Raymond Workman
Encyclopedia
Raymond "Sonny" Workman (May 24, 1909 - August 21, 1966) 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.
Born in Hoboken, New Jersey
, Raymond Workman's mother was a native of Washington, D.C.
and after her husband's death she and the children returned to live there. Workman studied to be a member of the clergy
before deciding to embark upon a career as a jockey. He began riding at age seventeen at racetracks in Ohio
where he quickly demonstrated a nautral riding ability combined with a strong desire to excel. Widely known by the nickname "Sonny," his competitiveness was such that the Chicago Tribune
called him a "riding demon" and the New York Times called him a "bulldog in silks." His abilities quickly reached a level that in just his second year of racing he signed a contract to go to New York City
to ride for one of the country's preeminent owners, Harry Payne Whitney
. He was also the regular rider for C. V. Whitney's
stables and in 1932 and 1933 he and Whitney's handicap runner, Equipoise
, were the idols of New York
racing.
In 1930, Sonny Workman was both the United States Champion Jockey by earnings
and Champion by total wins
while achieving it with a 27% rate of wins to mounts. In 1932 he was the earnings leader a second time and had the most wins of any jockey in the United States again in 1935 when he spent part of the year racing at the new Santa Anita Park
in Arcadia, California
.
On January 21, 1930 he was married to Marion Elizabeth Burch of Washington, D.C.
s with his best result two fourth place finishes. He made eight starts in the Preakness Stakes
, winning it in his first try in 1928 at age eighteen. From his other Preakness mounts, his best results were a second with Ladysman
in 1933 and a third aboard Menow
in 1938. He rode in the Belmont Stakes
on eight occasions, finishing second five times. He was runnerup with Whichone in 1930, Osculator in 1932, Nimbus in 1933, Firethorn in 1935, and Belay in 1939.
colt, Victorian
with Sonny Workman aboard, won the May 11, 1928 Preakness Stakes
at Pimlico Race Course
. Making his debut in the Belmont Stakes, Workman rode Victorian to a fifth place finish.
In 1937, Sonny Workman signed to ride for Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt II. However, for years he had battled weight gain and his exceptional riding skills were increasingly being hampered by the need for constant dieting. Those weight problems led to his early retirement in 1940, a year in which he became a founding vice-president of the Jockeys' Guild
. In 1941 he returned to live in Washington, D. C. where he managed his real estate investments.
In 1956, Raymond Workman was inducted in the United States' National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
. He died at Georgetown University Hospital
in 1966 at age fifty-seven. His second wife and widow, Louise Bryant Workman, died on August 9, 1997.
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:...
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...
. During his fifteen years as a professional rider from 1926 through 1940, he won an exceptional twenty percent of his starts.
Born in Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
, Raymond Workman's mother was a native of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and after her husband's death she and the children returned to live there. Workman studied to be a member of the clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
before deciding to embark upon a career as a jockey. He began riding at age seventeen at racetracks in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
where he quickly demonstrated a nautral riding ability combined with a strong desire to excel. Widely known by the nickname "Sonny," his competitiveness was such that the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
called him a "riding demon" and the New York Times called him a "bulldog in silks." His abilities quickly reached a level that in just his second year of racing he signed a contract to go to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to ride for one of the country's preeminent owners, Harry Payne Whitney
Harry Payne Whitney
Harry Payne Whitney was an American businessman, thoroughbred horsebreeder, and member of the prominent Whitney family.- Early years :...
. He was also the regular rider for C. V. Whitney's
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney was an American businessman, film producer, writer, and government official, as well as the owner of a leading stable of thoroughbred racehorses....
stables and in 1932 and 1933 he and Whitney's handicap runner, Equipoise
Equipoise (horse)
Equipoise was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse, a chestnut bred in the United States by Harry Payne Whitney and owned by his son, Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney...
, were the idols of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
racing.
In 1930, Sonny Workman was both 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...
and Champion by total wins
United States Champion Jockey by wins
There is no formal championship award given to the jockey who won the most races in United States Thoroughbred racing. However, it is a prestigious accomplishment always on any jockey's resumé and widely reported on by the various media.-Milestones:...
while achieving it with a 27% rate of wins to mounts. In 1932 he was the earnings leader a second time and had the most wins of any jockey in the United States again in 1935 when he spent part of the year racing at the new Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race...
in Arcadia, California
Arcadia, California
Arcadia is an affluent city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and located approximately northeast of downtown Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley and at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains....
.
On January 21, 1930 he was married to Marion Elizabeth Burch of Washington, D.C.
Triple Crown races
During his career, Sonny Workman competed in four Kentucky DerbyKentucky 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...
s with his best result two fourth place finishes. He made eight starts 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 it in his first try in 1928 at age eighteen. From his other Preakness mounts, his best results were a second with Ladysman
Ladysman
Ladysman was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was the son of Pompey who won the 1947 Hopeful Stakes as a two-year-old and the prestigious Suburban Handicap as a four year-old but will be best remembered for his runner up performance to Head Play in the second jewel of the Triple Crown in the...
in 1933 and a third aboard Menow
Menow
Menow was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred and raced by Hal Price Headley, Menow was foaled on May 19th, late in the year for a Thoroughbred racehorse. His dam was Headley's great runner Alcibiades, who was the U.S...
in 1938. He rode in the 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...
on eight occasions, finishing second five times. He was runnerup with Whichone in 1930, Osculator in 1932, Nimbus in 1933, Firethorn in 1935, and Belay in 1939.
1928 Preakness Stakes
Not entered in that year's Kentucky Derby, Harry Whitney'sHarry Payne Whitney
Harry Payne Whitney was an American businessman, thoroughbred horsebreeder, and member of the prominent Whitney family.- Early years :...
colt, Victorian
Victorian (horse)
Victorian was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that was bred in Kentucky. He was bred and raced by Harry P. Whitney and is best known as the winner of the 1928 American Classic, the Preakness Stakes in which he was ridden by future Hall of Fame jockey Sonny Workman.When his racing career ended,...
with Sonny Workman aboard, won the May 11, 1928 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...
at Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...
. Making his debut in the Belmont Stakes, Workman rode Victorian to a fifth place finish.
In 1937, Sonny Workman signed to ride for Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt II. However, for years he had battled weight gain and his exceptional riding skills were increasingly being hampered by the need for constant dieting. Those weight problems led to his early retirement in 1940, a year in which he became a founding vice-president of the Jockeys' Guild
Jockeys' Guild
The Jockeys' Guild Inc. is an American trade association based in Lexington, Kentucky, representing thoroughbred horse racing and American quarter horse professional jockeys...
. In 1941 he returned to live in Washington, D. C. where he managed his real estate investments.
In 1956, Raymond Workman 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...
. He died at Georgetown University Hospital
Georgetown University Hospital
Georgetown University Hospital is one of the national capital area's oldest academic teaching hospitals and is affiliated with Georgetown University School of Medicine. GUH is a not-for-profit, acute-care teaching and research facility located in Northwest Washington, DC...
in 1966 at age fifty-seven. His second wife and widow, Louise Bryant Workman, died on August 9, 1997.