Gallop to Glory 2008 Induction Class

Dave Erb
Dave Erb won his first race in 1939 at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas at sixteen years old. Dave proved that “three is a charm” when his won the 1956 Kentucky Derby on his third ride in the Kentucky Derby. Dave was catapulted into Kentucky Derby history books when his mount, Needles came from next to last in the field and went on to win the race. Dave never rode in the Kentucky Derby again but did train Helio Rise to run in the 1971 Derby. He rode such champions as Kentucky Derby winners Swaps and Iron Liege in other stakes races. Dave rode for 21 years and went on to train thoroughbreds for another 28 years.

Needles was the third generation of Kentucky Derby winners – Needles sire, Ponder won the 1949 Kentucky Derby and Ponder’s sire, Pensive won the 1944 Kentucky Derby. Today we are honoring Dave Erb for his winning ride on Florida bred Needles in the 1956 Kentucky Derby.

Braulio Baeza
Braulio Baeza began riding at 15 in his native Panama. Within 5 years, he was offered a riding contract in the US. Braulio went on to win his first race in the United States right here in Kentucky at Keeneland Race Course. He was awarded two of the first five Eclipse Awards ever given to jockeys. During his racing career, Braulio won the Belmont Stakes three times, the Travers Stakes four times and was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1976. He rode 3,140 winners during his 21 year career as a jockey.

Chateaugay was sired by 1955 Kentucky Derby winner Swaps and won the Kentucky Derby in the exact same time that his sire had won the race. Today we are honoring Braulio Baeza for his winning ride in the 1963 Kentucky Derby aboard Darby Dan Farms Chateaugay.

**BOTH Dave Erb with Needles in 1956 AND Braulio Baeza with Chateaugay in 1963 came very close to winning the Triple Crown. Both won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes but came in 2nd in the Preakness.

Ismael Valenzuela
Ismael Valenzuela is better known to his friends and racing fans as ‘Milo’. Born in Texas, he is from a large family of 22 children. He started riding quarter horses in Arizona when he was 14 and within years he took the New York thoroughbred circuit by storm, winning 10 of his first 30 races at Old Jamaica Race Course. Milo rode many great horses including Kelso who was five time horse of the year. He won 2,545 races over his 30 year career and will be honored this summer when he is inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga, New York.

Milo is the first jockey of Hispanic ancestry to win the Kentucky Derby. Milo did not feel well enough to attend today but signed and imprinted his hands during a TV segment earlier this year on HRTV. Today, we are honoring Milo Valenzuela for his winning ride 50 years ago (in 1958) aboard Calumet Farm’s Tim Tam and his winning ride 40 years ago (in 1968) aboard Calumet Farm’s Forward Pass.

***Milo Valenzuela won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness with Tim Tam and Forward Pass. He came close to winning the Triple Crown in both years but Tim Tam and Forward Pass each came in 2nd in the Belmont.

Side note - Milo’s nephew, Patrick is also in our Gallop to Glory tribute as he won the 1989 Kentucky Derby with Ferdinand.