NEWS
Retired jockey Burr dies in Arkansas City
Posted: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 4:42 PM
by Frank Angst
Charlie Burr, who in 1951 became the seventh jockey in history to win 300 or more races in a season, died on Tuesday in Arkansas City, Kansas. He was 74.
In a 29-year racing career, Burr competed in South Florida, New York, and the Mid-Atlantic states. He won riding titles at Gulfstream Park in 1957 and ’53, when he won six races on a single card. The six victories on a single card stood as a Gulfstream record until Jerry Bailey won seven races on the 1995 Florida Derby (G1) card.
Burr competed at the highest levels before suffering paralysis in a career-ending fall while exercising a horse at Bowie Race Course in 1980. He used a wheelchair for 26 years and had been confined to a bed for the last two years. His wife Mildred helped care for him.
While racing, Burr guided Mongo to victory in the 1962 Caesars International United Nations Handicap. Mongo was named champion grass horse of 1963 when he won that race a second straight year at Atlantic City Race Course.
Burr won Hialeah’s 1959 Black Helen Handicap on Rosewood and took the 1964 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on Prince Davelle.
While Burr did not win a Triple Crown race during his career, he twice competed in the Preakness, finishing fourth in 1953 on Ram o’ War and fifth in 1963 on Sky Wonder. His wife Mildred originally is from Baltimore.
In a 1951 Time Magazine story, Burr said he started riding horses at age six and won Quarter Horse races at age 11. Before moving to Thoroughbreds, he rode Quarter Horses for his uncle throughout Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri. He also offered some explanation for his reputation as a bit of a hothead.
“If you’re not squawling at the jockeys, you’re squawling at your horse,” Burr said in the story.
Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home in Arkansas City is handling arrangements. A graveside service is planned for 10:30 a.m. Friday.
Frank Angst is senior writer of Thoroughbred Times
