Charles John "Chick" Lang (July 1905 – June 14, 1947) was a Canadian Hall of Fame jockey who became a National Champion rider in the United States and who won the most prestigious

Thoroughbred horse race 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 ...

of both countries. Born in

Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Hamilton has a population of 569,353, and its census metropolitan area, which includes Burlington and Grimsby, has a population of 785,184. The city is approximately southwest of ...

, the son of Emma and Charles Percival Lang, he was almost always known by the nickname "Chick." At age fifteen he began riding locally until American racing stable owner James Arthur recognized his potential and signed him to a contract to compete at major racetracks in the United States. Lang made his American debut at the

Havre de Grace Racetrack The Havre de Grace Racetrack was an American horse racing track on Post Road in Havre de Grace, Harford County, Maryland. Nicknamed "The Graw," it operated from August 24, 1912, to 1950. For a time, it was owned by the Harford Agricultural and B ...

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; ...

in April 1921 and went on to overcome the long lead held by

Benny Marinelli Benny Marinelli (c. 1902 – October 22, 1927) was an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey best known for winning the Classic Preakness Stakes in 1923. Born in Newark, New Jersey, https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fwktAAAAIBAJ&sjid= ...

to become the leading rider in the United States in 1921 with 192 wins. Such was his performance that a May 17, 1922 edition of the ''

Pittsburgh Press ''The Pittsburgh Press'' (formerly ''The Pittsburg Press'' and originally ''The Evening Penny Press'') was a major afternoon daily newspaper published in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1884 to 1992. At one time, the ''Press'' was the second larg ...

'' wrote that "Many racing experts credit Lang with being the best jockey since the days of Tod Sloan. This high accolade came at a time when Lang was competing against racing greats such as

Earl Sande Earl Harold Sande (November 13, 1898 – August 19, 1968) was an American Hall of Fame jockey and thoroughbred horse trainer. Early life in South Dakota Born in Groton, South Dakota, Earl Sande started out as a bronco buster in the early 1900s b ...

, Jimmy Butwell,

Laverne Fator Laverne Andrew Fator (October 21, 1899 – May 16, 1936) was an American National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Hall of Fame jockey. Born in Hailey, Idaho, Laverne Fator and his brothers Mark Fator, Mark and Elmer all became jockeys. The ...

, Clarence Kummer, Linus McAtee and Ivan Parke, among others. In 1922, Lang picked up where he left off, winning eighteen races in the first nine racing days in January at the

Fair Grounds Race Course Fair Grounds Race Course, often known as New Orleans Fair Grounds, is a thoroughbred racetrack and racino in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is operated by Churchill Downs Louisiana Horseracing Company, LLC. As early as 1838 Bernard de Marigny, ...

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans

Pimlico Race Course Pimlico Race Course is a thoroughbred horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of O ...

and Havre de Grace in Maryland,

Jamaica Race Course Jamaica Race Course, also called the Jamaica Racetrack, was an American thoroughbred horse racing facility operated by the Metropolitan Jockey Club in Jamaica, Queens, New York City. History The track opened on April 27, 1903, a day which featu ...

Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track located on Union Avenue in Saratoga Springs, New York, Saratoga Springs, New York (state), New York, United States. Opened in 1863, it is often considered to be the oldest major sporting v ...

Aqueduct Racetrack Aqueduct Racetrack is a Thoroughbred horse racing facility and casino in the South Ozone Park and Jamaica neighborhoods of Queens, New York City, United States. Aqueduct is the only racetrack located within New York City limits. Its racing ...

and

Belmont Park Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse racing facility in the northeastern United States, located in Elmont, New York, just east of the New York City limits. It was opened on May 4, 1905. It is operated by the non-profit New York Raci ...

in New York. In May 1922,

oil An oil is any nonpolar chemical substance that is composed primarily of hydrocarbons and is hydrophobic (does not mix with water) & lipophilic (mixes with other oils). Oils are usually flammable and surface active. Most oils are unsaturate ...

baron and stable owner Joshua Cosden purchased Chick Lang's contract for a then record US$25,000. The seventeen-year-old Lang finished 1922 with 186 wins, just one win behind Mark Fator who won the U.S. riding title with 187. The final day of 1922 fell on a Sunday and Lang, who had a two-win lead, did not race while Fator won three races at

Agua Caliente Racetrack Agua means water Water (chemical formula ) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms ...

Tijuana, Mexico Tijuana ( ,"Tijuana"
(US) and < ...

