George Martens (jockey)

George Martens (born September 23, 1958 in Elmont, New York) is a retired Champion jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing best known for winning the 1981 Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.[1]

George Martens
OccupationJockey
BornSeptember 23, 1958
Elmont, New York, United States
Career wins686
Major racing wins
Hill Prince Stakes (1975)
Empire Classic Handicap (1976)
Excelsior Handicap (1979)
Bay Shore Stakes (1979)
Cotillion Handicap (1980)
Fashion Stakes (1980)
Saranac Stakes (1980)
Iroquois Handicap (1981)
Pennsylvania Derby (1981)
Pegasus Handicap (1981)
United Nations Handicap (1981)
Stymie Handicap (1982)

U.S. Triple Crown series:
Belmont Stakes (1981)

Racing awards
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey (1976)
Significant horses
Summing, Key To Content, Cryptoclearance

In 1976, George Martens was the top rated apprentice jockey in the United States, voted the Eclipse Award as the country's Outstanding Apprentice Jockey. In 1981 he earned the most important win of his career when he rode Summing to victory in the Belmont Stakes.

Martens retired from riding in 1985 but returned to racing the following year. Following his permanent retirement, he has worked as an exercise rider at Belmont Park. Some of the horses he has prepped include Lemon Drop Kid, Touch Gold, Sharp Humor, and Colonial Affair.

References
  1. "Summing Takes Belmont". New York Times. 1982-06-07. Retrieved 2019-04-28.


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