Johnny Longdon's Titanic Destiny
Jockey John Eric Longden, similar to the fictional character Rose, in the movie Titanic, died in bed on his 96th birthday in 2003. He led a long successful life of adventure and Hall of Fame achievement that may never have happened had the train not been so very late, the train that was to take Johnny, his Mother and three siblings to the ship that was going to take them to Canada for a reunital with their Father. But, late it was and just as they reached the dock and the children rustled together, the RMS Titanic had raised anchor and was pulling away from the dock on its maiden voyage to America. The family could only watch as it sailed away with 2,200 cheering and waving passengers on board.
The family soon caught another ship to New York, and eventually met up with the husband and father who waited them in Alberta, Canada.
Johnny worked in the mines as a youth and raced quarter horses in his spare time. Developing a love of horses and racing, he moved to California in 1927. California had a thriving racehorse industry and he quickly became a successful jockey and based himself at historic Santa Anita Park.
Piling up win after win and with the nickname 'the pumper' he became one of the greatest jockeys of all time. He swept the 1943 Triple Crown on Count Fleet. He led all North American riders three different years by races won, twice by money earned. He rode many champions such as Whirlaway, Swaps, Busher, and Noor. By 1956, he broke the all time record of 4,870 wins, held by British jockey Gordon Richards. In 1958 he was inducted into both the Canadian and the National Museum of Racing Halls of Fame.
In 1965, he became the first jockey to surpass 6,000 wins and at 59, an age that most jockeys have long been retired, he finally also retired as the world’s winningest rider. He turned to training in his 60s and saddled nearly 400 winners.
At Churcill Downs in 1969, Longdon, as trainer, entered the future Hall of Fame champion Majestic Prince for the 1969 Kentucky Derby. With that historic win, he established an unprecedented double by becoming the first, and, to date, only person to both ride and train winners of America’s greatest classic.
The family soon caught another ship to New York, and eventually met up with the husband and father who waited them in Alberta, Canada.
Johnny worked in the mines as a youth and raced quarter horses in his spare time. Developing a love of horses and racing, he moved to California in 1927. California had a thriving racehorse industry and he quickly became a successful jockey and based himself at historic Santa Anita Park.
Piling up win after win and with the nickname 'the pumper' he became one of the greatest jockeys of all time. He swept the 1943 Triple Crown on Count Fleet. He led all North American riders three different years by races won, twice by money earned. He rode many champions such as Whirlaway, Swaps, Busher, and Noor. By 1956, he broke the all time record of 4,870 wins, held by British jockey Gordon Richards. In 1958 he was inducted into both the Canadian and the National Museum of Racing Halls of Fame.
In 1965, he became the first jockey to surpass 6,000 wins and at 59, an age that most jockeys have long been retired, he finally also retired as the world’s winningest rider. He turned to training in his 60s and saddled nearly 400 winners.
At Churcill Downs in 1969, Longdon, as trainer, entered the future Hall of Fame champion Majestic Prince for the 1969 Kentucky Derby. With that historic win, he established an unprecedented double by becoming the first, and, to date, only person to both ride and train winners of America’s greatest classic.
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