On the primary day of the 1954 Del Mar competitors, the younger rider named Billshoemaker turned 23 lower than a month. Within the early chapters of turning into a still-renowned profession, the native Texan realized that he was essentially the most dominant working engineer by the jockeys he’d ever competed on Seaside Monitor.
Throughout the earlier 5 summers, nobody within the colony may put the shoemakers on prime in Del Mar’s rating. Though in itself was unprecedented, the Nova was truly answerable for Del Mar’s report guide in the beginning of the period.
- 1949: He grew to become the primary apprentice jockey to enhance his rating with a single-season report of 52 wins on the time.
- 1950: He units new requirements with 60 wins whereas sharing the title with John Longden.
- 1951: He completed first for the third yr in a row, breaking his bond with Ralph Neves with essentially the most jockey title in Del Mar historical past.
- 1952: He gained his fourth consecutive title with 56 winners.
- 1953: He established a brand new report by gathering 74 wins alongside the way in which to his fifth consecutive using crown.
Primarily based on the previous few years, nobody was stunned if Shoemaker expanded his management. That is precisely what occurs, however not earlier than the legendary Reinsman wrote a marketing campaign that transcends what he is achieved with Del Mar earlier than.
Del Mar’s 1954 season started on July twenty seventh. The opening day program was a productive program for Shoemaker, who recorded trio victory to guide all riders. It was not sure that the Del Mar crowd noticed Shoemaker secured a using triple, however this chance may have foreshadowed everybody what was going to be.
After the July 31 program, Shoemaker led the colony with 12 wins. His closest pursuers on the time have been Roy Lamb and Ralph Neves. He every shared second place with six wins. Provided that it was nonetheless very early within the match, Shoemaker could not be thought-about a very giant hole between the gaps that have been past lumm. Nevertheless, the race for the using title has already been determined, so that point can be confirmed quickly.
Following that card, Shoemaker’s assault on the report guide was unforgiving. By the point the motion ended on August seventh, he had added one other 15 wins with 27 general. Moreover, Shoemaker has now gained 16 Lumm and has absolutely held second place.
That dominance didn’t diminish. Leads solely develop:
Since August sixteenth, Shoemaker led George Taniguchi in a 42-20 tally.
Since August twenty first, Shoemaker has gained 55 wins over Taniguchi’s 23.
Since August twenty eighth, Shoemaker has gained 70 wins, whereas Taniguchi has gained 32 wins.
On September 1st, Shoemaker reached 76, breaking the earlier report of 74 that he set a yr in the past.
Then got here on Saturday, September 4th. Shoemaker spent the largest day of the match, compiling the six wins that have been recorded on the time in this system. The following day, they produced 5 extra journeys to the winner’s circle, bringing the shoemaker’s complete to 91. He was scheduled to take a break after that, however ultimately returned to using on the closing day of September eleventh.
The ultimate tally was 94 wins. Lamb completed in second place within the distance with 37.
Shoemaker not solely broke his personal information, however he shattered them. Seven a long time later, the report remains to be his. The one jockey to strategy it was Laffite Pinkai Jr., who gained 86 wins in 1976. Pinkey was suspended for 5 days throughout the match.
Throughout the 41-day Del Del Meet in March 1954, Shoemaker was merely in one other league. He rode 36 out of 41 applications hosted by the observe, successful at the very least one race in 35 of them. Statistics communicate for itself:
- 3 weeks: 13 (August nineteenth, together with his birthday)
- 4 weeks: 5
- 5 wins: 1
- Six days: 1
Of the 5 days the shoemaker missed, 4 have been on account of trip. The one different absence was on August twenty first. Shoemaker traveled to Washington Park in Chicago to trip the American Derby, ending second at Highgun.
Shoemaker was additionally very useful in creating one other report that did not truly belong to him. On the finish of the match, Rh McDaniel was the principle coach with 47 victories, of which 42 got here to the saddle together with Shoemaker. And as of the summer time of 2025, there are not any trainers approaching McDaniel.
For a lot of racing followers, Billshoemaker is taken into account the perfect jockey ever lived in. His unimaginable 1954 season and the truth that his report stays intact serves as a reminder of his expertise, his domination, and his greatness.
