Back then: 31 December 1958
Who was making the headlines?
Willie Shoemaker, first jockey to win US national riding championship four times
Source: New World Encyclopaedia
In December 1958, one of the greatest jockeys in thoroughbred racing history, Willie Shoemaker was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. His competitive career was to continue for another 32 years as Willie racked up an astounding 8,883 victories in 40,350 races from 1949 to 1990, winning more than one out of five races in which he was entered. He won the Kentucky Derby four times, including in 1986 on Ferdinand as the oldest jockey to win the Derby, at 54. He won 11 Triple Crown races. He was the first jockey to win over $100 million.
In 1991, tragedy struck. A car accident left Willie paralyzed from the neck down and wheelchair-bound. Amazingly, he continued to train racehorses until his retirement in 1997.
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