Balaski began riding professionally in 1933 and just one year later won the Churchill Downs Spring 1934 riding title.[4] In 1935, Balaski's abilities would see him competing in the Kentucky Derby. After he won the 1935 Texas Derby with Roman Soldier, the colt had different riders for his next starts but trainer and part owner Phil Reuter chose Balaski to ride in the big event at Churchill Downs.[5] Sent off as the third choice in the betting, Balaski and Roman Soldier finished a good second to Omaha who would go on to win the U.S. Triple Crown that year.[6] In the 1936 Kentucky Derby, Balaski rode Edward R. Bradley's 15 to 1 outsider Bien Joli to a fifth-place finish and in the 1938 running was third aboard Can't Wait. His fourth-place in the 1940 Kentucky Derby would be the last Derby ride for Balaski as a result of service with the United States Army during World War II. In 1940 he had his first and only ride in the second leg of the U. S. Triple Crown series, the Preakness Stakes. Aboard Mioland he had been fourth to Gallahadion in the 1940 Derby and would be runner-up to Bimelech in the 1940 Preakness Stakes.
When Balaski returned to racing after the War, he continued to win important races. In 1946 he rode U Time for owner Rex Ellsworth and his future Hall of Fame trainer Mesh Tenney to win an important race for two-year-old fillies, the Starlet Stakes and the following year rode U Time to victory in a top West Coast race for three-year-old fillies, the Hollywood Oaks.
After twenty plus years in the saddle, in 1955 Balaski retired from riding and for the next four years worked as a trainer. However, he returned to riding on a limited basis in 1959, at first accepting only mounts on two-year-olds, often still green horses with which he had always had a great deal of success.[11] He soon dropped that particular self-imposed restriction but still limited the number of racecards in which he participated. A story in the July 6, 1959 Los Angeles Times reported that "In a continuation of the spectacular performances which have marked his comeback Jockey Lester Balaski a veteran of 26 years on the turf rode four winners".[12]
Balaski had been riding weekends at Agua Caliente Racetrack when he was injured in a racing accident on August 22, 1964, that led to his death ten days later.[13]
Personal lifeedit
Balaski left behind a widow and three children from former marriages. His daughter Belinda is an actress.[14]
^Los Angeles Times archival records for Lester Balaski's accident and death, August 23, 1964, page 41, August 28, 1964, page 45, September 2, 1964, page 41 Retrieved September 8, 2018
^. Archived from the original on January 12, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
April 11, 2024
lester, balaski, lester, anthony, balaski, june, 1915, september, 1964, american, thoroughbred, horse, racing, jockey, soldier, served, country, during, world, founding, director, first, vice, president, jockeys, guild, died, result, injuries, suffered, august. Lester Anthony Balaski June 21 1915 September 1 1964 was an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey a soldier who served his country during World War II and a founding director and a First Vice President of the Jockeys Guild who died as a result of injuries suffered in an August 22 1964 racing accident at Agua Caliente Racetrack in Mexico 1 2 A resident of Chula Vista California he had been transported from the racetrack to Mercy Hospital in San Diego California where he died ten days later 3 Lester BalaskiOccupationJockeyBorn 1915 06 21 June 21 1915New Orleans Louisiana USADiedSeptember 1 1964 1964 09 01 aged 49 San Diego CaliforniaResting placeLive Oak Memorial Park Monrovia CaliforniaCareer wins1 549Major racing winsTexas Derby 1934 1935 Cumberland Handicap 1935 Latonia Inaugural Handicap 1935 Mardi Gras Stakes 1935 American Derby 1937 Acorn Stakes 1937 Bay Shore Handicap 1937 Coaching Club American Oaks 1937 Edgemere Handicap 1937 Junior Champion Stakes 1937 Jerome Handicap 1937 Saratoga Cup 1937 Santa Catalina Cal Bred Championship Stakes 1938 Santa Margarita Handicap 1938 Premiere Handicap 1939 Haggin Stakes 1940 1941 Inglewood Handicap 1940 San Pasqual Handicap 1940 Del Mar Handicap 1941 Santa Barbara Handicap 1941 Arlington Futurity 1942 Washington Park Futurity Stakes 1942 Hollywood Lassie Stakes 1946 San Mateo Handicap 1946 Starlet Stakes 1946 Hollywood Oaks 1947 Bing Crosby Handicap 1947 La Jolla Handicap 1947 U S Triple Crown top placings Kentucky Derby 2nd 1935 Preakness Stakes 2nd 1940 Racing awardsChurchill Downs Champion Jockey 1934 Spring Significant horsesDawn Play Mioland Roman Soldier Can t Wait Count Arthur Occupation Contents 1 Riding career 1 1 Triple Crown series 1 2 Other racing successes 2 Personal life 