Hall of Fame jockey Atkinson dead at 88

[thehippy]

Hall of Fame jockey Atkinson dead at 88

ELMONT, New York (Ticker) - Hall of Fame jockey Ted Atkinson
died Thursday at his home in Beaver Dam, Virginia. He was 88.

Atkinson had been battling a lengthy illness.

Atkinson did not begin riding until he was 21, but proved to be
a quick study and became known for his mastery of the whip.
Among his greatest victories was his upset of 1941 Triple Crown
winner Whirlaway, who he defeated that year in the Narragansett
Special aboard War Relic.

Atkinson was also the only jockey to ever ride Tom Fool, whose
1953 Horse of the Year campaign included a sweep of New York
Handicap's Triple Crown - the Metropolitan Handicap, the
Suburban Handicap and the Brooklyn Handicap.

In a career that ran from 1938 to 1959, Atkinson also rode Hall
of Fame horses Devil Diver and Gallorette, as well as Capot,
Olympia, Straight Face, One Hitter, My Request and Admiral Vee.

In 1946, Atkinson became the first jockey to exceed the $1
million mark in single-season earnings.