George Martens (jockey)
| George Martens | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Jockey |
| Born |
September 23, 1958 Not found |
| Career wins | 686 |
| Major racing wins | |
|
Hill Prince Stakes (1975) Belmont Stakes (1981) | |
| Racing awards | |
| Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey (1976) | |
| Significant horses | |
| Summing, Key To Content, Cryptoclearance | |
George Martens (born September 23, 1958) is a retired Champion jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing best known for winning the 1981 Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.
In 1976, George Martens was the top rated apprentice jockey in the United States, voted the Eclipse Award as the country's Outstanding Apprentice Jockey. In 1981 he earned the most important win of his career when he rode Summing to victory in the Belmont Stakes.
Martens retired from riding in 1985 but returned to racing the following year. Following his permanent retirement, he has worked as an exercise rider at Belmont Park. Some of the horses he has prepped include Lemon Drop Kid, Touch Gold, Sharp Humor, and Colonial Affair.
References
- June 15, 1981 TIME magazine article on George Martens and his 1981 Belmont Stakes win
- September 17, 1987 New York Times article on George Martens