Bill Shoemaker’s 1954 Del Mar Record and 2026 Hall of Fame Election

In the summer of 1954 at the Del Mar Racetrack, jockey Bill Shoemaker secured his fifth straight riding title, amassing a record 74 wins that season and extending his lead to 42 victories over his nearest rival. His dominance at Del Mar cemented a streak that began in 1949, when he first topped the standings as an apprentice.

Decades later, Shoemaker was posthumously elected to the Los Angeles Times Sports Report Hall of Fame for 2026, receiving 79.2% of the reader vote. Officials highlighted his 8,833 career victories, more than $123 million in earnings, eleven Santa Anita Handicap wins, eight Santa Anita Derby wins, four Kentucky Derby victories, two Preakness Stakes, and five Belmont Stakes. Santa Anita Park General Manager Nate Newby said, “To the public, especially those who grew up in Los Angeles, the name Bill Shoemaker was synonymous with the word ‘jockey.’”