Everyone who attended the Golden Gate fields program on April 20, 1949 probably expected the day's second race to be nothing more than what was listed on the program: a six furlong claiming contest for three-year-old horses.

That event happened, but it also marked the first career win for a young jockey who was destined to become one of the all time greats in the saddle.

He would go on to be the dominant force in Southern California racing throughout the 1950s and part of the 1960s. And that fact made it ironic that his first trip to the winners' circle happened in the Northern part of the state.

Still in his teens by the spring of 1949, Bill Shoemaker found himself aboard a filly named Shafter V. for the first time in a race that day. With no less than nineteen starts under her belt by this point in her career, Shafter V. had traversed between Southern and Northern California since debuting in February 1948.

Following a handful of starts at Santa Anita, Shafter V. graduated at Bay Meadows in March. What followed next were more starts at Bay Meadows before extended visits to both Hollywood Park and Santa Anita.

But what also followed was a long losing streak while facing off against horses in the allowance and later claiming ranks. Shafter V. picked up minor awards along the way, but went winless in fourteen starts before taking a one mile claiming contest at Golden Gate Fields on April 8. Twelve days later, she was back in a claimer at the venue, this time going six furlongs.

Given her limited win record, Shafter V. was not expected to be a contender for the victory. At odds of 9.50-1, she started alongside eleven other horses on the main track. Running at six furlongs was nothing new for Shafter V., but she had Shoemaker in the saddle for the first time that day.

Early on, Corporal Cal had the lead while Shafter V. stayed nearby, which had not been uncommon for her before. But it did not take long for her and Shoemaker to attain the lead. And they would have it at the end of the race.

Shafter V. collected her third career win, and Shoemaker began a ritual that he would repeat more than 8,000 times until 1990. The young man from Fabens, Texas was on a path to becoming the most recoginzable rider in Thoroughbred racing history.

He would go on to win dozens of riding titles, eleven Triple Crown races, eleven Santa Anita Handicaps, and hundreds of stakes races across the country. And the list of legendary horses he piloted is astounding. Swaps, Silky Sullivan, Native Diver, Forego, Spectacular Bid, Ferdinand and so many more. And that incomparable career began with victory in a claiming race.

Countless fans saw Bill Shoemaker in action for more than four decades. But on April 20, 1949, the fans at Golden Gate watched as a legend was born.