John Adams (jockey)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John Adams (b. Sept. 1, 1915, Iola, Kansas) is an American thoroughbred horse jockey who was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1965.

John Adams, nicknamed the "Iola Mite" for his boyhood home in Kansas, got his first ride at a county fair where his father was delivering feed for the horses and other livestock. His parents didn't want him to become a jockey and refused to sign the necessary papers for an apprenticeship, so Adams misrepresented his age and became a journeyman immediately.

Adams became a leading jockey beginning in the mid-1930s, with 43 percent of his mounts finishing in the top three over a 24-year period ending in 1958, when he retired due to a back injury. Among Adams' best races were the 1939 Santa Anita Handicap aboard Kayak II and the 1954 Preakness aboard Hasty Road. He considered these two his best horses.

Upon retirement, Adams became a thoroughbred trainer. His first winner was ridden by his son, John R. Adams. His best known victory as a trainer occurred with J.O. Tobin's 1977 upset over Seattle Slew in the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Adams was the nation’s leading rider in winning mounts in 1937, 1942, and 1943.

In 1956 he was honored with the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, which is given by The Jockeys' Guild annually to the thoroughbred horse racing jockey in North America who demonstrates high standards of personal and professional conduct, on and off the racetrack.

Riding Career
Years Active: 1935-1958
Number of Mounts: 20,159
Number of Winners: 3,270
Number of Place Finishes: 2,704
Number of Show Finishes: 2,635
Purses Earned: $9,743,109
Winning Percentage: 16.2%

References

http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall/jockey.asp?ID=14
http://www.hickoksports.com/biograph/adamsjon.shtml