Carroll H. "Cal" Shilling

Biography

North America’s leading rider in earnings in 1910, Carroll “Cal” Shilling had, in the words of Hall of Fame trainer Sam Hildreth, “every riding quality that a finished horseman could possess — an almost uncanny ability to break 2-year-olds away from the post, judgment of pace that made you think he must have a stopwatch ticking before his very eyes, a seat so light that he was like a feather on a horse’s back, and a knack for getting every ounce out of his mount.”

Born in 1889 in Paris, Texas, Shilling was one of four brothers who became jockeys. He rode at the bush tracks in the Southwest before arriving in the East in 1905, where he quickly became a sensation. He rode such champions as undefeated Hall of Famer Colin, Sir Martin, Fitz Herbert, King James, Dalmatian, and Zeus. One of Shilling's finest performances was when he rode a tiring Worth to win the 1912 Kentucky Derby by a neck.

In his final three seasons of racing, 1910 through 1912, Shilling won 313 races (34 percent). Frequently suspended for rough riding, he was ruled off the track in 1912.

Shilling later served as an assistant to Hall of Fame trainer H. Guy Bedwell and helped develop Hall of Famer Sir Barton, winner of the first Triple Crown in 1919.

Overall, Shilling won 969 races, including two editions of the Aqueduct Handicap, Alabama Stakes, and Saratoga Special. He also won the Metropolitan, Travers, Dwyer, and Futurity.

Achievements

North America's leading rider in earnings — 1910

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the 1912 Kentucky Derby — Worth

Other Highlights

Won the Aqueduct Handicap — 1904, 1909
Won the Alabama Stakes — 1908, 1910
Won the Saratoga Special — 1908, 1910
Won the Dwyer Stakes — 1910
Won the Futurity Stakes — 1910
Won the Metropolitan Handicap — 1910
Won the Spinaway Stakes — 1910
Won the Travers Stakes — 1910
Won the Havre de Grace Handicap —  1912