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source:wikimedia.org
19 Feb, 1916
14 Nov, 1997
Liver cancer
American
Jockey
81
Eddie Arcaro was one of the most legendary and accomplished jockeys in the history of American Thoroughbred horse racing. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on February 19, 1916, to Italian immigrant parents, his early years were marked by hardship. A premature baby weighing just three pounds at birth, Arcaro would grow to be only five feet two inches tall. Despite these challenges, he possessed an unbreakable determination that would define his career.
Arcaro dropped out of school at the age of 14 and found work as a stable boy at a local racetrack, immersing himself in the world of horse racing. His talent quickly became evident, and he rode his first race in 1932 in Tijuana, Mexico. Just a few years later, in 1935, he secured his first stakes race victory at Narragansett Park in Rhode Island, setting the stage for an extraordinary career.
Spanning three decades from 1931 to 1961, Arcaro’s career saw him claim 4,779 victories out of 24,092 mounts, amassing over $30 million in prize money. He became the first jockey to win the Kentucky Derby five times and remains the only jockey to have won the U.S. Triple Crown twice—an achievement that cemented his place in racing history. Known for his aggressive riding style, strategic judgment of pace, and fierce competitiveness, Arcaro was a force to be reckoned with on the track.
After suffering a fractured vertebra in a fall, Arcaro retired from racing in 1962. He transitioned to a career as a television commentator, sharing his expertise with a new generation of racing enthusiasts. He also worked as a public relations representative for the Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas, continuing to stay connected to the world of sports and entertainment.
Arcaro passed away in 1997 at the age of 81, but his legacy as one of the greatest jockeys of all time endures. His name remains synonymous with excellence in horse racing, and his record-breaking achievements continue to inspire jockeys and racing fans worldwide.
Eddie Arcaro
Eddie Arcaro
Male
Liver cancer
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Miami, Florida, United States
Executive: Excellent administrators, unsurpassed at managing things – or people. Eddie Arcaro was dedicated towards horse racing and worked hard to always get better.
Arcaro had over 4,700 career wins as a jockey.
Eddie also won 6 Preakness Stakes and 2 Belmont Stakes.
He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 1958.
He won the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1953.
He was inducted into the United States Racing Hall of Fame in 1958.
Eddie Arcaro won the United States Triple Crown twice.
He won the Big Sport of Tufdom Award in 1974.
He was inducted into the Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame in 1971.