William 'Bill' Shoemaker was a legendary American jockey, widely regarded as one of the greatest riders in the history of Thoroughbred horse racing. Over his 41-year career, he rode 8,833 winners, a world record at the time of his retirement. He won the Kentucky Derby four times, the Preakness Stakes twice, and the Belmont Stakes five times, capturing eleven Triple Crown races in total. After a car accident left him paralyzed in 1991, Shoemaker transitioned to a successful career as a horse trainer until his death in 2003.