With the conclusion of the 150th Kentucky Derby this past weekend (May 4th), one cannot help but be reminded of the spirit of one of the greatest, if not the greatest, American jockeys of all time, looming over the racetrack: Eddie Arcaro.
Nicknamed “the Master” for his dexterity with the whip (able to pass it effortlessly from hand to hand atop a horse in the heat of a race), awareness of the position of his opponents, and the killer instinct to time a move to take first place, Arcaro remains the only jockey with two U.S. Triple Crown wins under his belt. He also retains the record for most American classic races won by any jockey in history. Angel Cordero Jr., the hall of famer who led all jockeys in wins at Saratoga for thirteen straight years, recognized Arcaro as part of that same pantheon which contains the most legendary of sports figures: Mohammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth.
Born George Edward Arcaro to a pair of Italian immigrants in 1916 in Cincinatti, Ohio, Arcaro’s delivery was premature – he weighed just three pounds at birth and would reach a height of only 62 inches (5’2”). The perfect stature for a hall of fame jockey. His father, a struggling taxi driver, supported a young Arcaro’s decision to leave school at 14 to exercise horses, the first step on his dream to becoming a jockey. At 16 Arcaro won his first race at Agua Caliente in Tijuana, Mexico. By 25, he had his first U.S. Triple Crown atop Whirlaway, a horse with legendary speed that required the skilled hands of Arcaro to guide to victory. 7 years later, he had his second U.S. Triple Crown atop Citation.
(Pictured Above: Eddie Arcaro atop Citation in the 1948 Preakness Stakes)
Renowned for his cordiality and jovial manner off the track, Arcaro was ruthless in the saddle. He received a year’s suspension for unseating a fellow competitor, Vincent Nodarse, in the 1942 Cowdin Stakes, almost knocking him into the aqueduct. Charged by the chief steward for an explanation, Arcaro plainly admitted his bad intentions. His fierceness brought him victory. Those who shared the track with Arcaro yearned to beat him because they knew when they were they were beating the best.
In a 1957 five part interview series for Sports Illustrated Magazine, Arcaro listed above all traits his judgement – his uncanny ability to capitalize on every small error committed by his opponents – as the attribute that assured him so many victories. There are athletic riders and there are intelligent riders, but Arcaro was the best of both. So the next time you may overhear on a television screen the hooves thundering down the track and feel the anguished seconds of the competitors as officials scrutinize the photo finish, take the time to remember a great Italian American and the excellence he achieved in the sport of thoroughbred racing: George Edward Arcaro.
Leave a Reply