# Johnny Longden

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American horse trainer and jockey (1907–2003)

For other people named John Longden, see [John Longden (disambiguation)](/source/John_Longden_(disambiguation)).

Johnny Longden Longden, circa 1947 Personal information Born (1907-02-14)February 14, 1907 Wakefield, Yorkshire, England Died February 14, 2003(2003-02-14) (aged 96) Banning, California, U.S. Occupation Jockey / Trainer Horse racing career Sport Horse racing Career wins 6,032 Major racing wins American Classics wins: As a jockey: United States Triple Crown (1943) Kentucky Derby (1943) Preakness Stakes (1943) Belmont Stakes (1943) As a trainer: Kentucky Derby (1969) Preakness Stakes (1969) Other Hollywood Gold Cup (1950, 1953, 1954, 1961) Hollywood Derby (1945, 1948, 1949, 1961, 1964) Canadian Derby (1932) Matron Stakes (1937) Wood Memorial Stakes (1937, 1943, 1944) Brooklyn Handicap (1938) Adirondack Stakes (1938, 1941, 1942) Walden Stakes (1938, 1942) Hopeful Stakes (1940) Breeders' Futurity (1940) Saratoga Special Stakes (1940) Champagne Stakes (1939, 1942) Lawrence Realization Stakes (1943) Remsen Stakes (1943) Withers Stakes (1943, 1944) Gazelle Handicap (1944) Bing Crosby Handicap (1964) Del Mar Oaks (1964) Del Mar Handicap (1952, 1955, 1956) Palomar Breeders' Cup Handicap (1955, 1956, 1964) Del Mar Derby (1963) Del Mar Futurity (1950) Santa Anita Handicap (1945, 1950, 1951, 1956) Jamaica Handicap (1947) Kentucky Oaks (1947) Santa Anita Derby (1947, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1961, 1969) San Felipe Stakes (1945, 1947, 1950, 1953, 1961) San Juan Capistrano Handicap (1950, 1951, 1955, 1965, 1966) Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap (1961) Washington, D.C. International (1961) Canadian International Stakes (1965) Racing awards United States Champion Jockey by earnings (1943, 1945) United States Champion Jockey by wins (1938, 1947, 1948) George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award (1952) Avelino Gomez Memorial Award (1985) Eclipse Special Award (1994) Honours United States' Racing Hall of Fame (1958) Canada's Sports Hall of Fame (1958) Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (1976) Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame (1995) Lifesize bust at Santa Anita Park Longden Turf Course at Bay Meadows Racetrack Longden Avenue, Arcadia, California Significant horses Count Fleet, Busher, Jet Pilot, Your Host, Whirlaway, Noor, Rushaway, Swaps, T.V. Lark, Four-and-Twenty, George Royal, Majestic Prince Updated on March 6, 2007

**John Eric "Johnny" Longden** (February 14, 1907 – February 14, 2003) was an [American](/source/United_States) [Hall of Fame](/source/National_Museum_of_Racing_and_Hall_of_Fame) and [National Champion](/source/United_States_Champion_Jockey_by_wins) jockey and a trainer of [Thoroughbred racehorses](/source/Thoroughbred_racing) who was born in [Wakefield](/source/Wakefield), [Yorkshire](/source/Yorkshire), [England](/source/England). His father emigrated to [Canada](/source/Canada) in 1909, settling in [Taber, Alberta](/source/Taber%2C_Alberta).[1][2]

## Career

Jayne Mansfield with jockeys Johhny Longden, [Eddie Arcaro](/source/Eddie_Arcaro) and [Willie Shoemaker](/source/Willie_Shoemaker) (left to right) in 1957

By 1912, Longden Sr. had saved enough money to send for his wife and young son to join him in Canada. However, the Longdens' train was late getting to the port of [Southampton](/source/Southampton), and they missed their scheduled voyage to [New York City](/source/New_York_City) on the *[Titanic](/source/RMS_Titanic)*.[3]

As a young man, Longden Jr. worked in the mining industry. His love of horses and [horse-racing](/source/Horse-racing), as well as his small stature standing at 4' 11', led him to leave Canada in 1927 to seek opportunities as a jockey in [California](/source/California)'s burgeoning racing scene. Based at [Santa Anita Park](/source/Santa_Anita_Park), by 1956 he had become thoroughbred racing's winningest rider, breaking the record of 4,870 wins by [British](/source/United_Kingdom) jockey Sir [Gordon Richards](/source/Gordon_Richards_(jockey)) (1904–1988). Longden, who was called "The Pumper" by his fellow jockeys because of his riding style, rode many of the great thoroughbreds of the day. In 1943, he captured the [United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing](/source/United_States_Triple_Crown_of_Thoroughbred_Racing) winning the [Kentucky Derby](/source/Kentucky_Derby), the [Preakness Stakes](/source/Preakness_Stakes) and the [Belmont Stakes](/source/Belmont_Stakes) aboard [Count Fleet](/source/Count_Fleet). A sculptured bust of Longden, along with busts of fellow jockeys William Shoemaker and Laffit Pincay, has been placed in the paddock area at Santa Anita Racetrack in Arcadia, California.[4]

A founding member of the [Jockeys' Guild](/source/Jockeys'_Guild) in 1940, Longden was the United States' leading jockey in races won in 1938, 1947, and 1948.[5] He was also the leading jockey in purses won in 1943 and 1945. He was voted the prestigious [George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award](/source/George_Woolf_Memorial_Jockey_Award) in 1952.[6]

In 1958, Longden was inducted into the [National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame](/source/National_Museum_of_Racing_and_Hall_of_Fame). He retired the following year as the jockey with the most wins in racing history with 6,032 victories from his 32,413 mounts. His last ride was in the 1966 [San Juan Capistrano Handicap](/source/San_Juan_Capistrano_Handicap) at Santa Anita Park, which he won aboard [George Royal](/source/George_Royal) in a stretch duel. The clubhouse at Santa Anita Park contains an [oil painting](/source/Oil_painting) of the finish of this race. The image was used for the cover of the Santa Anita official program during the 1967 racing season.

