Boland to Attend Jockeys and Jeans Sept. 11 at Monmouth

Thanks to Bill Boland, The Dean of Hall of Fame Jockeys at 88, to attend Caesars Entertainment Jockeys and Jeans Fundraiser at Monmouth Park.

He and Sandy, his wife of 70 years, plan to drive some 1,000 miles from their home in Palm Coast Florida to attend the September 11 fundraiser at Monmouth Park that benefits the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.

Boland is the oldest living Kentucky Derby-winning jockey and the oldest jockey in the Hall of Fame. At 16, in 1950, he became the only apprentice jockey to win the Kentucky Oaks, on Ari's Mona, and the next day wins the Kentucky Derby, aboard Middleground.

"I'm in no hurry," he said. "And Sandy, who is a year older than me, can take over for a short stretch. And when I'm driving she is a great gal to look out for traffic."

This will be their fourth Jockeys and Jeans event, one that honors former jockeys who suffered career-ending injuries. "I broke some bones and had a couple of concussions," he said.  "But I was one of the lucky ones. They were not. I already know some of them and they are a tough bunch of guys and girls. It's touching just to be around them."

Boland spent 51 years in horse racing, starting work for the King Ranch near his home in Corpus Christi, Texas at 14. During a 20-year riding career, he won the Derby and Belmont on Middleground and the 1966 Belmont on Amberoid.

He rode many of the nation's top racehorses: Sword Dancer, Silver Spoon, High Gun, Beau Purple, and during the last part of their careers, 1946 Triple Crown winner Assault and Kelso. In 1959 he won the George Woolf Memorial Award; given to the North American Jockey who demonstrates high standards of personal and professional conduct..

After his riding career ended in 1969, he trained horses and then became an alternate NYRA steward. He retired in 1998, and these days plays golf at least twice a week and drinks a glass of red wine after dinner. He attends a local Presbyterian Church with Sandy, whom he met in a New York bowling alley, and who leads the church's community outreaches.

At the event, he will join Hall of Fame jockeys. Braulio Baeza, Jr., Chris McCarron, Pat Day, Ramon Dominquez, Earlier Fires, Sandy Hawley, Julie Krone, Laffit Pincay Jr., Jose Santos, and Jorge Velazquez, and 10 Time Quarter Horse Champion GR Carter.

"It's fun to see the other riders and some of them are friends," he said. "John Rotz and I were long-time friends and I'll miss him this year." Rotz, a Hall of Fame member who attended most of the six events, died this year on July 12. He was 86.   

Sandy Hawley, who leads the effort to have his fellow Hall of Fame members attend, said of Boland, "His driving all that way shows real dedication. It just proves what a tremendous guy he is and how much he cares about this cause."

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For the first time, bidding at Jockeys and Jeans Live Auction at Monmouth Park during the afternoon of Sept. 11 will be open to proxy bidders. Visit www.jockeysandjeans.com/general-3 to view some of the most unusual and attractive memorabilia racing has to offer, and also register there. It must be done by the end of the day Tuesday, Sept. 7.