Westrope Joins Stars in the Hall

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —  The elections of Cigar and Serena’s Song were givens, and the tapping of trainer Bud Delp, instead of Sonny Hine, caused only a small ripple.

But when the name of the late jockey, Jack Westrope, was called out Tuesday at the annual announcement by the Racing Hall of Fame, the day brought one real surprise. Dead for 44 years, Westrope had been on the ballot several times, never generating enough support.

On Tuesday at Churchill Downs, however, the fiery Westrope posthumously achieved what his family, fellow riders and supporters had sought. Few of the 140 voters had ever seen Westrope ride, yet his record enabled him to outpoint Eddie Maple and Kent Desormeaux, who were on the ballot for the first time.

Besides Cigar and Serena’s Song, the other winner, in the horse of yesteryear category, was Noor, who beat Citation, a shell of himself, four times at California tracks in 1950.

For years, Westrope’s record had been misinterpreted by Hall of Fame voters. He won 2,467 races, an unimpressive total these days, but he competed in an era before year-round racing and nine-race cards.