Charles E. Burr
Encyclopedia
Charles E. "Charlie" Burr (May 14, 1934 - September 16, 2008) was an American Champion Thoroughbred horse racing
jockey
. In 1951, he became the seventh jockey in American Thoroughbred racing history to ride 300 or more winners in a single year.
Charlie Burr was raised on a farm at Arkansas City, Kansas
where he learned to ride horses at an early age. By age eleven he was competing and winning Quarter-Horse races
. He rode for his uncle, Clarence ("Shorty") Burr, in races in his native Kansas as well as in Missouri
, Oklahoma
, and Texas
. He rode professionally for twenty-nine years at Thoroughbred racetracks in New York
, the Mid-Atlantic States
, as well as the South Florida metropolitan area
.
In 1951, Charlie Burr led all American jockeys with 310 wins. In 1953, he won six races on a single racecard at Gulfstream Park
in Hallandale Beach, Florida
, a record that stood for forty-two years. That same year he won the first of his two Gulfstream Park riding titles. Among Burr's major race wins, in 1958 he won the Continental Turf Handicap at Washington Park Race Track
aboard Ada L. Rice's Hoop Band in a time that equaled the American record for six furlongs. In 1962, Burr rode Mongo
to wins in the Trenton Handicap at Garden State Park Racetrack
, the United Nations Handicap
at Atlantic City Race Course
and the Lexington Handicap
at Aqueduct Racetrack
. As well, Charlie Burr had two mounts in the Preakness Stakes
, the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown
series. He ran fourth in 1953 aboard Ram o' War and was fifth in 1963 on Sky Wonder.
An accident while exercising a horse at Maryland's Bowie Race Track
left Burr partially paralyzed and he would need a wheelchair for the next twenty-six years until he became bedridden in 2006. Burr remained good friends with the 1973 U.S. Triple Crown
winning-jockey Ron Turcotte
who also needed to use a wheelchair since 1978 as a result of a racing accident.
Charlie Burr died on September 16, 2008 in Arkansas City at age 74. He was survived by his wife Mildred whom he met while racing in her hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
. In 1951, he became the seventh jockey in American Thoroughbred racing history to ride 300 or more winners in a single year.
Charlie Burr was raised on a farm at Arkansas City, Kansas
Arkansas City, Kansas
Arkansas City is a city situated at the confluence of the Arkansas and Walnut rivers in the southwestern part of Cowley County, located in south-central Kansas, in the central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,415....
where he learned to ride horses at an early age. By age eleven he was competing and winning Quarter-Horse races
American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name came from its ability to outdistance other breeds of horses in races of a quarter mile or less; some individuals have been clocked at speeds up to 55 mph...
. He rode for his uncle, Clarence ("Shorty") Burr, in races in his native Kansas as well as in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. He rode professionally for twenty-nine years at Thoroughbred racetracks in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, the Mid-Atlantic States
Mid-Atlantic States
The Mid-Atlantic states, also called middle Atlantic states or simply the mid Atlantic, form a region of the United States generally located between New England and the South...
, as well as the South Florida metropolitan area
South Florida metropolitan area
The South Florida metropolitan area, also known as the Miami metropolitan area, and designated the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Pompano Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area by the U.S...
.
In 1951, Charlie Burr led all American jockeys with 310 wins. In 1953, he won six races on a single racecard at Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino is a racetrack and county-approved racino in Hallandale Beach, Florida, in the United States. During its annual meet, which spans December through April, it is one of the most important venues for horse racing in America....
in Hallandale Beach, Florida
Hallandale Beach, Florida
Hallandale Beach is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. The city is named after Luther Halland, a worker for Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railroad. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,113...
, a record that stood for forty-two years. That same year he won the first of his two Gulfstream Park riding titles. Among Burr's major race wins, in 1958 he won the Continental Turf Handicap at Washington Park Race Track
Washington Park Race Track
Washington Park Race Track was a popular horse racing venue in the Chicago metropolitan area from 1884 until 1977. It had two locations during its existence. It was first situated in what is the current location of the Washington Park Subdivision of the Woodlawn community area of Chicago in Cook...
aboard Ada L. Rice's Hoop Band in a time that equaled the American record for six furlongs. In 1962, Burr rode Mongo
Mongo (horse)
Mongo was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse.-Background:He was bred and raced by Marion duPont Scott, a member of the prominent Du Pont family. His sire was Royal Charger, a son of Nearco whom Thoroughbred Heritage says was "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century". ...
to wins in the Trenton Handicap at Garden State Park Racetrack
Garden State Park
Garden State Park was a harness and thoroughbred race track in Cherry Hill, Camden County, New Jersey. It is now the site of a high-end, mixed-use "town center" development of stores, restaurants, apartments, townhouses, and condominiums...
, the United Nations Handicap
United Nations Handicap
The United Nations Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in July at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey. The race is open to horses, age three and up, going one and three-eighths miles on the turf. A Grade I event, it currently offers a purse of $750,000...
at Atlantic City Race Course
Atlantic City Race Course
The Atlantic City Race Course , formerly the Atlantic City Race Track, is a thoroughbred horse race track located in the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Township, in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The track is located off the Black Horse Pike next to the Hamilton Mall...
and the Lexington Handicap
Belmont Lexington Stakes
The Belmont Lexington is a Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run over a distance of one and one eighth miles on the inner turf course at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York....
at Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
. As well, Charlie Burr had two mounts in the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
, the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown
United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
In the United States, the "Triple Crown" is usually the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a series of three Thoroughbred horse races for three-year-old horses run in May and early June of each year consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.While Daily Racing Form...
series. He ran fourth in 1953 aboard Ram o' War and was fifth in 1963 on Sky Wonder.
An accident while exercising a horse at Maryland's Bowie Race Track
Bowie Race Track
The Bowie Race Track was a horse racing track located just outside the city limits of Bowie, Maryland. Opened October 1, 1914 by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Society, the racetrack was a major attraction in the area, serving the now defunct WB&A Railroad that drew passengers from New York,...
left Burr partially paralyzed and he would need a wheelchair for the next twenty-six years until he became bedridden in 2006. Burr remained good friends with the 1973 U.S. Triple Crown
United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
In the United States, the "Triple Crown" is usually the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a series of three Thoroughbred horse races for three-year-old horses run in May and early June of each year consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.While Daily Racing Form...
winning-jockey Ron Turcotte
Ron Turcotte
Ron Joseph Morel Turcotte, CM is a Hall of Fame thoroughbred race horse jockey best known as the rider of Secretariat, winner of the U.S. Triple Crown in 1973....
who also needed to use a wheelchair since 1978 as a result of a racing accident.
Charlie Burr died on September 16, 2008 in Arkansas City at age 74. He was survived by his wife Mildred whom he met while racing in her hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.