North American Classic wins

In 1925, Chick Lang won the 66th running of the

King's Plate The King's Plate (known as the Queen's Plate between 1860 to 1901 and 1952 to 2022) is Canada's oldest Thoroughbred horse race, having been founded in 1860. It is also the oldest continuously run race in North America. It is run at a distance of ...

on James C. Fletcher's

filly A filly is a female horse that is too young to be called a mare. There are two specific definitions in use: *In most cases, a ''filly'' is a female horse under four years old. *In some nations, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, t ...

, Fairbank, defeating Duchess, the betting favorite owned by the powerful

Seagram Stables Seagram Stables was a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing operation founded in 1888 by the wealthy distiller, Joseph E. Seagram. Located in Seagram's hometown of Waterloo, Ontario, the stables and large training facilities were built along Lincoln Ro ...

. It was a race that the ''

Ottawa Citizen The ''Ottawa Citizen'' is an English-language daily newspaper owned by Postmedia Network in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. History Established as ''The Bytown Packet'' in 1845 by William Harris, it was renamed the ''Citizen'' in 1851. The newsp ...

'' newspaper described as "one of the greatest struggles for the historic trophy in its long history." Three years later, he won the 54th running of the

Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby is a horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, almost always on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The competition is a Grade I stakes race for three-yea ...

with

Reigh Count Reigh Count (April 13, 1925–April 8, 1948) was an American Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1928 Kentucky Derby and the 1929 Coronation Cup in England. Reigh Count was bred by Willis Sharpe Kilmer and foaled at Court Manor n ...

which was owned by

Fannie Hertz John Daniel Hertz, Sr. (April 10, 1879October 8, 1961) was an American businessman, thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder, and philanthropist. Biography Born Sándor Herz to a Jewish family in Szklabinya, Austria-Hungary (today Sklabiňa, ...

. After years battling

weight gain Weight gain is an increase in body weight. This can involve an increase in muscle mass, fat deposits, excess fluids such as water or other factors. Weight gain can be a symptom of a serious medical condition. Description Weight gain occurs ...

, Chick Lang was forced to retire as a rider at the end of July in 1929 but remained in the industry as a trainer. He conditioned horses at racetracks in

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, a ...

in the winter and went north to race in the summer months. He trained horses at

Delaware Park Racetrack Delaware Park (also known as ''DelPark'') is an American Thoroughbred horse racing track, casino, and golf course in Stanton, Delaware. It is located just outside the city of Wilmington, and about 30 miles from Philadelphia. Thoroughbred racing ...

each year after that facility opened in 1937.

Family

Chick Lang married Virginia Mayberry, the daughter of trainer John P. Mayberry who won the

1903 Kentucky Derby The 1903 Kentucky Derby was the 29th running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 2, 1903 and offered a purse of $6,000. Full results * Winning Breeder: Johnson N. Camden Jr.; (KY) Payout * The winner received a purse of $4,850 ...

with

Judge Himes Judge Himes (1900 – after 1908) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that was foaled in Kentucky and was the winner of the 1903 Kentucky Derby. He was a chestnut colt sired by imported Esher out of the mare Lullaby (by the great racer Longfel ...

. The couple had a daughter and a son.

Chick Lang Jr. Charles John "Chick" Lang Jr. (1926 – March 18, 2010) was an American businessman and general manager of the Maryland Jockey Club. Family Chick Lang's father, Chick Lang, was a Canadian-born jockey who became a U.S. National Champion jocke ...

was involved in the sport of horse racing. He gained wide respect for the job he did during the twenty-seven years he served as general manager of

Pimlico Pimlico () is an area of Central London in the City of Westminster, built as a southern extension to neighbouring Belgravia. It is known for its garden squares and distinctive Regency architecture. Pimlico is demarcated to the north by Victor ...

and Laurel Park racetracks. Following a lengthy Illness, Chick Lang died on June 14, 1947, at age forty-one in

Wilmington, Delaware Wilmington (Lenape: ''Paxahakink /'' ''Pakehakink)'' is the largest city in the U.S. state of Delaware. The city was built on the site of Fort Christina, the first Swedish settlement in North America. It lies at the confluence of the Christin ...

where he had been training at Delaware Park. The opening line for his obituary in the

''Sunday Morning Star'' began with "One of the racing world's most outstanding jockeys." Chick Lang was inducted in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1990.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lang, Chick 1905 births 1947 deaths Canadian jockeys American jockeys American horse trainers Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductees Sportspeople from Hamilton, Ontario Canadian emigrants to the United States