John Sellers

Johnny Sellers was the regular rider of Hall of Famer Carry Back, champion 3-year-old in 1961 whose stretch runs carried the little colt into the hearts of America’s sporting public. Aboard Carry Back that year, Sellers won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Flamingo Stakes, and Florida Derby, among others. Sellers led all North American jockeys with 328 wins that year.

Inducted

2007

Born

July 31, 1937, Los Angeles, California

Died

July 3, 2010, Fayetteville, Arkansas

Career

1955-1977

Wins

2,797

Earnings

$18,359,523

Racing Record

15

Win %

Biography

Johnny Sellers was the regular rider of Hall of Famer Carry Back, champion 3-year-old in 1961 whose stretch runs carried the little colt into the hearts of America’s sporting public. Aboard Carry Back that year, Sellers won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Flamingo Stakes, and Florida Derby, among others. Sellers led all North American jockeys with 328 wins that year.

Born in Los Angeles in 1937, but raised in Oklahoma, Sellers began riding in Florida in 1955. In 1960, he won four races worth $100,000 or more aboard T.V. Lark, the Arlington Classic, American Derby, Washington Park Handicap, and United Nations.

In 1965, Sellers won the Belmont and Travers on Hail to All. Also in the mid-1960s, he scored victories against Hall of Famer Kelso and champion Roman Brother while winning the Widener, Suburban, and Brooklyn with Pia Star. He won another Widener on Yorky and took the Monmouth Oaks and Alabama on Firm Policy.

Sellers later rode in California, where his major wins included two editions each of the Kilroe Mile, Strub Stakes, Sunset Handicap, and San Luis Obispo Handicap. He also won the San Juan Capistrano Handicap, Hollywood Oaks, Hollywood Derby, Del Mar Handicap, and Del Mar Oaks, among others.

Overall, Sellers won 2,787 races in 22 years and his purse earnings amounted to $18,359,523.