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* __. vh 1 JOHNNY LONGDEN I ► ■ ; Long den First American Rider To Boot Home 4,000 Winners Has Piloted Winners of * Practically Every Stake On American Calendar HOLLYWOOD PARK, Inglewood, Calif., May 16. — Johnny Longden became the first American jockey to ride 4,000 winners when he booted home Fleet Diver in the third race here yesterday afternoon. It was fitting that Fleet Diver should be owned by Mrs. John Hertz, for whose stable Longden has ridden for years and whose Count Fleet he guided to "Triple Crown"- successes in the year 1943. Only Gordon Richards, Englands leading jockey, has ridden more winners, he having booted home his 4,431st winner just the other day. Longden rode his 3,000th winner in 1948 with Bubb, who, like Fleet Diver, was a maiden at the time. Longden presented the saddle he used in the race to Dwight Murphy, chairman of the California Horse Racing board. He said trying to reach that 4,000 mark made the last three days seem "like ten years." John Eric Longden is rounding out his silver anniversary year of riding on recognized tracks, although he also, rode for a time in the "bushes" before scoring his first real win with Hugo K. Asher at the Fair Grounds in Salt Lake City in 1927. This winner was Longdens only one on a recognized track that year, and the following year, 1928, he did but little better, scoring with only 11. Longden was born on St. Valentines Day, February 14, 1910, in Wakefield, England; When Johnny was very young, his family moved to northwestern Canada, j where his father worked in the coal mines. It is said that Johnnys first love of horses was realized when he himself was driving a donkey in the mines. As a boy, Johnnys great interest was ice hockey, and he was good enough to bat the puck around with such noted greats as Eddie Shore, Red Dutton and other National League stars who grew up with him. His first real active interest in riding came when he began Roman riding, the hazardous but thrilling sport which requires the rider to guide two or more mounts from a standing position. Won 15 Straight Roman Races Johnny won 15 straight Roman races and he was so encouraged by his success that he sought out a career with thoroughbreds under Percy Pike, the tutor who introduced such saddle stars as Wayne Wright and Don Meade. Among other trainers who helped Longdens early career was his father-in-law, the late Al Tarn; Charlie Leavitt, the ex-Canadian who has a large public stable here, and "Sleepy" Armstrong of Spokane. Longden found the thoroughbred sport no bed of roses for several years, and there were times between the mid-twenties and early thirties when he wasnt always able to rub two quarters of his own together. His first real break came when he rode Bahamas to victory in the Agua Caliente Derby in 1932, but while this first stake win gave him quite a boost, he was still a few years away from top national prominence. In 1936 he actually "arrived" when he rode 212 winners. Two years later, 1938, he earned his first national championship, booting home 236 winners. After that there was no stopping Johnny. He won two more national championships, in 1947 and 1948. In both of these years, when he rode 316 and 319 winners, respectively, he established what was called a modern record until Willie Shoemaker and Joe Culmone came along in. 1950 to equal Walter Millers all-time mark of 388 winners set in 1908. Johnny has also led the nation in money won by his mounts, and in this department, he trails only Eddie Arcaro as the worlds leading money-winning jockey of all time. Rode Noor in Hollywood Cup There is hardly a stakes race of consequence in the U. S. that has escaped Longden. The 00,000 Hollywood Gold Cup evaded him for several years, but he finally won it with the great Irish-bred Noor in 1950. He still lists Count Fleet, with whom he won the "Triple Crown" for Mrs. John O. Hertz and trainer Don Cameron in 1943, as the best horse he ever rode, although Noor is not far behind in his ratings. Count Fleet served to further cement the strong friendship between the Hertzes and Longden. He was their contract rider for years, and drew a monthly retainer even though several weeks or months might pass by when he would not ride a single horse for them. They are still foremost among all owners with him, and unless a definite I commitment previously made prevents, he still rides their horses whenever possible. Longden is often known as "the pumper," not only for his particular riding style, but also because of his special knack with front runners and the way he actually "pumps" them in a race. Strange as it may seem, he is not considered a great stylist in the saddle even by his fellow riders. However, he is accepted by all hands as a master leaving the starting gate and on a front runner. While he is more generally noted for his ability on speed horses, he has turned in