Hanford, oldest Kentucky Derby winning jockey, dies at 91

Ira "Babe" Hanford met Heavyweight boxing champion Jim Braddock at Suffolk Downs in 1935 (Photo courtesy of Suffolk Downs)

One of 10 children, Hanford grew up in Fairbury, Nebraska, and followed his

two brothers to the East Coast to become a jockey. His oldest brother "Buddy"

died after sustaining a head injury in a race at Pimlico Race Course in

1933. His brother Carl, now 93, is the Hall of Fame trainer best known for

training five-time Horse of the Year Kelso.

A leading rider at Suffolk Downs in East Boston, Ira Hanford met heavyweight

champion Jim Braddock, subject of the film "Cinderella Man," in 1935. A famous

photograph shows them shaking hands, Braddock towering over the young jockey.

Hanford went on to serve in the U.S. military during World War II, and

eventually retired from long careers as both a jockey and trainer.

He made his lone Kentucky Derby start aboard Bold Venture, a 20-1 longshot

trained by Max Hirsch, and never returned to Churchill Downs until 70 years

later for the 2006 Kentucky Derby (G1).