Reading through the history of Thoroughbred racing will inevitably bring forth a plethora of records to the person studying the sport. It is fascinating how records are made, and how some are eclipsed yet others cannot be touched. The famous saying of records are made to be broken is certainly valid, yet some are stoic over a period of decades.

What is even more intriguing is how records can be found within records. If you search hard enough, you can find yourself learning about those for hours on end. And if you are studying California Thoroughbred racing history, that certainly applies in the storied career of Bill Shoemaker.

Although he retired in 1990 and passed in 2003, Shoemaker is still the owner of numerous records in the Southland. No one has toppled his 94-win season at Del Mar in 1954, and he is still the best in the Santa Anita Handicap with 11 victories. And how about jockey titles? Shoemaker had a long reign as Santa Anita's leading rider, as he topped the standings every year from 1950 to 1967. Simply put, his strength and skill as a rider can still be found in the records that belong to him after all these years.

But with a career as prolific as Shoemaker's, it is inevitable that achievements of his might be overlooked. It is understandable, given all he accomplished in just over forty years of riding. But that also adds to the mystique of Shoemaker, and it really demonstrates just how great a reinsman he was.

So, what might be a record of his that does not get discussed much? A candidate might involve the Malibu Stakes.

Known for being the Santa Anita winter/spring meet's traditional opening day feature and the last Grade I contest of the racing year, the Malibu has long been a staple of the local calendar. It proved to be a staple in Shoemaker's journey, too. By the time he hung up his tack, Shoemaker could call himself an owner of no less than eight Malibu titles. Moreover, he built that record between 1957 to 1986, giving him the distinction of being the only man to be victorious in the Malibu in four different decades. But even after exiting the races, Shoemaker still found a way to build on that record.

Fast forward to 1993. By this time, Shoemaker was confined to a wheelchair after a car accident two year earlier resulted in paralysis. But Shoe continued to be a presence at the racetrack, for he took out his trainer's license in 1990 after his last race that same year. He had gained success in this new role by the end of 1993, compiling dozens of wins and placings. And one of Shoemaker's horses that put together some wins in his fourth season as a conditioner was Diazo.

Owned by Allen E. Paulson, who would later campaign the amazing Cigar, Diazo experienced a mixed bag of results in 1993. He captured his first two wins during Santa Anita's autumn meet, and spent the rest of the year alternating between off the board finishes and victories. By the time of the Malibu, Diazo's record for 1993 stood at four wins and four results of fifth or worse. Coming off a fifth in the Grade I Breeders' Cup Classic, Diazo was going to try seven furlongs again in the Grade II Malibu, which happened to be the distance where he graduated the previous winter. Aboard for the race was Laffit Pincay, Shoemaker's friend and longtime contemporary in Southern California racing.

Counting Diazo, the 1993 Malibu attracted eight horses. Diazo was among the principals for the Grade II, but the horse bettors focused on was Gilded Time, the 1992 Champion Two-Year-Old colt who was making his second start of a layoff after taking third in the Grade I Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita in early November. Odds-on at 4-5, the expectation was Gilded Time would improve in his return engagement to Arcadia. Despite being out of the money in his last two starts, Diazo was seen as having a shot with odds of 7-2.

The top two in the wagering were in completely different positions as the Malibu got underway. Gilded Time was forwardly placed as he and jockey Chris McCarron battled with Pharaoh's Heart, River Special and Concept Win for the early lead. Everyone in the field was ahead of Diazo in the early goings as he and Pincay trailed in last, several lengths down from the leaders. Going into the far turn, Gilded Time took over the lead on the inside as Concept Win backed away from the front pack a moment earlier. River Special and Pharaoh's Heart were still in the mix after a quarter mile of 22.08, the latter on the outside of River Special as all three were closely bunched together. Concept Win then moved back up while in fourth position, looking to take advantage of a pace meltdown. Diazo was now in seventh, clearing Bat Eclat while having Mister Jolie and Glowing Crown in front of him.

The half-mile split for the Malibu was 44.11, a quick pace for the sprint. The field became more bunched together at the quarter pole as Gilded Time, Pharaoh's Heart and River Special continued to dispute the lead. Concept Win and Mister Jolie were on the outside, having to go wide to win it all. Pincay had Diazo along the rail, well within striking distance as they turned for home. As they saved ground, an opening between Gilded Time and the rail appeared. After straightening for the stretch run, Diazo took off. He quickly took the lead as Gilded Time began retreating after six furlongs in 1:08.82. Concept Time and Mister Jolie moved into contention on the outside, the former showing more. Concept Time was within a length of Diazo at the sixteenth pole, giving the fans a McCarron-Pincay showdown on opening day of the winter/spring meet.

The raucous crowd zeroed in on the top two. Concept Time got to within a half-length of Diazo in the last few seconds, but Diazo's perfect trip on the inside paid off. He held Concept Time at bay to take the Malibu with a clocking of 1:21.17 with both a gutsy performance and brilliant ride from Pincay. The two soon reached the winners' circle along with Shoemaker, who added to his record for Malibu wins with a ninth score. He now had the distinction of being a Malibu champion in five different decades, and became the first (and to this day, only) person to win the race as both a jockey and a trainer. As for Pincay, he captured his sixth and final Malibu title. It would be the last Malibu win for Shoemaker as well, which made it fitting that the longtime friends and opponents shared this victory together.

When one thinks of Bill Shoemaker, so many stories will inevitably come to the forefront. It is likely he will forever be the keeper of multiple records. If one race is thought of to be synonymous with Shoemaker, it would be the Santa Anita Handicap given his astounding eleven victories. As far as riders go, Shoemaker is the face of California's biggest horse race.

But he is also the all-time champion of the Malibu, and that could very well be his most underrated accomplishment.