Famous British Horse Race
Wiki Info: Angel Tomas Cordero Jr. (born: November 8, 1942 1) is one of the leading thoroughbred horse racing jockeys of all time and the first Puerto Rican to be inducted into the United States’ Racing Hall of Fame. 4 – Johnny Longden – (Total Wins Before Retirement or So Far: 6,032). British Champions Fillies' and Mares' Stakes; British Champions Sprint Stakes; Champion Stakes; Dewhurst Stakes; Doncaster Cup (world's oldest race) Eclipse Stakes; Derby Stakes (aka Epsom Derby) Oaks Stakes (aka Epsom Oaks) Goodwood Cup; International Stakes; July Cup; King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes; Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (British Champions Mile). Arguably Europe’s most famous horse race, the Arc has almost a century of history behind it after the inaugural running took place in 1920. This weight-for-age race is open to three-year-olds. Ascot racecourse is considered the epicentre of British horseracing, hosting 26 days of top class racing including 9 Group 1 Flat races. The track is mixed purposed, with Flat and National Hunt fixtures throughout the year. However, it is at Royal Ascot where the track really sparkles. This List of British racecourses gives details of both current and former horse racing venues in Great Britain. There are, as of 8 March 2021, 59 racecourses operating in Great Britain (excluding Point-to-Point courses). In addition, there is a former racecourse, Folkestone, which is mothballed pending a decision over its future. There are currently no plans for Folkestone to operate fixtures.
Throughout time there have been many gamblers who have become famous. For one reason or another, they have captured the attention of the masses and written their places in history. Some have been big winners, while some have been big losers. Some have gained fame through their cheating exploits, while others are known hustlers. Several professional gamblers, especially poker players, have made into the public eye.
The stories surrounding such individuals are often fascinating. Indeed, many of them have had books written about them or even films made about them. Some of these books and movies glamorize the life of a gambler, while others show the depths of despair that gambling can lead to. Some do both.
Either way, they’re typically very entertaining for anyone with an interest in gambling. You can find information on some of the best gambling books and movies on this site, on the following pages.
In this part of our site, we look at the most famous gamblers ever to have walked the planet. Below you will find details of some of the greatest gambling legends of all time. We’ve not provided an exhaustive list by any means, we have just picked out a few of our favorites and the ones that we find the most interesting.
We’ve then provided information on more famous gamblers in a range of different categories.
Gambling Legends
To most people, it is the horse that goes on to become more famous than the riders, but now and again it is the jockeys who get the fame. This list of ten world class and world famous jockeys is not one that features names everyone has heard of, but for those in the know, this is a list of the best of the best horse riders in the world…
10 – Patrick ‘Pat’ Eddery – (Total Wins Before Retirement or So Far: 4,632)
Wiki Info: Patrick James John “Pat” Eddery was an Irish flat racing jockey and horse trainer. He rode three winners of the Epsom Derby, and was Champion Jockey on eleven occasions. He is co-holder of the record for most title championships as well as wins in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
9 – Lester Piggott – (Total Wins Before Retirement or So Far: 4,493)
Wiki Info: Lester Keith Piggott is a retired English professional jockey. With 4,493 career wins, including nine Epsom Derby victories, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest flat racing jockeys of all time and the originator of a much imitated style.
8 – Jorge Velásquez – (Total Wins Before Retirement or So Far: 5,491)
Wiki Info: In 1978 he became nationally famous for being one of the jockeys involved in probably the greatest rivalry in racing history. He finished second aboard Alydar to Affirmed in all three of the 1978 American Triple Crown races, losing by a combined total of less than two lengths.
7 – Larry Lloyd Snyder – (Total Wins Before Retirement or So Far: 5,736)
Wiki Info: Larry Lloyd Snyder is a retired American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey whose career spanned thirty-five years from 1960 to 1994. In the early 1960s he began competing at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas where he would win eight riding titles.
6 – Jerry D. Bailey – (Total Wins Before Retirement or So Far: 5,893)
Wiki Info: Bailey was born in Dallas but raised in El Paso. He had a pony as a child and became interested in thoroughbred racing at age 11 when his father, James, a dentist, claimed some horses at nearby Sunland Park Racetrack in New Mexico.
5 – Angel Cordero Jr. – (Total Wins Before Retirement or So Far: 5,896)
Wiki Info: Angel Tomas Cordero Jr. (born: November 8, 1942 [1]) is one of the leading thoroughbred horse racing jockeys of all time and the first Puerto Rican to be inducted into the United States’ Racing Hall of Fame.
4 – Johnny Longden – (Total Wins Before Retirement or So Far: 6,032)
Wiki Info: John Eric “Johnny” Longden (February 14, 1907 – February 14, 2003) was an American Hall of Fame jockey who was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England. His father emigrated to Canada in 1909, settling in Taber, Alberta.
3 – Bill Shoemaker – (Total Wins Before Retirement or So Far: 8,833)
Wiki Info: Two of Shoemaker’s most noted rides were in the Kentucky Derby. He lost the 1957 Kentucky Derby aboard Gallant Man, when he stood up in the stirrups too soon, having misjudged the finish line.
2 – Laffit Pincay Jr. – (Total Wins Before Retirement or So Far: 9, 530)
Wiki Info: Laffit Alejandro Pincay Jr. was once flat racing’s winningest all-time jockey, still holding second place many years after his retirement. He competed primarily in the United States.
Famous Uk Horse Races
1 – Russell Baze – (Total Wins Before Retirement or So Far: 10,927)
British Thoroughbred Racing
Wiki Info: Born to an American family, Baze’s father, Joe Baze, is a former jockey and trainer who was competing at Exhibition Park in Vancouver at the time of his birth giving him dual Canadian/American citizenship.