Hall of Fame jockey Ismael “Milo” Valenzuela died Tuesday morning at his home
in Arcadia, California, after a long illness. He was 74. Diana Valenzuela said
her father, who had been hospitalized recently, was surrounded by his children,
grandchildren and other family members when he died. Funeral arrangements have
not been finalized.
Valenzuela was born in McNary, Texas, on December 24, 1934. He rode from 1951
through 1980, winning 2,545 races and earning purse money of $20,122,760. He was
the regular rider of Kelso, with whom he won 22 of 35 races, including 19
stakes. Valenzuela won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 1958 and 1968.
In 2008, Valenzuela was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Historic Review
Committee. When Valenzuela was unable to travel to Saratoga Springs for the Hall
of Fame induction ceremony, National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame President
Stella F. Thayer approved a proposal to induct Valenzuela at Santa Anita Park,
just a few miles from his home. It was the first time since the National Museum
of Racing trustees formed the Hall of Fame in 1955, that an induction had taken
place outside Saratoga Springs.
Santa Anita president Ron Charles and Sherwood Chillingworth, executive vice
president of the Oak Tree Racing Association, supported the plan to stage an
event at the track’s Turf Club to honor Valenzuela. National Museum of Racing
and Hall of Fame trustee Beverly Lewis presented Valenzuela with his jacket and
plaque.
Valenzuela, the third of 22 children, was competing in match races before he
was 10 years old and gained experience riding Quarter Horses before moving to
Thoroughbreds. He won his first race on April 8, 1951 at Rillito Park in Tucson.
During a career that included parts of four decades, he won more than 130 major
races, including the Arlington Classic, the Arlington-Washington Futurity, the
Blue Grass Stakes, the Brooklyn Handicap, the Coaching Club American Oaks, the
Garden State Stakes, the San Juan Capistrano and the San Antonio. In addition to
Kelso and Tim Tam, he also rode to victory Hall of Fame members Affectionately,
Cicada, Native Diver, Round Table and Searching