George Martens (jockey)

George Martens
Occupation	Jockey
Born	September 23, 1958 Not found
Career wins	686
Major racing wins
Hill Prince Stakes (1975) Empire Classic Handicap (1976) Excelsior Handicap (1979) Bay Shore Stakes (1979) Cotillion Handicap (1980) Saranac Stakes (1980) Iroquois Handicap (1981) Pennsylvania Derby (1981) Pegasus Handicap (1981) United Nations Handicap (1981) Stymie Handicap (1982) American Classic Race wins: Belmont Stakes (1981)
Racing awards
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey (1976)
Significant horses
Summing, Key To Content, Cryptoclearance

George Martens (born September 23, 1958) is a retired Champion jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing best known for winning the 1981 Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.

In 1976, George Martens was the top rated apprentice jockey in the United States, voted the Eclipse Award as the country's Outstanding Apprentice Jockey. In 1981 he earned the most important win of his career when he rode Summing to victory in the Belmont Stakes.

Martens retired from riding in 1985 but returned to racing the following year. Following his permanent retirement, he has worked as an exercise rider at Belmont Park. Some of the horses he has prepped include Lemon Drop Kid, Touch Gold, Sharp Humor, and Colonial Affair.

References

• June 15, 1981 TIME magazine article on George Martens and his 1981 Belmont Stakes win
• September 17, 1987 New York Times article on George Martens