Albert Johnson (jockey)

Albert M. Johnson (November 18, 1900 - September 18, 1966) was an American Hall of Fame jockey.[1] Born in the rural community of Milan, Washington, Albert Johnson began his career in 1917 at Playfair Race Track in nearby Spokane. His success at local racetracks led to a move to tracks in the New York City area where he was the principal jockey for Morvich in his undefeated two-year-old season in 1921 and with whom he won the 1922 Kentucky Derby.[2] Johnson was hired by prominent owner/breeder Willis Sharpe Kilmer, whose racing stable had included Sun Briar and Exterminator. Riding for Kilmer brought Albert Johnson rode Exterminator to a number of important wins and ended 1922 as the United States Champion Jockey by earnings.[3]

Albert Johnson
Albert Johnson aboard Exterminator, 1922
Occupation	Jockey
Born	November 18, 1900 Milan, Washington, United States
Died	September 18, 1966
Career wins	503 (15.7%)
Major racing wins
Tremont Stakes (1920) Hopeful Stakes (1921) Laurel Futurity (1921, 1922) Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (1922, 1925) Brooklyn Handicap (1922) Kentucky Handicap (1922) Saratoga Cup (1922) Belmont Futurity Stakes (1922) Toronto Autumn Cup (1922) Coaching Club American Oaks (1923) Keene Memorial Stakes (1923, 1925) Adirondack Stakes (1925) Alabama Stakes (1925) Champagne Stakes (1925) Dwyer Stakes (1925) Fashion Stakes (1925) Ladies Handicap (1925) Maryland Handicap (1925) Matron Stakes (1925) Schuylerville Stakes (1925) Withers Stakes (1925) American Derby (1926) Ohio Derby (1926) American Classic Race wins: Kentucky Derby (1922, 1926) Belmont Stakes (1925, 1926)
Racing awards
United States Champion Jockey by earnings (1922)
Honours
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame (1971) Washington Racing Hall of Fame (2006) State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame (2018)
Significant horses
Morvich, Exterminator, Bubbling Over American Flag, Crusader

In all, Albert Johnson won four American Classic Races. In 1925, riding for Glen Riddle Farm, he won the Belmont Stakes aboard a son of Man o' War named American Flag.[4] The following year Johnson won his second Kentucky Derby on Col. Edward R. Bradley's colt, Bubbling Over.[5] Back in New York a few weeks later, he won his second straight Belmont Stakes for Glen Riddle Farm with Crusader, another colt sired by Man o' War.[6] In the Preakness Stakes, Johnson had five career mounts with his best finish a fourth in 1926 and again in 1929.

Fighting to maintain his weight, in 1929 Johnson traveled to France where he rode in steeplechase races that accommodate heavier weight limits for jockeys. Returning home, he turned to training and in the mid-1930s was hired by longtime friend Bing Crosby to help condition horses for his Binglin Stable partnership.

Johnson went on to work as a timer at various major racetracks in California and was living in Millbrae at the time of his death in 1966. In 1971 he was inducted in the United States' Racing Hall of Fame, the Washington Racing Hall of Fame in 2006, and in 2018, the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame.[7] [8]

References

1. "Albert Johnson". Racingmuseum.org. 2019-12-20. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
2. "Morvich". Churchill Downs Incorporated. 1922-05-13. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
3. "Albert Johnson". State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame. 2019-12-20. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
4. "57th Running-1925-American Flag" (PDF). Belmontstakes.com. 1925-06-13. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
5. "Bubbling Over". Churchill Downs Incorporated. 1926-05-15. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
6. "Daily Racing Form Charts: Belmont Park". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1926-06-14. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
7. "Spokane jockey Albert Johnson among latest inductees into Washington Sports Hall of Fame". The Spokesman-Review. 2018-04-16. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
8. "Albert Johnson". Washington Thoroughbred Breeders & Owners Association. 2006-01-01. Retrieved 2019-10-21.