Mack Garner: Iowa’s Riding Legend
On May 5, 1934, the cheers of the crowd echoed through Churchill Downs as Iowan jockey Mack Garner surged to victory aboard Cavalcade in the Kentucky Derby. Born Andrew Garner on December 23, 1898, in Centerville, Iowa, he was one of seven brothers from a remarkable family of jockeys. Taught to ride by his father, young Mack weighed just 67 pounds and stood 5’3” when he launched his professional career at age 15. He debuted on Gold Ball in Butte, Montana, in July 1914 and notched his first win just a month later.
Garner’s rise was swift. By 1915, he led the nation in both race wins and earnings. He repeated that feat in 1929, earning an impressive $314,975. Throughout his career, he was in high demand, with The Des Moines Register declaring that he had ridden for nearly every major racing outfit in the country. One of his standout victories came in 1922 when he upset fan favorite Morvich while riding Surf Rider at Saratoga Springs.
Garner added two Belmont Stakes wins (1929 and 1933) to his resume before claiming his most iconic win at the 1934 Kentucky Derby. Over 22 years, he amassed 1,346 race victories and earned close to $3 million.
Sadly, his life was cut short. On October 28, 1936, just hours after racing at River Downs in Cincinnati, Mack Garner passed away at age 37 following three heart attacks caused by blood clots.
