Burr, leading rider of 1951, dies

Charles Burr, who led the national rider's standings in 1951 with 310 victories from 1,319 mounts, died on Tuesday in Arkansas City, Kan., of pneumonia after a long illness, according to his wife, Mildred Burr. He was 74.

Burr, a native of Arkansas City, rode his first winner in 1945, at the age of 11, on a Quarter Horse at a small track in Oklahoma. He was 17 when he led the nation in winners in 1951. He rode more than 1,700 winners in his career.

Burr's career was brought to an end in 1980 after he broke his neck and was paralyzed as the result of a training accident at Bowie Racetrack in Maryland.

Charles and Mildred Burr were married for 52 years. They had one daughter, Cyrise Campbell, and two grandchildren. Arrangements were being handled by Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home in Arkansas City. A service has been scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Friday at Parker Cemetery there.

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