Bill Shoemaker doesn't need any reminders of the highs and lows of life in racing.

Bill Shoemaker would ride a Kentucky Derby winner at age 54.

All told, Bill Shoemaker rode in a record 40,350 races.

Bill Shoemaker, still riding and winning the biggest races at an age, 56, when most jockeys have even stopped betting.

The record for jockeys is 8,833 winners ridden by Bill Shoemaker.

Bill Shoemaker had to swing Gulch about 10 paths wide turning for home.

In the 1973 season, he became the first jockey to ever win 500 races in one year, breaking Bill Shoemaker's record.

Bill Shoemaker, aboard the late-charging Ferdinand, had given up too much ground and finished four lengths behind, in second place.

Bill Shoemaker, who hails from the area, also rode at Sunland.

But Bill Shoemaker sort of talked me into it.