COUNTDOWN TO 2000: A day-by-day recap of some of the most important sports moments of the 20th century. / SEPT. 5, 1970 : Shoemaker Sets Record in an Ocean Breeze

It happened in the day’s final race at Del Mar. On a forgettable horse, Esquimal, Bill Shoemaker reached an unforgettable milestone.

Before 18,992, Shoemaker was ahead at every pole and when he crossed the finish line 3 1/2 lengths ahead of the pack, he had won his 6,032nd race, tying him with John Longden for most races won.

Shoemaker had done in 21 years what took Longden 40.

He had been frustrated in four earlier races, so when he hit the home stretch with a comfortable lead, the ovation from the Del Mar crowd grew and grew.

Two days later, Shoemaker was alone at the top. In the fourth race, he rode Dares J., a 2-year-old filly, to a 2 1/2-length win for 6,033. And it happened before the biggest Del Mar crowd in 20 years, 20,942.

Longden greeted Shoemaker in the winner’s circle.

“I held the record for 14 years,” Longden said. “It took a good man to set that record, and it took a damn good man to break it today.”

Shoemaker went on to win 8,833 before retiring. He’s still the leader, although Laffit Pincay is closing in. Longden, meanwhile, has fallen back to 13th place.

Also on this date: In 1958, at the old Wrigley Field, Los Angeles’ original “Golden Boy,” Art Aragon, was badly beaten by former welterweight champion Carmen Basilio. After the sixth round, Aragon’s trainer, Lee Boren, said to him, “Art, if you don’t start fighting this guy I’m going to stop it.” Retorted Aragon, “Why wait?” . . . In 1914, 19-year-old Babe Ruth, playing for Providence, hit the only home run of his 46-game minor league career.