Derby-winning jockey Ray York dies at 86

Ray York, who rode Determine to victory in the 1954 Kentucky Derby, died last weekend at the age of 86 from pneumonia at an extended-care facility in Bakersfield, Calif., according to a press release put out by Santa Anita.

York was just 20 years old when he rode Determine, but he had a long, successful career while a contemporary of such Hall of Fame jockeys as Eddie Arcaro, Bill Hartack, John Longden, Don Pierce, Bill Shoemaker, and Milo Valenzuela. York retired in 1992 with 3,082 career victories, but then rode one race in January 2000 at Santa Anita at age 66 in order to have the distinction of having ridden a race in seven decades. He rode his first race in late 1949, just after he turned 16.

York rode for most of his career in California, but also had great success in New York. He was a two-time winner of the Santa Anita Derby – aboard Determine and the filly Silver Spoon – and the Hollywood Oaks. Among the other major races he won, some multiple times, were the Del Mar Debutante, Del Mar Futurity, Hollywood Gold Cup, Malibu, San Antonio, San Juan Capistrano, Strub, Firenze, Saratoga Special, and Test.

He also rode in Arizona, where he won seven races on a single card at Turf Paradise in 1970.

York three times was the leading rider at Del Mar, and after his retirement he was a regular visitor there each summer, his ebullient personality lighting up any room.

York won the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1955.

He is survived by his longtime girlfriend, Michael McKay, and three children from his first marriage – daughter Bonnie Wunner and sons Ray Jr. and Jeff York. Funeral services are scheduled at Erickson and Brown Funeral Home in Taft, Calif., at 1 p.m. on March 7.