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■ • . = - Derby Mount No. 7 For Bill Shoemaker Silky Sullivans Reinsman Regarded as Successor to Late George Iceman Woolf By JOE IIIRSCn - At Santa Anita, in California, there is a statue honoring the memory of the. late George Woolf, rider and gentleman, whose coolness under fire earned him the nickname of "The Iceman." Today Woolf s successor makes his seventh appearance in a Kentucky Derby aboard Ross and Klipsteins sensational stretch-running Silky Sullivan. Were re? f erring, of course, to Bill Shoemaker, rider and gentleman, and the chilliest of the chilly among modern American jockeys. Shoemaker, who won the 1955 Derby-with Swaps and has competed in the "Run for the Roses"- every year since 1952, is regarded by professionals as one of the greatest reinsmen this country ever produced. His remarkable hands and the delicate touch he has with a horse is almost legendary in the sport. And yet perhaps his greatest asset is an imperturbable disposition that enables him to accept unparalleled success or outrageous fortune with equal aplomb. Lets Nothing Bother Him The story of last years . Derby is well known throughout the world — how Shoemaker, misjudging the finish, stood in his stirrups momentarily on Gallant Man at the sixteenth pole and perhaps cost his mount victory in the Blue Riband of the American Turf. Yet so successfully was The Shoe able to weather a subsequent 15-day suspension and storm of criticism and abuse in public prints, that he was able to- miss the early portion of the Hollywood Park meeting and still wind up as leading rider of that important session. , "Thats why the little guy is going togo on and on." says Eddie Arcaro, one of his Continued on Page 17 D L Derby Mount No. 7 For Bill Shoemaker Silky Sullivans Reinsman Regarded as Successor to Late George Iceman Woolf j Continued from Page 2 0 greatest boosters. "A lot of riders would have probably hung themselves if that had happened to them. Shoe lets nothing bother him." Shoemaker, who is in his 10th season of riding, shared the national title with Joe Culmone in 1950, when both battled to the last day of the year and wound up dead-heated at 388 victories each. In 1953, the 26-year-old Texan" won the crown outright with 4S5 wins, still a single-season record for any jockey anywhere, and a mark not likely to be broken. And again in 1954, Shoemaker was Americas leading rider, with 380 winners. Member of 3,000 Win Club This past winter, at Santa Anita, Shoemaker became one of seven American riders to pass the 3,000-win mark. All of the members of this exclusive club — theyre all still active — with the exception of. Shoemaker, have been around for at least 20 years, which underlines the consistency that The Shoe has displayed in finding his way to racings charmed circle: In addition to his superior talents professionally. Shoemakers conduct has been equally outstanding off the race track. He is a director of the Jockeys* Guild and is extremely active in the work of that organization. Married .and the father of taro adopted children, he nevertheless .gives freely of his time and energy to many worthy causes and whatever activities he feels benefit racing as a whole. An expert golfer— he shoots in the 80s — Shoemaker is immensely popular with his colleagues, who do not begrudge him his success. A couple of winters ago, California turf writers voted Shoe the George Woolf award for best representing the ideals of that great rider. It was a fitting, presentation to the new "Iceman" of American racing.
