Red Pollard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red Pollard |
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Red Pollard with Seabiscuit
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| Occupation | Jockey |
| Born | October 27, 1909 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Died | March 7, 1981 (aged 71) Pawtucket, Rhode Island |
| Major racing wins | |
| Dade County Handicap (1932) Prince of Wales Stakes (1933) King Edward Gold Cup (1933) Agua Caliente Handicap (1934) Governor's Handicap (1936) Bay Bridge Handicap (1936) World's Fair Handicap (1936) Bay Meadows Handicap (1937) Brooklyn Handicap (1937) Yonkers Handicap (1937) Butler Handicap (1937) Massachusetts Handicap (1937) San Juan Capistrano Handicap (1937) San Carlos Handicap (1937) Riggs Handicap (1937) San Antonio Handicap (1940) Santa Anita Handicap (1940) |
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| Honours | |
| Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (1982) | |
| Significant horses | |
| Gallant Sir, Pompoon, Seabiscuit | |
John M. "Red" Pollard (born October 27, 1909 – died March 7, 1981) was a famous Canadian jockey who rode racehorses. He is most well-known for being the main jockey for the legendary horse, Seabiscuit. Red Pollard also helped start the Jockeys' Guild in 1940, an organization for jockeys. He rode in many races across the United States.
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Red Pollard's Early Life
Red Pollard was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, in 1909. His family owned a successful brick-making business. However, in 1915, a big flood on the North Saskatchewan River destroyed their family brickyard. This sudden event caused his family to lose all their money and become very poor.
Riding to Fame: Red Pollard's Career
Red Pollard was taller and heavier than most jockeys, standing about 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 115 pounds. Early in his career, he had a serious accident during a training ride. A rock kicked up by another horse hit him in the head. This injury caused him to lose sight in his right eye. He kept this a secret for his entire career because jockeys were not allowed to ride if they had such an injury.
Meeting Seabiscuit
In 1936, Red Pollard was struggling in Detroit. That's when horse trainer Tom Smith hired him to ride a horse named Seabiscuit. Seabiscuit was owned by Charles S. Howard. Their first big win together was the 1936 Governor's Handicap race.
Red Pollard and Seabiscuit became a very famous team. They won many important races, including:
- The 1937 Brooklyn Handicap in New York City
- The 1937 Massachusetts Handicap in Boston
They were considered one of the best horse-and-jockey pairs in the USA. In 1937, they famously lost the Santa Anita Handicap by a tiny bit, just a nose!
Seabiscuit's Last Race
In 1940, Red Pollard rode Seabiscuit one last time in the Santa Anita Handicap in Arcadia, California. Seabiscuit was seven years old then, and they won the race! This was Seabiscuit's final race before retiring. Red Pollard rode Seabiscuit 30 times in total, winning 18 of those races. All of their wins were in major stakes or handicap races.
After Seabiscuit
After the 1940 racing season, Red Pollard bought a house in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He continued to ride horses in races into the 1950s, mostly in the New England area. Later, he became a "jockey's valet" at Narragansett Park in Rhode Island. A jockey's valet helps jockeys get ready for races.
Honors and Portrayals
In 1982, Red Pollard was honored by being added to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. This is a special place for the best people and horses in Canadian horse racing history.
The actor Tobey Maguire played Red Pollard in the 2003 movie Seabiscuit. The film told the amazing story of Red Pollard, Seabiscuit, and their team.
Red Pollard's Personal Life
Red Pollard faced many serious injuries during his career, not just the one to his eye. In February 1938, he had a terrible fall while riding another horse. The horse fell on him, crushing his chest and breaking his ribs and arm. He had to have major surgery and almost didn't survive. He recovered and was back to work by July of that same year.
However, in July 1938, he suffered another bad injury. A runaway horse caused a severe break in his leg. While he was recovering from this, he broke his leg again by stepping into a hole on the owner's estate. Charles Howard, who cared for Red like a son, paid for all of his hospital stays.
While recovering from his July 1938 injuries, Red Pollard met and fell in love with his nurse, Agnes Conlon. They got married the next year and had two children, a daughter named Norah and a son named John.
Red Pollard passed away on March 7, 1981, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He is buried next to his wife at Notre Dame Cemetery, which is close to the Narragansett Park racetrack.