## Horse ownership and training career

Longden operated a racing stable under the name [Alberta Ranches Ltd.](/source/Alberta_Ranches_Ltd.) in partnership with [Frank McMahon](/source/Frank_McMahon_(oilman)), Wilder H. Ripley and [Max Bell](/source/Max_Bell), longtime friends from [Alberta](/source/Alberta). On January 28, 1971, Longden's wife Hazel became the first woman to train a stakes winner at Santa Anita Park when her horse Diplomatic Agent won the [San Vicente Stakes](/source/San_Vicente_Stakes). Longden's sons [Eric](/source/Eric_Longden) and [Vance Longden](/source/Vance_Longden) both became horse trainers.

Following his retirement from riding, Longden turned to training and became the only person to ever win the Kentucky Derby as both a jockey and trainer when he captured the 1969 Derby with Frank McMahon's colt [Majestic Prince](/source/Majestic_Prince). Longden was inducted into the [Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame](/source/Canadian_Horse_Racing_Hall_of_Fame) on its formation in 1976. He went on to become the second ever recipient of the [Avelino Gomez Memorial Award](/source/Avelino_Gomez_Memorial_Award) in 1985, given annually to jockeys who have made significant contributions to the sport. In 1994, he was recognized further by the North American racing industry with a Special [Eclipse Award](/source/Eclipse_Award).[7]

## Harness racing

The June 12, 1954 issue of the *[Daily Racing Form](/source/Daily_Racing_Form)* reported that Johnny Longden was also an owner of a [Standardbred](/source/Standardbred) racehorse which he personally drove to victory in a race at Sportsman's Park in [Phoenix, Arizona](/source/Phoenix%2C_Arizona).[8][9]

## Television appearance

In 1957, Johnny Longden and his wife Hazel Longden, both appeared briefly as themselves on the legendary sitcom, *[I Love Lucy](/source/I_Love_Lucy)*. In the episode, "Lucy and the Loving Cup" (Season 6 Episode 12), Longden was set to receive a trophy for being the winningest jockey in history at an awards dinner at the Babalú nightclub run by Ricky Ricardo. Early in the episode, Ricky makes fun of Lucy's new hat, so she puts the trophy over her head as a joke, but it ends up stuck on her head; after many failed attempts to remove it, she is forced to comically make her way through the [New York City subway](/source/New_York_City_subway) system to get the trophy to the club in time for the ceremony. After a run-in with an elderly lady, a homeless man and a cop, Lucy finally makes it to the nightclub and the trophy (with Lucy's head still stuck inside) is presented to a very confused Johnny Longden. Longden thanks Ricky for the trophy but asks what he should do about Ricky's wife. Ricky replies that Lucy has been his problem for 15 years, so now Johnny can deal with her.

## Last years/legacy

As of 2006, Longden still holds five track records at Santa Anita Park. Longden was a member of [the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints](/source/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints).[10] Longden died on February 14, 2003, his 96th birthday, at his home in [Banning, California](/source/Banning%2C_California).

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["John Eric Longden"](https://www.racingmuseum.org/hall-of-fame/john-eric-longden). National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. October 12, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Johnny Longden"](https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/johnny-longden). [Historica Canada](/source/Historica_Canada). May 9, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Many racing historians have questioned the *Titanic* fact as it has never been proved. Longden may have just been told this and believed it to be true. [\[1\]](https://www.kentuckyderby.com/2003/derby_coverage/derby_news/derby_news_02152003.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20060320140033/http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2003/derby_coverage/derby_news/derby_news_02152003.html) March 20, 2006, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Johnny Longden"](https://www.canadianhorseracinghalloffame.com/1976/12/03/john-longden/). Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. October 12, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["History"](https://www.jockeysguild.com/history). Jockeys' Guild. October 12, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Horse Racing - Hall of Fame jockey Johnny Longden dead"](http://www.espn.com/horse/news/2003/0214/1509088.html). Mi-harness.net. February 15, 2003. Retrieved October 12, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Legendary Longden Led A Charmed Life"](https://web.archive.org/web/20060320140033/http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2003/derby_coverage/derby_news/derby_news_02152003.html). Churchill Downs Incorporated. February 15, 2003. Archived from [the original](https://www.kentuckyderby.com/2003/derby_coverage/derby_news/derby_news_02152003.html) on March 20, 2006. Retrieved October 12, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Longden Adapt in Sulky"](https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1954061201/drf1954061201_26_2). Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. June 12, 1954. Retrieved October 11, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Sportsman's Park, Phoenix, Arizona"](http://www.mi-harness.net/trks/sprtsmnaz.html). Mi-harness.net. October 12, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2019.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Famous Mormon in Rodeo and Horseracing](http://famousmormons.net/rodeo.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080414220419/http://famousmormons.net/rodeo.html) 2008-04-14 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

## Sources

- Beckwith, Brainerd Kellogg. *The Longden Legend*. (1973) [A. S. Barnes Publishing Co.](/source/Alfred_Smith_Barnes); [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-498-01242-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-498-01242-5)

- [Newsreel of his last race](http://footage.framepool.com/en/shot/762394069)[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

- Drager, Marvin. *The Most Glorious Crown: The Story Of America's Triple Crown Thoroughbreds From Sir Barton To Affirmed* (2005) [Triumph Books](/source/Triumph_Books); [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-57243-724-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-57243-724-3)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF FAST WorldCat National United States

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Johnny Longden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Longden) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Longden?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.