Recognized
as the greatest jockey of the early twentieth century, Walter
Miller
rode his first race in 1904 at the age of
14 and his last in 1909. During a fouryear
period, he had 1,094 winners. In
his career, more than half his mounts
finished in the money.
In an era when most jockeys seldom
went to the post 500 times a year,
Miller had 178 winners in 888 mounts
in 1905; 388 firsts in 1,384 races in 1906
(and 300 seconds, 199 thirds); 334 wins
in 1,194 races in 1907; and 194 winners in 870 mounts in 1908.
He won the National
Riding Championship in 1906
and 1907.
Miller enjoyed his greatest success
under the colors of the James R. Keene
and Newcastle Stables. He accomplished
his extraordinary riding record
in the days of six and seven race cards
and abbreviated racing seasons.
Among the horses he rode were Colin,
Ballot, and Peter Pan. His first manager
is said to have been his mother. She was
replaced by the legendary “Sunny Jim”
Fitzsimmons, who advised Miller
through most of his American riding
career.
Miller was the first jockey to eclipse
300 winners in one year. His 388 firstplace
finishes in 1906 stood alone as the
most single season wins for 44 years
until 1950, when Joe Culomex and
Willie Shoemaker tied his mark, and
1952 when Shoemaker broke the
record.
Miller holds the unique record of
riding eight consecutive winners—the
last five on April 3, 1906, and the first
three the next day, at Bennings Track.
While quite a few modern-day jockeys
have won five winners in a day, in most
instances they rode six or seven
mounts. Miller rode five winners in
five mounts three times.
By 1910, Miller had grown too big for American riding, and
he opted to
race in Europe, where he continued to
enjoy success. Miller was elected to the
National Horse Racing Hall of Fame in
1955 and the Jockey Hall of Fame in
1957.
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