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Eddie Arcaro

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George Edward Arcaro was a legendary American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He is widely considered one of the greatest riders in the history of the sport. Arcaro achieved more wins in American classic races than any other jockey. He is also the only rider to have won the U.S. Triple Crown twice. Because of his incredible skill, people called him "the Master." He possessed a great sense of pace during a race. He could also switch his whip from one hand to the other with ease.

Winning a major race requires immense skill and coordination. Arcaro was famous for how he managed his horses during intense competition. He won the U.S. Triple Crown in 1941 riding the horse Whirlaway. He repeated this massive achievement in 1948 riding Citation. The Triple Crown consists of three prestigious races: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. Arcaro won a total of 17 Triple Crown races. This is the highest total ever recorded, as the next closest rider won only 11.

Arcaro's career was defined by his dominance in specific, high-stakes races. He won the Kentucky Derby five times, which ties him with Bill Hartack for the most wins. His victories in the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes were even more frequent, with six wins in each. He also dominated other major events throughout his career. He won the Suburban Handicap eight times and the Wood Memorial Stakes nine times. Additionally, he secured the Jockey Club Gold Cup ten times.

His journey to fame began with humble circumstances in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was born on February 19, 1916, to Italian immigrants named Pasquale and Josephine. His father worked many jobs, including as a taxi driver. Arcaro was born prematurely and weighed only three pounds at birth. This early start meant he remained smaller than his peers. He reached a full height of only five feet, two inches. While his small size led to rejection from a baseball team, it suited his career as a jockey.

Arcaro began his professional racing career at a very young age. He won his first race in 1932 at the Agua Caliente racetrack in Tijuana, Mexico. At the time, he was only 16 years old. In 1934, he rode many early races at Narragansett Park. His success grew steadily until he became a household name in racing. Over his entire career, he rode in 24,092 races. From those many starts, he earned 4,779 victories. His record-setting earnings reached a total of $30,039,543.

Beyond American tracks, Arcaro found success in international competitions. In 1953, he won the Queen's Plate at the old Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Canada. This is considered Canada's most prestigious race. In 1954, he competed at Laurel Park Racecourse in Maryland. There, he won the Washington, D.C. International against top horses and riders from Europe. His excellence was recognized formally in 1953 when he was voted the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. In 1958, he was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York.

After his racing days, Arcaro remained active in many different fields. He retired from riding in 1962 due to severe bursitis in his arm. He transitioned into media work as a television commentator for CBS and ABC. He also served as a public relations officer for the Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas. Arcaro was a spokesman for the Buick Motor Division of General Motors. He famously voiced the phrase, "If you price a Buick, you'll buy a Buick." He also owned a popular Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills.

Arcaro's life ended after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He passed away in 1997 at his home in Miami, Florida. He left behind a family including Ruth, Carolyn, and Bobby Arcaro. His remains were cremated and placed in the columbarium at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Cemetery in Miami. Even decades after his retirement, he remains one of the most famous names in horse racing history. He also contributed to the sport by being a driving force behind the creation of the Jockeys' Guild.

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