Chris Antley
Encyclopedia
Christopher Wiley Antley (January 6, 1966 – December 2, 2000) was a champion American
jockey
.
He was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
but grew up in Elloree, South Carolina
. He left school at sixteen to ride horses professionally at Pimlico Race Course
in Baltimore
, Maryland
. His first win was on a horse named Vaya Con Dinero. Soon, he left Maryland to race in New York
and New Jersey
and at the age of 18 was the United States Champion Jockey by wins
with 469.
In the late 1980s Antley spent time in a substance abuse
clinic. In 1987 he became the first rider to win 9 races on 9 different horses in a single day and in 1989 when he won at least one race a day for 64-days straight.
In 1990 Antley moved to California
and in 1991 he rode Strike the Gold
to victory in the Kentucky Derby
. In 1997 he temporarily retired to deal with weight and drug problems. In 1999 Antley returned to ride the D. Wayne Lukas
trained Charismatic
, winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes
that year.
In the 1999 Belmont Stakes, the horse Charismatic, finishing third in the race, had injured his leg in the stretch run. Antley jumped off the horse after the finish line and attempted to hold the horse's leg in place while the horse limped. The horse recovered following surgery.
A stock market
player, Chris Antley wrote an investor newsletter he called "The Antman Report." During the week leading up to the 1999 Belmont Stakes
, he was invited to ring the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange
.
In December 2000, Antley was found dead on the floor of his Pasadena, California
home. The cause of death was severe blunt force trauma and was investigated by police as a homicide
. Later, the coroner's report concluded that Antley had died of multiple drug overdose and the injuries were likely related to a fall caused by the drugs.
Chris Antley is interred in the Bookhart Cemetery in Elloree, South Carolina
, the town he considered his home. Shortly after his death, his wife, Natalie Jowett, a former ABC Sports
employee, gave birth to their daughter, Violet Grace Antley.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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:...
.
He was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
but grew up in Elloree, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. He left school at sixteen to ride horses professionally at Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...
in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. His first win was on a horse named Vaya Con Dinero. Soon, he left Maryland to race 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...
and New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and at the age of 18 was the United States Champion Jockey by wins
United States Champion Jockey by wins
There is no formal championship award given to the jockey who won the most races in United States Thoroughbred racing. However, it is a prestigious accomplishment always on any jockey's resumé and widely reported on by the various media.-Milestones:...
with 469.
In the late 1980s Antley spent time in a substance abuse
Substance abuse
A substance-related disorder is an umbrella term used to describe several different conditions associated with several different substances .A substance related disorder is a condition in which an individual uses or abuses a...
clinic. In 1987 he became the first rider to win 9 races on 9 different horses in a single day and in 1989 when he won at least one race a day for 64-days straight.
In 1990 Antley moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and in 1991 he rode Strike the Gold
Strike the Gold
Strike the Gold is an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1991 Kentucky Derby. Upon the death of 1987 Derby winner Alysheba in March 2009, Strike the Gold became the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner....
to victory in the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
. In 1997 he temporarily retired to deal with weight and drug problems. In 1999 Antley returned to ride the D. Wayne Lukas
D. Wayne Lukas
Darrell Wayne Lukas is a former educator who became one of the most successful horse trainers in American Thoroughbred horse racing history and a U.S...
trained Charismatic
Charismatic (horse)
Charismatic is a stallion Thoroughbred horse, and is known as one of the closest challengers to the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing since the last winner, Affirmed, accomplished the feat in 1978. He was trained by D. Wayne Lukas, and famously ridden in the Triple Crown races by Chris Antley...
, winning the Kentucky Derby and 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...
that year.
In the 1999 Belmont Stakes, the horse Charismatic, finishing third in the race, had injured his leg in the stretch run. Antley jumped off the horse after the finish line and attempted to hold the horse's leg in place while the horse limped. The horse recovered following surgery.
A stock market
Stock market
A stock market or equity market is a public entity for the trading of company stock and derivatives at an agreed price; these are securities listed on a stock exchange as well as those only traded privately.The size of the world stock market was estimated at about $36.6 trillion...
player, Chris Antley wrote an investor newsletter he called "The Antman Report." During the week leading up to the 1999 Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
, he was invited to ring the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
.
In December 2000, Antley was found dead on the floor of his Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
home. The cause of death was severe blunt force trauma and was investigated by police as a homicide
Homicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
. Later, the coroner's report concluded that Antley had died of multiple drug overdose and the injuries were likely related to a fall caused by the drugs.
Chris Antley is interred in the Bookhart Cemetery in Elloree, South Carolina
Elloree, South Carolina
Elloree is a town in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 742 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Elloree is located at ....
, the town he considered his home. Shortly after his death, his wife, Natalie Jowett, a former ABC Sports
ESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC is the brand used for sports programming on the ABC television network. Officially the broadcast network retains its own sports division; however, for all practical purposes, ABC's sports division has been merged with ESPN, a sports cable network majority-owned by ABC's parent, The...
employee, gave birth to their daughter, Violet Grace Antley.