Johnny Longden

Jockey

• Born: February 14, 1907
• Birthplace: Wakefield, Yorkshire, England
• Died: February 14, 2003
• Place of death: Banning, California

Sport: Horse racing

Early Life

John Eric Longden was born in Wakefield, England, on February 14, 1907, and his family later immigrated to Canada. Great athletes generally arise in two ways: Some first take up their sport as an avocation; others seize the chance their ability offers to extricate themselves from poverty. Johnny belonged to the latter group. He had little formal education and in his teens worked in a coal mine.

Johnny turned what many would perceive as a handicap into an asset, enabling him to raise his prospects of success. He was short, standing 4 feet 11 inches, and weighed only 110 pounds. Although short people often are at a disadvantage, in one occupation they have an edge: Horse racing requires riders of Johnny’s dimensions. Horses that have to race with a jockey weighing 150 pounds have severe disadvantages. Johnny saw that a future far superior to that of a coal miner awaited him if he could become a jockey.

The Road to Excellence

Johnny acquired his earliest experience as a trick rider in Canadian fairs. His riding ability and his talent for handling horses convinced him to try his hand as a professional jockey. In 1927, he began his career and immediately started an intensive program of hard work. He arrived at the track each day by 8:00 a.m. and mingled with the trainers, exercise boys, and walkers. He did not confine himself to learning to ride but endeavored to master every sort of work at the track. To that end, he was willing to perform unpleasant tasks, such as “mucking out” a stable and bandaging a horse’s legs. By doing so, he acquired a comprehensive knowledge of racing. Joe Hernandez, Johnny’s California agent from 1931 to 1966, noted that Johnny excelled not only as a jockey but also in every aspect of the sport.

Meanwhile, Johnny developed a style of racing that enabled him to realize his riding potential to the fullest. He had an unusual ability to break his horse fast at the start of a race. Taking advantage of the quick start, he tried to keep his horse ahead for the entire race. Because of his style, he was nicknamed “The Pumper” by fans; he was also called “The Fox.” Not all horses like to charge immediately to the front, and if Johnny’s mount preferred to keep back of the pack initially, he was perfectly capable of riding in this fashion. A breakneck dash from the starting gate to the finish was, however, his trademark.

The Emerging Champion

Throughout his long career, Johnny was based in California. His first appearance in the state was in the 1931-1932 season, in which he rode at the Tanforan track near San Francisco. His success was immediate: He rode fifty-four winners in fifty-one days.

Southern California became the hub of Johnny’s activities during the mid-1930’s. He rode at the first meeting of the Santa Anita Race Track in 1936; his first victory there was aboard War Letter on December 26, 1936. Through nearly his entire career, Johnny ranked among the best California jockeys.

Two obstacles confronted Johnny in his efforts to reach the top. Because of the speed and power of racehorses, the chance of injury to a jockey is considerable. Johnny suffered breaks in both arms, both legs (one five times), his collarbone, both feet, two vertebrae, and several ribs. However, even after reaching an age above that of most jockeys, Johnny never let injuries halt his career. Injuries were a part of the price he had to pay to remain a leading rider.

Another difficulty stemmed from Johnny’s decision to center his career in California. Most major American racing events during the 1930’s, 1940’s, and 1950’s took place in the eastern states. A major victory at Santa Anita counted for much less in prestige and financial rewards than a win in an eastern stakes race. Among Johnny’s contemporaries was Eddie Arcaro, generally considered the greatest of all jockeys in major stakes races; Johnny was also eclipsed by a younger rival, Willie Shoemaker, in this type of race.

Johnny refused to be discouraged. He did not concentrate on key races but instead aimed to build a consistent run of winners. Because of his extraordinary longevity as a rider—his forty years in the saddle was surpassed only by Shoemaker’s forty-one years—he outranked nearly all other riders in purses and number of wins.

Continuing the Story

Johnny’s peak as a jockey was in the early 1940’s. In 1943, he rode one of the twentieth century’s greatest horses, Count Fleet, to victory in the triple crown. The triple crown consists of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, the most important races for three-year-olds. Johnny’s wins in 1943 were his only victories in these events as a jockey. He was also the leading money-winner in 1943, a feat he repeated in 1945.

Afterward, Johnny returned to his usual steady, rather than spectacular, path. In 1950, he once again found himself in the limelight. His adept riding of Noor enabled his mount to upset Citation, the 1948 triple crown winner, in four successive races.

Johnny closed his career in triumph. His last mount was in the March 13, 1966, San Juan Capistrano Handicap, the eighth race of the day. His horse, George Royal, had not won all year, and Johnny, aged fifty-nine, was well past his prime. George Royal was a come-from-behind horse, unamenable to Johnny’s front-running style. Johnny responded to the challenge. He won the race, nosing out Bobby Unser, a much younger jockey.

In 1966, Johnny retired with 6,032 wins, at the time the world’s record. The total purses won by his horses were more than $24 million. After his riding career, he worked for many years as a trainer. He died in 2003.

Summary

After a hard youth working as a coal miner in Canada, Johnny Longden decided to become a jockey. Careful study of all aspects of racing enabled him to attain his goal. He was a leading rider for forty years, centering his activities in California. Although he did not specialize in major stakes races, he won the triple crown aboard Count Fleet in 1943. He closed his career with a victory in his final race.

Bibliography

Beckwith, Brainerd Kellogg. The Longden Legend. South Brunswick, N.J.: A. S. Barnes, 1976.

Drager, Marvin. The Most Glorious Crown: The Story of America’s Triple Crown Thoroughbreds from Sir Barton to Affirmed. Chicago: Triumph Books, 2005.

Jacques, L. L., and Sue Morton. Joey: Calgary’s Horse and Racing’s Hall of Famers. Calgary, Alta.: Puckshot Press, 2006.