Legendary Jockeys Return for the 2007 Kentucky Derby Week

Legendary Kentucky Derby jockeys Bill Boland and Ray York will be a part of the 2007 Kentucky Derby week activities as the special guests of the Jane Dempsey and the 61st Annual Kentucky Derby Junket.

Santa Monica, CA (PRWEB) April 30, 2007 -- Legendary Kentucky Derby jockeys Bill Boland and Ray York will be a part of the 2007 Kentucky Derby week activities as the special guests of the Jane Dempsey and the 61st Annual Kentucky Derby Junket. The jockeys will celebrate their 57th and 53rd respective Kentucky Derby anniversaries.

In addition to the Kentucky Derby Junket activities, Boland and York will be honored in a special ceremony at 11 a.m. on May 2nd at the Galt House Hotel & Suite's "Gallop to Glory". Boland and York will add their handprints in cement to this tribute to the Kentucky Derby winning jockeys. There are now 22 Kentucky Derby jockey's winning handprints on display.

Each jockey will be doing an oral history with the Kentucky Derby Museum during Derby week. The jockeys will be spending Thursday, May 3rd visiting the sights in Lexington. On Derby Eve, both jockeys will be recognized and honored at The Mint Jubilee Gala event at the Galt House.

Bill Boland won his notoriety in the 1950 Kentucky Derby aboard Middleground (he won the Kentucky Oaks the day before aboard Ari's Mona). Boland became the second apprentice jockey to win the Kentucky Derby. Boland and Middleground went on to win the 1950 Belmont Stakes. Past President of the Jockeys Guild, Boland was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 2006. His wife Sandy will accompany him.

With a total of six Kentucky Derby mounts, 20-year-old Ray York raced into the history books aboard 1954 Kentucky Derby winner Determined, a gray. York started riding quarter horses in 1948 and won his first thoroughbred race on July 4, 1949. York won 3,082 races and is the first American jockey to ride in seven decades (surpassing Bill Shoemaker's record six decades). York was awarded the George Wolff Jockey Memorial Award in 1955.

Since 1947, the Dempsey family has escorted thousands of people to the Kentucky Derby. Started as a two week train trip to the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Derby Junket now offers 5- and 3-night tour packages to the Kentucky Derby.

In 2006, Kentucky Derby winning jockeys Ira "Babe" Hanford (1936 Bold Venture) and John Sellers (1961 Carry Back) were special guests of Jane Dempsey and the 60th Annual Kentucky Derby Junket -- see website http://www.kentuckyderbytours.com/photos2006/photos.html

Contact
Jane Dempsey
Kentucky Derby Junket
www.kentuckyderbytours.com
310-392-3366 Cell (310) 418-4188
Starting April 30, contact Jane Dempsey by cell phone at 310-418-4188 or at the Executive West Hotel 502-367-2251
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