Riding Career: 1927-1966

Number of Mounts: 32,413
Number of Winners: 6,032
Winning Percentage: 18.6%



John Longden had one of the longest careers in Thoroughbred race riding; he retired at age 59 after winning 18.6% of his races. He rode his first winner in 1927 in Utah and claimed his first national championship nine years later.

Longden was nicknamed 'The Pumper' for his ability to urge a horse on to give his best performance. In 1943 he put this talent to use by winning the Triple Crown on Count Fleet. Longden rode many great horses but considered Count Fleet his best mount.

Significant Mounts

Count Fleet, Whirlaway Busher
Swaps, Noor, T V Lark
Your Host, Four-and-Twenty, Good Deal

Although he rode all over North America, Longden was based in California and won many of the most important races on the West Coast. He won 5 Santa Anita and Hollywood Derbys and 4 Santa Anita Handicaps and Hollywood Gold Cups.

Longden retired as the world's winningest rider. He became a successful trainer and is best known for sending Majestic Prince to victory in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. He also trained Jungle Savage, Money Lender, and Baffle.


Longden with Majestic Prince
NMR Collection

Awards and Achievements

Leading jockey in races won 1938, 1947-48
Leading jockey in purses won 1943 and 1945
1952 George Woolf Memorial Award
First rider to win 6,000 races
Retired with a world record for winning races
Special Eclipse Award 1994
Inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1958

John Longden was often recognized for his career achievements. He led all jockeys in races won or purses earned on five occasions and received the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award and a Special Eclipse Award. Longden was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1958.

Information provided by Piglett