Posted: Friday, April 01, 2011 10:53 AM
by Bob Ehalt
As a Triple Crown winner, Jean Cruguet already holds a distinction few jockeys can claim.
Next month, Cruguet hopes to do something no jockey has ever done.
The 72-year-old Cruguet, who piloted Seattle Slew to a Triple Crown sweep in 1977, says he intends to honor his wife by riding a horse for trainer Jean Paul Pucet on April 27 at Keeneland Race Course.
Cruguet will ride Ratoath Special, a bay Include filly, in a starter allowance sprint for three-year-old fillies.
“I will be very disappointed if I do not win that race,” said Cruguet, who lives in Versailles, Kentucky.
Cruguet said that on that day riders will be asked to donate a share of their earnings to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and he intends to contribute everything he makes to the charity.
“I’m only doing this for my late wife, Denyse,” said Cruguet, whose wife passed away on September 28, 2010, after a lengthy illness. “While I was taking care of her, she told me I would still do something special, so I am doing this for her. I know she would want me to do this and that she will take care of me on the racetrack.”
Frank Almonte, who was 69 when he captured a race at Suffolk Downs in August 2005, is believed to be the oldest jockey to win a race at an American Thoroughbred track. At the age of 71, he became the oldest jockey to ever ride in New York.
“He has been breezing the horse and he looks as sharp as ever,” Pucek said. “I have no problem putting him on the horse.”
Cruguet, who won 2,407 races, said he last rode in 1996. In addition to Seattle Slew, the French-born rider handled such top horses as Arts and Letters, Hoist the Flag, Bold Reason and San San.
Bob Ehalt is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer
by Bob Ehalt
As a Triple Crown winner, Jean Cruguet already holds a distinction few jockeys can claim.
Next month, Cruguet hopes to do something no jockey has ever done.
The 72-year-old Cruguet, who piloted Seattle Slew to a Triple Crown sweep in 1977, says he intends to honor his wife by riding a horse for trainer Jean Paul Pucet on April 27 at Keeneland Race Course.
Cruguet will ride Ratoath Special, a bay Include filly, in a starter allowance sprint for three-year-old fillies.
“I will be very disappointed if I do not win that race,” said Cruguet, who lives in Versailles, Kentucky.
Cruguet said that on that day riders will be asked to donate a share of their earnings to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and he intends to contribute everything he makes to the charity.
“I’m only doing this for my late wife, Denyse,” said Cruguet, whose wife passed away on September 28, 2010, after a lengthy illness. “While I was taking care of her, she told me I would still do something special, so I am doing this for her. I know she would want me to do this and that she will take care of me on the racetrack.”
Frank Almonte, who was 69 when he captured a race at Suffolk Downs in August 2005, is believed to be the oldest jockey to win a race at an American Thoroughbred track. At the age of 71, he became the oldest jockey to ever ride in New York.
“He has been breezing the horse and he looks as sharp as ever,” Pucek said. “I have no problem putting him on the horse.”
Cruguet, who won 2,407 races, said he last rode in 1996. In addition to Seattle Slew, the French-born rider handled such top horses as Arts and Letters, Hoist the Flag, Bold Reason and San San.
Bob Ehalt is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer
