Willie Shoemaker, oldest Kentucky Derby winner, was 2 1/2 pounds at birth

Finding his love for horses

A lot has happened to Shoemaker since he was placed on that oven door, not expected to live. He left Fabens when he was seven, eventually ended up in California for high school. He boxed and wrestled, but found something he liked far better than boxing, wrestling or school: horses.

“A classmate at El Monte High School talked to me about being a jockey,” Shoemaker says. “I quit school and went t work at the Suzy Q Thoroughbred Ranch. I knew I’d found my niche in life. I started cleaning out stalls. When I started breaking yearlings, I couldn’t wait to get thrown for the first time. It was a badge of courage.

“Getting my foundation at the ranch was probably the best thing that ever happened to me. I got the tag ‘Silent Shoe’ in the beginning, but I didn’t pay much attention to it. I could talk if I wanted to, but I just figured it was better to listen.” Shoemaker has had so many wins, so many that brought him national attention. But he’ll never forget that first.

“Oh, absolutely. It’s been a long time. But I remember it so well. Sure it was exciting…especially since it was only about my third ride.”

Shoemaker has continued that winning pattern, riding more than 40,000 mounts in his career and winning an amazing 22 percent of the time.

Despite all the winning, Shoemaker remains a modest man. When sked what it takes to make a great jockey, his reply was short, to the point: “Good horses.”

The top horses

After 40 years at the top, Shoemaker can now look back and see some of the special moments. And two horses creep to the top of any conversation with hm.

“I think the one the people remember most will be Ferdinand and me winning the Kentucky Derby on him in 1986, being the oldest jockey (at 54) to ever win the Kentucky Derby I just think that’s the one people will remember most.”

But Shoemaker, a horse lover for decades, has a special affinity for another horse.

“I had a love affair with Spectacular Bid, the greatest horse I ever rode.”

A great life

“This has been a great life. Most of it’s been up; 90 percent of it’s been good … very good. Racing horses has been a wonderful way of life. It’s more than a business. I’m doing the Farwell Tour and having fun doing it. Sure, it’s a little tiring sometimes. But mostly it’s fun. It’s not going to be the last hurrah. I want to see people and have fun.”

Finally, Shoemaker says, “I’m retiring – not disappearing.”

Trish Long may be reached at tlong@elpasotimes.com or 915-546-6179.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Mike Smith vies for Willie Shoemaker's record as oldest jockey to win Derby