Joseph Leiter Aitcheson Jr. (July 31, 1928 in Olney, Maryland - May 24, 2014 in Westminster, Maryland) was an American

steeplechase Steeplechase may refer to: * Steeplechase (horse racing), a type of horse race in which participants are required to jump over obstacles * Steeplechase (athletics), an event in athletics that derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing ...

jockey who won a record 440 timber races and was inducted into the

National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American Thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers. In 1955, the museum moved to its current location on Union Av ...

in 1978.

Early life

Aitcheson's father, Joe Sr., who went by his middle name Leiter, also pitched for the Baltimore Orioles in the minor leagues and the

Brooklyn Dodgers The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association (19th century), American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the ...

in the majors, helped his brother Whitney found the Iron Bridge Hounds, serving as its Master of Foxhounds for many years. Introduced to the saddle at age 3, Aitcheson later worked weekends at his uncle Whitney's riding stables, cleaning barns and guiding trail rides. After high school, he enrolled at the University of Maryland, lasting one semester. Aitcheson enlisted in the United States Navy, serving four years during the Korean War as a gunner’s mate on the aircraft carrier USS ''Oriskany''. Upon his discharge, Aitcheson returned to Maryland and applied for his professional steeplechase jockey's license.

Racing career

Aitcheson retired as the winningest steeplechase jockey in history, posting 440 jump wins from 2,457 mounts over a career spanning more than two decades, exceeding the next highest career total by almost ten percent (42 more than Alfred P. "Paddy" Smithwick.) In addition, Aitcheson holds the single season jump wins record of 40. Aitcheson won eight Virginia Gold Cups, seven Carolina Cups, and six International Gold Cups, also clinching five Temple Gwathmeys, five Noel Laings, five Midsummers and five Manlys. The National Steeplechase Association has maintained, since 1956, a list of annual leading jockeys by races won. Aitcheson has won more titles than any other jockey, 7. He took his first national steeplechase riding title in 1961, adding two more in 1963 and 1964. Doug Small and Tommy Walsh upended his reign in 1965 and 1966, respectively, but Aitcheson took four consecutive titles between 1967 through 1970. Aitcheson rode many of his era's national champions including Peal (1961), Amber Diver (1963), Bon Nouvel (1964, 1965, 1968), Tuscalee (1966), Top Bid (1970) and Soothsayer (1972). In 1976, he became the only professional jockey to receive the National Steeplechase Association's F. Ambrose Clark Award for lifetime service to the sport. Aitcheson was named the Maryland Horse Council's Horseman of the Year for 2006. He was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1978.

Career at a glance

* Years Active: 1957–1977 * Number of Mounts: 2,457 * Number of Winners: 478 * Winning Percentage: 19.5%

Principal races won

* 8 Virginia Gold Cups * 7 Carolina Cups * 6 International Gold Cups * 5 Temple Gwathmeys * 5 Noel Laing Steeplechases * 5 Midsummer Steeplechases * 5 Manly Steeplechases * 2 Colonial Cups

External links

* http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall/jockey.asp?ID=15 * https://web.archive.org/web/20061112163353/http://www.equiery.com/archives/MHC/2006HorsemanAitcheson2.pdf * http://www.infoplease.com/ipsa/A0764641.html {{DEFAULTSORT:Aitcheson Jr, Joe 1928 births 2014 deaths United States Navy personnel of the Korean War American jockeys American Champion jockeys United States Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame inductees People from Olney, Maryland Sportspeople from Montgomery County, Maryland