Simulation Games

Bill Shoemaker: “The Shoe” Stopper Jockey

by Lee Lane-Edgar on Feb 20, 2012

Had it not been Laffit Pincay Jr.’s more than nine thousand wins, Bill Shoemaker would probably continue leading the list of jockeys in world horse racing with the highest number of wins ever. William Lee Shoemaker, Bill’s original name, led thoroughbred racing by 8833 race wins until 1999 when he was overtaken by Pincay who briefly led it by 9,530 and is now being led by Russell Baze, at 11,442.
Bill Shoemaker redefined the skill of horse riding with such an incredibly towering number of race wins with a career that spanned for entire four decades, starting from 1949 up till 1990. Bill Shoemaker’s journey to becoming one of the finest jockey’s of all times found its inception right when he was born out of an abnormal birth at a fragile 2 ½ pounds. Reportedly his short stint inside a shoebox to keep him warm and help him survive led everyone to address him by the name, “The Shoe”, that later became the name he was renowned by.
Owning to his abnormal birth,...Read More >>