John Sellers

[joanied]

John Sellers has passed. It was Sellers and Carry Back that got me hooked on racing when they won the Kentucky Derby...he was always a good bet at Belmont back in the day...a great rider and a real gentelman.

R.I.P

[Hedevar]

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/57740/hall-of-fame-rider-john-sellers-dead-at-72

Glad you posted it, because I was about to. I had the chance to see him ride often at Arlington. He was a Hall of Famer and a gentleman.

R.I.P.

[joanied]

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/57740/hall-of-fame-rider-john-sellers-dead-at-72

Glad you posted it, because I was about to. I had the chance to see him ride often at Arlington. He was a Hall of Famer and a gentleman.

R.I.P.

Indeed he was. Thank you for posting the link to the story...I copied it to paste here, and forgot:blush:

[Hedevar]

I'm not speaking for you joanied, but when no one else on the board has a comment on Johnny Sellers death, I may be getting too old for the game.

[magwell]

I'm not speaking for you joanied, but when no one else on the board has a comment on Johnny Sellers death, I may be getting too old for the game. Yep, kinda makes you feel the game has passed you by, I used to see him at Calder and in Hallandale but not in the last couple of years seemed like a nice guy, always kept to himself....

[joanied]

I guess we are getting old :eek: ...but we aren't the only ones...are we:D ?Anyone too young to know Sellers, missed out on one of the best riders in this sport...and as mentioned...a really nice guy!

In case anyone is interested:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Sellers

Major racing winsWashington Park Handicap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Park_Handicap) (1958, 1960)
American Derby (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Derby) (1960)
Arlington Classic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlington_Classic) (1960)
Remsen Stakes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remsen_Stakes) (1960)
United Nations Handicap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Handicap) (1960)
Florida Derby (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_Derby) (1961)
Jerome Handicap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome_Breeders%27_Cup_Handicap) (1961)
Stars and Stripes Handicap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stars_and_Stripes_Breeders%27_Cup_Turf_Handicap) (1961)
Alabama Stakes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama_Stakes) (1962)
Monmouth Oaks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monmouth_Breeders%27_Cup_Oaks) (1962)
Carter Handicap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carter_Handicap) (1962)
Saratoga Special Stakes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saratoga_Special_Stakes) (1962)
Test Stakes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test_Stakes) (1962)
Whitney Handicap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitney_Handicap) (1962)
Adirondack Stakes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adirondack_Breeders%27_Cup_Stakes) (1963)
Diana Handicap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_Handicap) (1963)
Excelsior Breeders’ Cup Handicap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excelsior_Breeders%E2%80%99_Cup_Handicap) (1964)
Brooklyn Handicap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn_Handicap) (1965)
Ladies Handicap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladies_Handicap) (1965)
Suburban Handicap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suburban_Handicap) (1965)
Travers Stakes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travers_Stakes) (1965)
Kentucky Oaks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky_Oaks) (1967)
Blue Grass Stakes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Grass_Stakes) (1967)
Hollywood Derby (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_Derby) (1967)
Frank E. Kilroe Mile (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_E._Kilroe_Mile) (1968, 1971)
San Gorgonio Handicap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Gorgonio_Handicap) (1968)
Highlander Handicap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highlander_Handicap) (1969)
San Juan Capistrano Handicap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Juan_Capistrano_Handicap) (1969)
San Luis Obispo Handicap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Luis_Obispo_Handicap) (1968, 1971)
San Pasqual Handicap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Pasqual_Handicap) (1968)
Del Mar Handicap (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Del_Mar_Handicap) (1970)
Strub Stakes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strub_Stakes) (1971, 1973)
Del Mar Oaks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Del_Mar_Oaks) (1972)
El Encino Stakes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Encino_Stakes) (1972)
San Felipe Stakes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Felipe_Stakes) (1972)


American Classic Race (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Classic_Races) wins:
Kentucky Derby (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky_Derby) (1961)
Preakness Stakes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preakness_Stakes) (1961)
Belmont Stakes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belmont_Stakes) (1965)