countless masterpieces oh horses coming from far, back in the pack, and one has only to recall some of his rides on Noor to bear this out. One of Wealthiest Jockeys Where Longden for years was virtually in the clutches of poverty, there is little question now but that he is one of the wealthiest jockeys in the world. He lives in what might be termed an upper middle class home in Arcadia. There is a swimming pool in the rear and Cadillacs fill the garage at the side, but Longdens one real luxury is a Beachcraft airplane complete with pilot. He once had two airplanes, one a twin engine and the other a single, but he disposed of the larger one last year. Johnny recently sold a 500-acre ranch near Reno and bought a small one near Riverside. He has vast holdings in Canada, many of them in partnership with his close friend, Max Bell, publisher of the Calgary Albertan and other Canadian newspapers. Bell and Longdens oldest son Vance, who is in the veterinary corps of the Army stationed at the Presidio, have formed a partnership in a racing stable. Through Johnny, they recently imported two Australian stakes horses, Consider and Wandering Ways, Vance, 21, was a licensed trainer before his induction into the Army about a year ago. Vance was born to Longdens first, wife. He has two other children, Eric, 6, and Andrea, 3, by his present wife. Hazel, who is the daughter of Johnnys old tutor, Al Tarn, who passed away at Longdens house a few months ago. Horses not only are Longdens business, but also his real love. He rarely misses a morning in the stable area, even though it means arising at 4:30 a. m. At least a few mornings a week he works out horses, either those he may be riding in future stakes or ones owned by friends. Not Bothered by Weight He keeps in perfect condition through this exercise and seldom has any weight problems, although he is currently following a diet prescribed by a New York doctor and recommended to him last winter by Eddie Arcaro. Longden is a non-smoker and rarely ever takes a drink. His main hobbies are hunting and fishing and he usually makes three or four excursions to Canada each year in his plane to indulge this hobby. Longden has been something of a good will ambassador both for the Jockeys Guild, of which he is a director, and the Continued on Page Forty-Four Longden First American , To Ride 4,000 Winners . Veteran Booter Only Surpassed By Richards for World Honors Continued from Page Three 4 sport of thoroughbred racing through hi visits abroad. He has actually ridden £ seven different countries — the Unite States, Canada, Mexico, " Cuba, Irelane England and Australia. He has visited in several other countries and in turn, has had as his house guest oyer here, several turf notables from acros the seas. When he rode in England tliref years ago, he met Gordon Richards for th first time, and a strong friendship was im mediately formed. Richards, who has never visited thi country, may come over this year, but a" he feels the difference in riding style woul be too much for him to overcome durin the short time he would be here, his visi would be strictly in the nature of a vacatior It is fitting that Johnny rode his 4,000t" winner at Hollywood Park for it is her that he has scored many of his greates successes. Besides winning the Hollywood Gold Cu. with Noor, he has also won the Westernei formerly known as the Hollywood Dert 3 and Hollywood Lassie Stakes, three times the Hollywood Premiere and Vanity, Cinem and Sunset Handicaps and the Haggir Starlet and C. S. Howard Stakes once eacl! Only the Inglewood, among Hollywood major stakes, has escaped him. Longden has also won three riding cham pioships at Hollywood Park, in 1945, 194 and 1948. In 1948 he set a Hollywood Par record of 105 winners, which is believe to be the greatest number ever ridden during any 50-day meeting. Longdens complete riding record follows. Year Mts. 1st 2d 3d Unpl. Pc. Amt. Wo 1927 16 1 2 4 9 .06 96 1928 151 11 18 15 107 .07 8,2E 1929 120 26 24. 15 55 .22 17,9£ 1930 422 72 57 62 231 .17 42,67 1931 729 113 110 101 405 .16 88,£ 1932 668 106 85 71 406 .11 61,75 1933 729 97 96 85 451 .13 49,2: 1934 579 107 79 77 316 .18 54,58 1935 629 98 89 109 333 .16 102,25 1936 1,113 212 170 140 591 .19 249.4C 1937 940 149 120 116 555 .16 227,46 1938 1,150 236 1 68 171 575 .21 344,66 1939 990 211 171 123 485 .21 304,32 1940 1,061 188- 187 155 531 .18 321,55 1941 1.001 174 150 131 546 .17 253,35 1942 887. 158 132 136 461 .18 364,87 1943 871 173 140 121 437 .20 573,27 1944 635 106 99 87 . 343 .17 462,15 1945 778 180 112 100 386 .20 981,97 1946 993 187 155 134 517 .19 708,85 1947 1,327 316 250 195 566 .24 1,304,02 1948 1,197 319 223 161 494 .27 1,410,57 1949 1,049 211 161 146 531 .20 841,61 1950 1,140* 224 182 159 575 .20 1,045,29 1951 1,423 232 173 148 570 .21 846,73 *1952 498 93 73 66 266 .19 348,95 Totals 20,796 4,000,3,226 2,828 10,742 .19 1,015,64 •Includes racing of May 15, 1952.
