User:MyBigRed/James C. Gaffney

'James C. Gaffney' born on March 13, 1935 and passed away on June 3, 2010 was an excerise rider for Secretariat, who won the Triple Crown of Horse Racing in 1973. James who was known as Jim or Jimmy was born on March 13, 1935 in the State of Ohio. Jim later moved to South Florida with his mother and sister. Jim spent many years at Hialeah Racetrack watching and later working racehorses.

Biography Jim Gaffney worked briefly in 1963 for Lucien Laurin who later would train Riva Ridge and Secretariat for the Meadow Stable which was owned by Christopher Chenery. Lucien liked the way Jim worked and exercised the horses in the mornings. In April 1972 Jim who was working as a pari mutuel clerk at Aqueduct Racetrack, and joined the Meadow Stable working Riva Ridge prior to the Kentucky Derby. Approximately around May 1972 Jim began exercising Secretariat. Jim was one of the first to realize that Secretariat would be a Great one. Jim gave Secretariat the nickname: Big Red. Jim played an important role in helping develope Secretariat into a Great Racehorse. Jim was very patient with Secretariat and allowed him to watch the morning activity on the track. Jim had been riding horses for almost two decades, but in Secretariat he sensed the finest running machine he had ever straddled.

Around the time Secretariat retired to Claiborne Farm in 1973, Jim returned to Belmont Park as a pari mutual clerk. Jim now had a family and wanted to be close to home. Jim loved his wife Mary, daughter, Deserie and son James. Jim continued to work at Belmont Park until the late 1990's when he retired due to emphysema.

Jim contributed his time sharing his knowledge of Secretariat with several authors of books on Secretariat; the Secretariat Festival and Walt Disney Studios for the upcoming movie about the life of Secretariat. Jim was very generous with his love for Secretariat and the Secretariat Fans.