Johnny Longden

John Eric 'Johnny' Longden (February 14, 1907 – February 14, 2003) was an American Hall of Fame and National Champion jockey and a trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses. Born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England, Longden emigrated to Canada in 1909 with his family. In 1927, he left Canada to pursue a career as a jockey in California. Longden became one of thoroughbred racing's most successful riders, achieving a record-breaking 4,871 wins by 1956. He was known as 'The Pumper' due to his small stature of 4' 11'. Longden's accomplishments secured him a place in the Hall of Fame and cemented his legacy as one of the sport's greatest jockeys.More