On its formation in 1955, Nash Turner was part of the inaugural class of inductees 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...
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:...
who competed 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...
in the United States and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
A native of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, Nash Turner began his professional riding career in 1895 and by 1900 was one of the top ten jockeys in the United States. Although he is best remembered as the jockey of the U.S. Racing 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...
filly, Imp
Imp (horse)
Imp was a pure black Thoroughbred racing filly with a white diamond shaped star between her eyes. She was sired by Wagner out of Foundling and was foaled on March 5, 1894. Owned and bred by Daniel R. Harness of Chillicothe, Ohio, and trained by both Charles E. Brossman and Peter Wimmer , Imp's...
, Nash Turner rode Ildrim
Ildrim (horse)
Ildrim was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1900 Belmont Stakes at Morris Park Racecourse in The Bronx, New York under future U.S...
to victory in the 1905 Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
and captured the first two runnings of the Saratoga Special.
In France
Nash Turner moved to race in France at the invitation of friend and Thoroughbred owner/trainer Eugene LeighH. Eugene Leigh
Hiram Eugene Leigh was an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer/owner and breeder who had a highly successful career in the United States as well as in Europe....
for whom he had won numerous races in the United States including the Belmont Stakes. Once there, Turner chose to make it his permanent home.
In 1905, Nash Turner had his best year as a jockey in France when he won two of the French Classic Races
French Classic Races
In France, the Classics of horse racing are a series of Group One Thoroughbred horse races run annually on the flat. The four races are organized by France Galop.The Prix de Diane is restricted to filles....
. In May 1905, for owner Michel Ephrussi
Michel Ephrussi
Michel Ephrussi was a Russian-born French banker who also bred and raced Thoroughbreds.A member of the Russian-Jewish Ephrussi family, Michel was born in the free port of Odessa where his father founded the Ephrussi Bank and was involved in the exporting of wheat...
, Turner won the Prix du Jockey Club
Prix du Jockey Club
The Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
with Finasseur
Finasseur
Finasseur was a French Thoroughbred racehorse who, at age three, won the two most prestigious races in France. He was bred by Edmond Blanc at his Haras de Jardy stud farm at Marnes-la-Coquette about sixteen kilometers west of central Paris and purchased for racing by Michel Ephrussi, a wealthy...
and followed this up with another win on the colt in France's most important race at the time, the Grand Prix de Paris
Grand Prix de Paris
The Grand Prix de Paris is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:...
. The following year he won his third Classic race, capturing the Prix de Diane
Prix de Diane
The Prix de Diane, sometimes referred to as the French Oaks, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies...
aboard the filly Flying Star. He finished the year as the 11th-leading rider in France.
Nash Turner's last year of riding was in 1914 after which he turned to training horses for himself and others. He died in France in 1937.
On its formation in 1955, Nash Turner was part of the inaugural class of inductees 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...
.