Robert "Bobby" Swim (?–1878) was an American

Thoroughbred racing Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in ...

jockey best known for winning the 1876 Kentucky Derby and the

1868 Events January * January 2 – British Expedition to Abyssinia: Robert Napier, 1st Baron Napier of Magdala, Robert Napier leads an expedition to free captive British officials and missionaries. * January 3 – The 15-year-old Mutsu ...

and

1875 Events January * January 1 – The Midland Railway of England abolishes the Second Class passenger category, leaving First Class and Third Class. Other British railway companies follow Midland's lead during the rest of the year (Third C ...

editions of the

Belmont Stakes The Belmont Stakes is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I stakes Thoroughbred racing, race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is run over the worldwide classic distance of . Colt (horseracing), Colt ...

, races that would make up the first and third leg of the U. S. Triple Crown series. After winning the 1876 Kentucky Derby with

Vagrant Vagrancy is the condition of wandering homelessness without regular employment or income. Vagrants usually live in poverty and support themselves by travelling while engaging in begging, scavenging, or petty theft. In Western countries, ...

, Bobby Swim finished second in the 1877 running on Leonard and third in 1878 on Leveler. He was still a top jockey when he died in 1878 but at the time was going to extremes to maintain the required riding weight and combined with excessive alcohol use it led to an early demise.

References

American jockeys Year of birth missing 1878 deaths {{US-horseracing-bio-stub