Jerry Lambert (jockey)
Encyclopedia
Jerry Lambert is a retired American
jockey
in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing
best known as the jockey of Hall of Fame
inductee, Native Diver
.
Jerry Lambert accomplished what Breeders' Cup Inc.
calls "one of California’s top racing achievements" when he rode Native Diver to victory in three straight Hollywood Gold Cup
s from 1965 through 1967.
In 1963, Lambert was the leading jockey at Ak-Sar-Ben Racetrack meet in Omaha, Nebraska
, as well as at Turf Paradise Race Course meet that same year. In 1967 he won a riding title at Del Mar Racetrack
, then in 1968 at Santa Anita Park
and at the Oak Tree Racing Association
meet in 1972.
In the June 3, 1972 Vanity Handicap
at Hollywood Park Racetrack, Jerry Lambert rode Convenience
to a half-length victory over the heavily favored Typecast
who had easily beaten Convenience by six lengths in the May 18 Milady Handicap on the same track. Those results prompted owners Leonard Lavin and Fletcher Jones
to agree to a $250,000 winner-take-all event match race
that would be the richest match race at that point in American history. On June 17, 1972, in front of 53,575 patrons at Hollywood Park Racetrack, Jerry Lambert and Convenience won by a head over the favored Typecast. In a quirk of racing fate, just one week later Lambert rode Typecast to a victory over Shoemaker and Cougar
in the Hollywood Invitational Turf Handicap
.
During his career, Jerry Lambert won 54 stakes races at Hollywood Park Racetrack, 30 stakes races at Del Mar Racetrack
and 42 stakes races at Santa Anita Park
In 1971, Jerry Lambert was voted the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award
, given to the thoroughbred jockey in North America
who demonstrates high standards of personal and professional conduct, on and off the racetrack.
Retired, in later years Lambert helps break horses for Rich and Gaby Sulpizio's Magali Farms in Santa Ynez, California
. On Ocrober 2, 2009, the HRTV
show "Inside Information" profiled and interviewed Jerry Lambert at Magali Farms.
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:...
in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing
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...
best known as the jockey of Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
inductee, Native Diver
Native Diver
Native Diver was an American Thoroughbred racehorse bred and owned by Mr. and Mrs. Louis K. Shapiro who had claimed his dam, Fleet Diver, the daughter of Devil Diver out of Our Fleet by Count Fleet. Despite the fact that her immediate lineage included members of Blood-Horse magazine List of the...
.
Jerry Lambert accomplished what Breeders' Cup Inc.
Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Thoroughbred horse races, most but not all Grade I, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. The location...
calls "one of California’s top racing achievements" when he rode Native Diver to victory in three straight Hollywood Gold Cup
Hollywood Gold Cup
The Hollywood Gold Cup is an American Grade I stakes race for thoroughbred horses inaugurated in 1938 at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. It was run as a handicap race until 1997 when it was switched to weight-for-age conditions...
s from 1965 through 1967.
In 1963, Lambert was the leading jockey at Ak-Sar-Ben Racetrack meet in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, as well as at Turf Paradise Race Course meet that same year. In 1967 he won a riding title at Del Mar Racetrack
Del Mar Racetrack
Del Mar Racetrack is an American Thoroughbred horse racing track at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in the seaside city of Del Mar, California, 20 miles north of San Diego. Operated by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, it is known for the slogan: "Where The Turf Meets The Surf." It was built by a partnership...
, then in 1968 at Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race...
and at the Oak Tree Racing Association
Oak Tree Racing Association
The Oak Tree Racing Association is an American not-for-profit corporation that exists to conduct live thoroughbred horse racing in Southern California.-History:...
meet in 1972.
In the June 3, 1972 Vanity Handicap
Vanity Handicap
The Vanity Invitational Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in July at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California....
at Hollywood Park Racetrack, Jerry Lambert rode Convenience
Convenience (horse)
Convenience was a Thoroughbred racing mare. She was sired by Fleet Nasrullah, a son of Nasrullah, and her dam was Moment of Truth. Bred by Caper Hill Farm, Inc...
to a half-length victory over the heavily favored Typecast
Typecast (horse)
Typecast was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse noted for her ability to win races at both short and very long distances. Bred by Nuckols Bros. of Midway, Kentucky, she was out of the mare Journalette and sired by Prince John, a son of the very important sire Princequillo...
who had easily beaten Convenience by six lengths in the May 18 Milady Handicap on the same track. Those results prompted owners Leonard Lavin and Fletcher Jones
Fletcher Jones
Sir Fletcher Jones OBE was an Australian clothing manufacturer and retailer, and a pioneer in workforce participation...
to agree to a $250,000 winner-take-all event match race
Match race
A match race is a race between two competitors, going head-to-head.The term may be best known as a race between two sailing boats racing around a course...
that would be the richest match race at that point in American history. On June 17, 1972, in front of 53,575 patrons at Hollywood Park Racetrack, Jerry Lambert and Convenience won by a head over the favored Typecast. In a quirk of racing fate, just one week later Lambert rode Typecast to a victory over Shoemaker and Cougar
Cougar II
Cougar II was a Chilean Thoroughbred racehorse who also competed in theUnited States where he was inducted in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. He was sired by Tale of Two Cities, a son of Tehran, winner of the 1944 St...
in the Hollywood Invitational Turf Handicap
Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap
The Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the second week of June at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California...
.
During his career, Jerry Lambert won 54 stakes races at Hollywood Park Racetrack, 30 stakes races at Del Mar Racetrack
Del Mar Racetrack
Del Mar Racetrack is an American Thoroughbred horse racing track at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in the seaside city of Del Mar, California, 20 miles north of San Diego. Operated by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, it is known for the slogan: "Where The Turf Meets The Surf." It was built by a partnership...
and 42 stakes races at Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race...
In 1971, Jerry Lambert was voted the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award
George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award
The George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award has been presented by Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, annually since 1950 to the thoroughbred horse racing jockey in North America who demonstrates high standards of personal and professional conduct, on and off the racetrack.The award was created...
, given to the thoroughbred jockey in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
who demonstrates high standards of personal and professional conduct, on and off the racetrack.
Retired, in later years Lambert helps break horses for Rich and Gaby Sulpizio's Magali Farms in Santa Ynez, California
Santa Ynez, California
Santa Ynez is a census-designated place in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. The town of Santa Ynez is one of the communities that make up the Santa Ynez Valley, and features the Santa Ynez Airport for general aviation with a paved 2804 x 75 foot runway. The population was 4,418...
. On Ocrober 2, 2009, the HRTV
Horse Racing TV
HRTV is a 24-hour television based multimedia network dedicated to horseracing which features racing action from many of the sport's greatest racetracks around the world. HRTV also features other forms of equestrian competition, as well as original programming and award-winning documentaries...
show "Inside Information" profiled and interviewed Jerry Lambert at Magali Farms.