3 ReferencesRiding career editTriple Crown series edit Balaski began riding professionally in 1933 and just one year later won the Churchill Downs Spring 1934 riding title 4 In 1935 Balaski s abilities would see him competing in the Kentucky Derby After he won the 1935 Texas Derby with Roman Soldier the colt had different riders for his next starts but trainer and part owner Phil Reuter chose Balaski to ride in the big event at Churchill Downs 5 Sent off as the third choice in the betting Balaski and Roman Soldier finished a good second to Omaha who would go on to win the U S Triple Crown that year 6 In the 1936 Kentucky Derby Balaski rode Edward R Bradley s 15 to 1 outsider Bien Joli to a fifth place finish and in the 1938 running was third aboard Can t Wait His fourth place in the 1940 Kentucky Derby would be the last Derby ride for Balaski as a result of service with the United States Army during World War II In 1940 he had his first and only ride in the second leg of the U S Triple Crown series the Preakness Stakes Aboard Mioland he had been fourth to Gallahadion in the 1940 Derby and would be runner up to Bimelech in the 1940 Preakness Stakes Other racing successes edit Riding for future U S Racing Hall of Fame trainer Max Hirsch among several stakes race wins in 1937 on the filly Dawn Play Balaski won three major races each of which attracted some of the very best horses from all over the country They captured the American Derby at Chicago s Washington Park Race Track where Dawn Play beat her male counterparts and both the Acorn Stakes and the Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont Park for fillies 7 8 9 Balaski s handling of Dawn Play was key to her being voted the 1937 American Champion Three Year Old Filly 10 By 1938 Balaski had relocated to a permanent base in California where he won numerous important stakes races at Hollywood Park Racetrack and Santa Anita Park Noteworthy is when he travelled to Chicago in 1942 where he won two important stakes for juveniles the Arlington Futurity and the Washington Park Futurity Stakes aboard Occupation When Balaski returned to racing after the War he continued to win important races In 1946 he rode U Time for owner Rex Ellsworth and his future Hall of Fame trainer Mesh Tenney to win an important race for two year old fillies the Starlet Stakes and the following year rode U Time to victory in a top West Coast race for three year old fillies the Hollywood Oaks After twenty plus years in the saddle in 1955 Balaski retired from riding and for the next four years worked as a trainer However he returned to riding on a limited basis in 1959 at first accepting only mounts on two year olds often still green horses with which he had always had a great deal of success 11 He soon dropped that particular self imposed restriction but still limited the number of racecards in which he participated A story in the July 6 1959 Los Angeles Times reported that In a continuation of the spectacular performances which have marked his comeback Jockey Lester Balaski a veteran of 26 years on the turf rode four winners 12 Balaski had been riding weekends at Agua Caliente Racetrack when he was injured in a racing accident on August 22 1964 that led to his death ten days later 13 Personal life editBalaski left behind a widow and three children from former marriages His daughter Belinda is an actress 14 References edit History Boston Globe from Boston Massachusetts September 2 1964 page 37 article titled Jockey Balaski Dies of Injuries Retrieved September 7 2018 Bridgeport Post from Bridgeport Connecticut September 2 1964 page 46 obituary Retrieved September 7 2018 Churchill Downs Champion Jockeys PDF www kentuckyderby com Retrieved September 7 2018 Daily Racing Form May 4 1935 05 04 article titled Racing Credentials of Derby Starters Retrieved September 7 2018 The Blood Horse Magazine May 11 1935 Retrieved September 7 2018 Daily Racing Form June 21 1937 article titled Dawn Play Triumphant in American Derby Retrieved September 7 2018 NYRA records Acorn Stakes Retrieved September 7 2018 NYRA records Coaching Club American Oaks Retrieved September 7 2018 New York Times June 3 1937 article titled 3 Year Old Filly Championship to Dawn Play Retrieved September 7 2018 San Bernardino Sun Volume 65 December 20 1958 Retrieved September 5 2018 Los Angeles Times July 6 1959 Los Angeles Times archival records for Lester Balaski s accident and death August 23 1964 page 41 August 28 1964 page 45 September 2 1964 page 41 Retrieved September 8 2018 Belinda Balaski bio Archived from the original on January 12 2016 Retrieved September 7 2018 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lester Balaski amp oldid 1213092768, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
