Buck Thornburg, rider of Plugged Nickle, dead at 86

Buck Thornburg, whose lengthy riding career peaked while he was in his 40s, died earlier this week in peaceful surroundings with family at his side, according to a Gulfstream Park media release. Thornburg was 86.

Born in 1933 in Muncie, Ind., Thornburg was best known in the racing industry for his winning rides aboard Plugged Nickle in the 1980 Florida Derby and Wood Memorial. According to the New York Times, Thornburg won his first race in July 1950 at Scarborough Downs in Maine. His final mount came in 1989.

According to Equibase, Thornburg had 3,433 winners and nearly $23 million in mount earnings from his 27,258 career rides. Based for much of his career in the mid-Atlantic, his other highlights included victories on Coined Silver in a division of the Florida Derby in 1977 and in such stakes as the 1980 La Prevoyante, 1983 Matchmaker, and 1986 Barbara Fritchie.

Thornburg rode in the Kentucky Derby three times, with his best chance coming with Plugged Nickle, who faded to seventh in the 1980 renewal as the 5-2 second choice.

Terry Meyocks, president of The Jockeys’ Guild, recalled Wednesday that Thornburg “was widely respected by his peers, most definitely. I don’t remember ever hearing a bad word about him.”

Thornburg is survived by his two adult children, Marguerite and Jimmy, and five grandchildren. Gulfstream is planning a memorial race in his honor in the coming weeks.