This Week in Horse History - January 18th Through January 24th

January 18th, 1909 – Today, in 1909, the National Western Stock Show opened in the National Amphitheater in Denver. Admission was 25 cents. The stock show included cattle breeds along with a horse show portion, which featured draft horses and Saddlebreds. The stock show first opened in 1906. In 2006 its attendance reached a record 726,972 people. In 2009 there were more than 16,000 entries in the horse show portion alone. The show has steadily expanded over the years, beginning as a six day event and evolving to a sixteen day event.

Information and photo courtesy of: History of the National Western Stock Show

January 20th, 1917- The United States Equestrian Federation began today as the Association of American Horse Shows. Representatives of fifty different horse shows met together in New York City with the goal of maintaining clean competition in the horse show ring. The name was changed in 1933 to the American Horse Shows Association, and again in 2001 to USA Equestrian. The organization merged with the United States Equestrian Team in 2003 to form the United States Equestrian Federation. Today the Federation acts to maintain the welfare of horses and, through uniting equine professionals across the country, ensures that all competitors are on an equal and fair playing field.

Information and photo courtesy of: United States Equestrian Federation

January 23, 1994 – At the age of 40, jockey Pat Day became the tenth North American jockey to win 6,000 races. Day won on the on the Thoroughbred mare Miss Popsnorkle at Oaklawn Park on January 23rd, 1994. During his career as a jockey Day won numerous titles all over the country, including multiple Eclipse Awards for outstanding jockeys. Day was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1991. He retired on August 3rd, 2005 with earnings totaling almost $298, more than any other jockey.

Information courtesy of: Day Saves 6,000th Win For Oaklawn Park
Photo courtesy of Pat Day wins 'Big Sport of Turfdom' award