- Byname of:
- George Edward Arcaro
- Born:
- Feb. 19, 1916, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
- Died:
- Nov. 14, 1997, Miami, Florida (aged 81)
- Awards And Honors:
- Belmont Stakes
- Triple Crown
- Kentucky Derby
- Preakness Stakes
Eddie Arcaro
Eddie Arcaro (born Feb. 19, 1916, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.βdied Nov. 14, 1997, Miami, Florida) was an American jockey who was the first to ride five Kentucky Derby winners and two U.S. Triple Crown champions (winners of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes). In 31 years of riding Thoroughbreds (1931β61), he won 549 stakes events, a total of 4,779 races, and more than $30,000,000 in purses. On Feb. 20, 1958, at Santa Anita Race Track in California, he became the third jockey (after Sir Gordon Richards and Johnny Longden) to achieve 4,000 victories.
Arcaro won the Kentucky Derby five times (1938, 1941, 1945, 1948, 1952), the Preakness six times (1941, 1948, 1950β51, 1955, 1957), and the Belmont six times (1941β42, 1945, 1948, 1952, 1955). He rode Whirlaway to Triple Crown honours in 1941, and Citation in 1948. He established a record of $645,145 earned by one horse (Citation) in a single season. In 1960β61, at the end of his career, Arcaro teamed with the horse Kelso to win several major stakes. After his retirement, he became a television sports commentator.