Eric Guerin

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Eric Guerin
Whitney Handicap (1954)
Saratoga Handicap (1955)
Fashion Stakes (1956, 1957)
Maskette Stakes (1959)
Mother Goose Stakes
(1960)

Your Host, Grecian Queen

Oliver Eric Guerin (October 23, 1924 – March 21, 1993) was an American Hall of Fame jockey.

Eric Guerin was born in

thoroughbred horse racing jockey in 1941 at sixteen at Narragansett Park near Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Riding for a top stable proved to be Guerin's big break as a year later he was the United States' leading apprentice jockey. Within a few years, he was a highly regarded jockey on the East Coast racing circuit and in 1944 was involved in a racing rarity when he was part of a triple dead heat for first place in the Carter Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack
.

Known for his cool head and steady hand, Guerin was hired by cosmetics magnate

Bed o'Roses and Next Move
.

In 1952, thoroughbred racing gained a multitude of new fans when the

Win Elliott
interviewed Guerin after he rode the still-undefeated Native Dancer to victory.

Guerin and Native Dancer appeared invincible as they headed to

Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year honors, and for himself, made it back-to-back Belmont wins by riding High Gun
to victory in the 1954 classic.

In 1972, Guerin was still riding when he was elected to the

Calder Race Course and Gulfstream Park
.

In 1991, Guerin was inducted into the Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame.[4]

He developed a blood disorder and died of heart complications in 1993 at sixty-eight. His ashes were spread amongst the flower beds in the winner's circle at Gulfstream Park.[5]

Guerin's Hall of Fame contemporary, Eddie Arcaro, asserted: "There was no better rider than Eric."[6]

References

  1. ^ Youngstown Vindicator – May 4, 1947
  2. ISBN 0-446-53070-0
  3. ^ O. Eric Guerin at the United States' National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
  4. ^ "Fair Grounds Hall of Fame" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 11, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  5. ^ New York Times, March 24, 1993
  6. ^ Miami Herald – March 22, 1993
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