William J. Knapp

Biography

Chicago native Willie Knapp was only 13 years old and weighed a reported 56 pounds when he won his first race in 1901 at Lakeside Park in Indiana. Successful riding in the Midwest, Knapp moved to New York in 1905 and became a successful freelancer; one of his first notable victories in New York was the 1906 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga aboard Hall of Famer Peter Pan.

In 1917, he piloted 9-year-old Borrow to an upset victory in the Brooklyn Handicap, a renewal that featured Hall of Famers Regret, Roamer, and Old Rosebud, as well as standouts Omar Khayyam and Stromboli. That year, he was also the regular rider for 2-year-old champion Sun Briar; winterbook favorite for the Kentucky Derby, Sun Briar did not train well for the race and Knapp rode Sun Briar’s stablemate, 30-1 longshot Exterminator, to an upset victory in the 1918 Derby.

Knapp’s most notable upset took place in the 1919 Sanford Memorial Stakes, when he rode a horse named Upset to defeat Hall of Famer Man o’ War by a half-length. After the 1919 season, Knapp was denied a license to ride by The Jockey Club. No reason for the decision was ever made public. 

Later as a trainer, Knapp saddled his old Derby winner, the Hall of Famer Exterminator, for five stakes victories: the Merchants and Citizens Handicap, Pimlico Cup, Toronto Autumn Cup, Autumn Gold Cup, and Saratoga Cup. Knapp also trained stakes winners Upset Lad, Risque, Valenciennes, Pairbypair, Seven Veils, and Three Rings before retiring in 1960.

Knapp won a total of 649 races as a jockey.

Achievements

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the 1918 Kentucky Derby — Exterminator 

Other Highlights

Won the Hopeful Stakes — 1906, 1917
Won the Brooklyn Handicap — 1917
Won the Manhattan Handicap — 1918
Won the Travers Stakes — 1918
Won the Sanford Memorial Stakes — 1919