International race wins:
Canadian International Stakes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_International_Stakes) (1958)
Woodbine Oaks Stakes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodbine_Oaks_Stakes) (1969)Racing awardsUnited States Champion Jockey by wins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Champion_Jockey_by_wins) (1961)
George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Woolf_Memorial_Jockey_Award) (1969)HonoursUnited States' Racing Hall of Fame (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_Racing_and_Hall_of_Fame) (2007)Significant horsesT. V. Lark (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._V._Lark), Carry Back (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carry_Back), Hail To All (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail_To_All), Cool Reception (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cool_Reception)
Johnny Sellers (July 31, 1937 – July 2, 2010) was an American (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States) jockey (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jockey). Born in Los Angeles, but raised in Oklahoma (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma), he began his professional career in 1955 and between 1959 and 1968 rode in six Kentucky Derbys (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky_Derby). He won the prestigious race aboard Carry Back (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carry_Back) in 1961 then riding the colt to victory in the Preakness Stakes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preakness_Stakes). That same year, he won eight straight races, equaling an American record set in 1951, and ended the year as the United States Champion Jockey by wins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Champion_Jockey_by_wins). He made the August 28, 1961 cover of Sports Illustrated (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_Illustrated) magazine.

In 1958, Sellers rode Jack Ketch (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Ketch_(horse)) to victory in the Canadian International Stakes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_International_Stakes) and in 1965 he won the Belmont Stakes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belmont_Stakes) aboard Hail To All (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail_To_All). In 1969 he was voted the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Woolf_Memorial_Jockey_Award).

Retired in 1997, Sellers lived in Hallandale, Florida (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallandale,_Florida), two blocks from Gulfstream Park (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulfstream_Park) racetrack. He remained involved in the racing industry as a bloodstock agent. In 1999, he was in the news after recovering his Kentucky Derby trophy. Stolen from his Monrovia, California (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monrovia,_California) home in 1978, twenty-one years later a friend notified him that the engraved sterling silver trophy was being offered for sale on eBay (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EBay).

In 2007, Johnny Sellers was elected to the United States' Racing Hall of Fame (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_Racing_and_Hall_of_Fame).

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/74/JohnSellers-1961SICover.jpg/170px-JohnSellers-1961SICover.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JohnSellers-1961SICover.jpg)


R.I.P

[rwwupl]

I'm not speaking for you joanied, but when no one else on the board has a comment on Johnny Sellers death, I may be getting too old for the game.


When John Sellers became a Bloodstock Agent,years ago, he would come occasionally and sit with our group at Santa Anita(In the Paddock Room ,at that) and the under the Oak Tree boys and we always had a good time...talking about everything,including Carry Back,and such.

Speaking for our gang and the under the Oak Tree boys...We miss you John Sellers...R.I.P.

rwwupl

[Ocala Mike]

I always thought he was one of the best "come-from-behind" jockeys in the game, and, along with John Rotz, he was one of my favorites. Found it odd that the cause of death was "old age" at just 72; food for thought, as I'm 68 myself.


Ocala Mike

[Pell Mell]

I always thought him to be one of the very best. Probably the thing I remember best is that sometime in the fifties he brought home the first 50/1 shot I ever caught. I think it was at GP but it was a long time ago and memories fade.

RIP John :(

[joanied]

I thought it odd also that he passed due to 'old age' at 72 years old...maybe no one in his immediate family lived very long? If it was from an illness, surely they would have mentioned that.

John L Rotz was also one of my favorites...in fact, over that the thread where we have that poll for the Fillies & Mares race...I mentioned John L would be a good 'replacment' for Mike Smith on Azeri (we know if he had to choose, Mike would stay with Z)...because John L just had a way with the fillies & mares...'Gentleman John'...fact is, both he & Sellers were gentlemen...class all the way.

It's nice to remember riders like these.