Billie Lee Shoemaker was born August 19, 1931, in the west Texas town of Fabens. After his parents divorced, he and his father moved to Southern California. There he cleaned stables on a Thoroughbred ranch. On March 19, 1949, only a few months after working as an excersize boy in Northern California, the 4 foot 11, 96 pound "Willie" Shoemaker had his first professional ride. A month later the 17 year old registered his first win, aboard Shafter V. He rode 218 more winners before the year was out.
Shoemakers first Kentucky Derby victory came aboard Swaps, in 1955. Two years later he should have won his second Derby. Instead, he wound up with the embarrassment of standing up too soon, mistaking a furlong post for the finish line. Iron Liege charged past Gallant Man for the win.
From 1958 - 1964, Shoemaker was the leading money winner among jockeys. He won the Belmont Stakes 5 times (1957, 1959, 1962, 1967, 1975), the Kentucky Derby 4 times (1955, 1959, 1965, 1986) and the Preaknes twice (1963, 1967). In 1986, at the age of 54, he became the oldest jockey to win the Kentucky Derby.
In 1968, Shoemaker suffered a broken leg after being thrown from his horse. He returned in 1969, only to be injured again in a paddock accident, this time breaking his pelvis, rupturing his bladder, and causing nerve damage in a leg.
In the 1986 Kentucky Derby, Shoemaker rode the 18-1 Ferdinand to win by 2 1/2 lengths. It was one of the more memorable rides of his racing career.
Shoemaker retired in 1990. One year later he was in an automobile accident which left him paralyzed. He lost control of his Ford Bronco and went over a 50 foot embankment. He was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving but was not prosecuted since no-one else was hurt. Even so, he continued on as a horse trainer. Three years after the accident, Cindy, his third wife, divorced him after 16 years of marriage.
Bill Shoemaker has written two books, both set in the world of Thoroughbred horse racing: Stalking Horse (1994) and Fire Horse (1995).