Former Jockey Turned Steward Larry Snyder Dies

Retired jockey Larry Snyder, a longtime steward at Oaklawn Park, died Oct. 29 after a battle with cancer, according to the racetrack's publicity department. He was 76.

Snyder, whose death comes just days after Oaklawn dedicated its new winner's circle to him, was born June 29, 1942, in Toledo, Ohio. He enjoyed a 35-year career as a jockey that began in 1960 and included eight riding titles at Oaklawn where he won 1,248 recorded races at the Hot Springs track. Among his most notable Oaklawn wins were the 1983 Rebel Handicap aboard that year's Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Sunny's Halo, as well as the 1989 Arkansas Derby—then a grade 2 race—on Dansil, whom he would ride to a fourth-place finish in both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1).

"Larry was a very beloved member of the Oaklawn family," president Louis Cella said. "We were all happy that we were able to honor him with the new winner's circle before he passed. It was a very proud moment in Oaklawn's history. We are able to recognize someone who played an important part of our past with something that will begin a wonderful new tradition at Oaklawn. Please join the Oaklawn family in sending our thoughts and prayers to the Snyder family."

Snyder became the sixth rider in U.S. racing history to reach 6,000 career wins at Louisiana Downs on Aug. 24, 1989. That same year, Snyder's distinguished career was recognized by his peers through the prestigious George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. Snyder retired in 1994 with career earnings of $47,207,289 and 6,388 recorded victories, which still ranks him 14th among all North American jockeys 24 years after his retirement.

"In my 40 years at Oaklawn, I don't know if I worked with anyone with more integrity than Larry Synder," senior vice president Eric Jackson said. "He lived his life the same way on the track as he did off of it. Larry will be greatly missed."

While still an active rider in 1988, Snyder was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and during retirement, in 2001, he was honored as part of the Arkansas Walk of Fame in Hot Springs. He was nominated for induction in 2006 into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. In 1999, he was inducted into the Fair Grounds Racing Hall of Fame.

Snyder was a steward at Oaklawn from 1995-2017.

A longtime resident of Hot Springs, Snyder is survived by his wife of nearly 57 years, Jeanette and son, Larry Jr. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Lynette.